Enjoy a cup of Tea and Relax
No longer an ancient Chinese secret, tea is now known to have many therapeutic and healthful benefits. Tea is the second most popular beverage (next to water) around the world.
Tea is not just for two anymore, as it is an extremely popular beverage. The British consume their fair share, for sure, but many other countries equally enjoy tea in impressive numbers, including China, India, and other Asian countries. Tea is now a big selling item in the U.S. Why is tea on everyone’s drink list?
First, tea is tasty and smells nice. The aromatic bouquet that permeates a room after steeping a good pot of tea is well known among teatotalers. The taste of tea is just as variable as its aroma, and like wine there are many descriptive terms used to denote one type of tea’s mouth feel to the next.
Second, tea has both a stimulant and calming effect, depending on the type and amount consumed. Tea is known to have caffeine, a stimulant drug that millions of people appreciate in other beverages such as coffee, colas, espresso, and more. While the caffeine content of a typical cup of tea is only 1/3 the average cup of coffee, it still adds up. Green and black varieties are well-known caffeine-rich teas and have grown in popularity of late. Another tea, Yerba Mate, comes from the country of Paraguay and is purported to have stimulant effects while simultaneously easing stress. Two herbal teas are equally suited to help you relax when you desire this effect: chamomile and valerian root.
Third, publication of many recent scientific studies investigating the health effects of tea confirm a link between consumption of tea and reduced risk for the #1 cause of death in the United States: heart disease. Green tea has also been noted to lessen risk for many digestive tract cancers if enjoyed in relative abundance, up to 4 cups a day, increasing its relative popularity among health-conscious individuals. The mechanism of tea’s healthful actions is explained by one very important property: The antioxidant effect.
The term antioxidant refers to a food or drink’s ability to scavenge and neutralize molecular compounds known as free radicals. These free radicals are produced by the very act of breathing, so we are all at risk for a build-up of free radicals. Additional sources of free radicals include pollution, smoke, and the normal process of digestion. Antioxidants exist within all of us, and the body is able to replenish its supply of antioxidants during normal function. Sadly, many people do not enjoy normal bodily functions for many reasons, including disease, medications, drug use, and more. It thus becomes imperative that antioxidants be consumed to help balance the situation.
We now know that green tea is the most powerful antioxidant tea. The main antioxidant in tea is known as a polyphenol antioxidant. This compound is a bioflavonoid, a substance known to help limit the damage that free radicals are apt to inflict on our body’s cells. Another antioxidant within green tea, EGCG, is a catechin antioxidant. Catechin types of antioxidants are strongly linked to a variety of healthful benefits.
Certain herbal teas are touted for ease of digestion. Examples include ginger, peppermint, and chamomile.
There are times when tea should be consumed with caution, even avoided. People with anemia who take supplemental iron should limit tea consumption or avoid it as the tannins in tea inhibit iron’s absorption. Same goes for people taking calcium supplements: as long as you don’t drink the tea within one hour of taking either supplement. Lastly, if a woman is pregnant, certain herbal teas may need to be avoided. Ask your healthcare practitioner for more details.
In the end, drinking tea to stimulate your faculties, relax your mind, or enhance your health is now, more than ever, a many splendored activity. Have a cup and enjoy the day!
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"Enjoy a cup of Tea and Relax"
authored by:
Dr. Grief is a graduate of McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He is a past Residency Program Director of the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Family Medicine, and former radio health show host in New Hampshire. Dr. Grief's main inter...
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