A Cup of Tea for Healthy Living
The origin of tea dates back to as far back as 2737 B.C. Emperor Shen Nung of China was drinking a cup of hot water one day when some tea leaves happened to be blown by the wind and dropped into his cup. He seeped the concoction still and found that it was good, and the rest is history. Today, tea is the most consumed beverage in the entire world, after water.
Tea experts would say that out of all the tea variants in the market, you can only group them into six categories. These categories are tagged as the white tea, green tea, yellow tea, black tea, oolong tea and the pu-erh tea. All of which comes from the same Camellia Sinensis plant. It only differs in terms of the process and the flavorings used.
Antioxidants are abundant in tea. The antioxidants prevent the growth of free radicals in the body, the same free radicals that can lead to cancer. In the fight against cancer, tea also has polyphenols aside from antioxidants.
For those who have cardiovascular problems, drinking a cup of healthy tea daily is the way to go. It has flavonoids that help decrease lipid oxidation in order to prevent strokes as well as other heart related diseases. Tea can unclog arteries and veins ensuring steady functioning of the blood vessels.
Some tea drinkers enjoy their tea with milk in it. This way, you get the advantages of drinking milk with the health benefits of tea. Milk is known for strengthening bones but even without milk, tea contains phytochemical properties that also help the bone remain strong. Teas that are infused with numerous herbs on the other hand contain free radicals that helps strengthen the immune system.
Tea health benefits encompass that of dental care as well. Tea has tannins and fluoride that keeps tooth decay and cavity formation at bay. It is a common misconception to relate tea with decay or plaque. The amount of sugar in the tea is the culprit and not the tea itself. So the next time you decide to sweeten your tea, put honey instead of sugar.
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