From humble beginnings, tea is regarded in the East as a key to good health, happiness and wisdom. With it’s long list of health benefits from cancer prevention to promoting weight loss, each variety of tea comes with its own ability to improve your overall health. Today, we’re teaching you the most common types of teas and what they can do to make your healthier.
Black Tea
Black tea makes up about 75% of the global tea consumption, and contains the most amount of caffeine – approximately 40mg per cup ( a cup of coffee has between 50 to 100mg). Apart from being able to keep you awake in the morning, black tea has high concentration of antioxidant compounds, namely theaflavins and thearubigins. These antioxidants have been linked to lower cholesterol levels. Studies also show that people who drink three or more cups of black tea in a day can lower their risk of stroke by 21%. Variants of black tea include English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Darjeeling, and Chai.
Green Tea
A favorite among many, green tea is also widely recommended by healthcare professionals as it’s full of catechins – an antioxidant that can help ward off everything from cancer to heart disease. Consuming two cups of green tea a day can reduce your chances of getting lung cancer by 18%. Not to be mistaken for a caffeine-free tea, a cup of green tea has up to 25mg of caffeine per cup. Not as strong as black tea, but it’ll still be sure to keep you awake.
Oolong Tea
Similar to black tea, oolong tea is a full-bodied and flavorful tea with a rich aroma, Though with less caffeine, oolong is said to aid in weight loss. Studies show that women who drank oolong tea burned slightly more calories over a two-hour period than those who drank only water. It is said that oolong activates an enzyme that dissolves dietary fat stored in fat cells.
White Tea
Refreshing and light in flavor, white tea contain about 15mg of caffeine per cup. Apart from their ability to calm you down for rest, white tea has great health benefits as other teas too. From boosting cardiovascular health, to fighting cancer, studies also show that white tea has the potential to benefit people with diabetes. An animal study showed that consuming white tea improved glucose intolerance and a reduction in LDL cholesterol. White has also been known to reduce signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines.
Herbal Tea
Herbal tea generally do not contain caffeine unless it it’s blended with various tea leaves. But generally, herbal teas aren’t classified as teas as they generally contain a combination of dried fruits, herbs and flowers. Herbal teas make great hot beverages after meals, especially if you’re hoping for a palette cleanser. Peppermint tea helps calm the stomach while keeping your breath fresh, while chamomile tea promotes sleep.
