Written by Alina Canon
As one of the oldest beverages in existence, it isn’t surprising that tea bagged the title of “Second Most Popular Drink in the World”, as per Statista’s latest study on global tea production. The popular statistics portal highlighted that in 2018, over 5.8 million metric tons of tea were produced and exported all throughout the globe. And it’s easy to see why this is the case. Tea, which plays a crucial role in many cultures, is not only available in over a thousand varieties. As multiple studies have shown, this famous drink is also capable of providing a myriad of health benefits. So if you are one of those people who still need a little bit of a nudge to try and take a sip of tea, here are five reasons that can surely convince you:
It can help induce calm
In one of our previous posts ‘True Tea Vs Herbal Tea’, we listed a number of tea variants and classified them into true teas and herbal teas. There, we mentioned how chamomile, an herb that comes from the flowers of the Asteraceae plant, can be turned into tea and taken to induce calm and encourage sleep. According to studies, chamomile tea relieves stress by binding to GABA receptors in the brain and targeting the same nervous system receptors that anti-anxiety medications do. If you have trouble sleeping consider drinking chamomile tea that’s infused with lavender and lemon balm like Restful Tea.
It can improve brain function
Aside from inducing calm, other types of tea can also improve brain function in many different ways. For instance, PrettyMe’s review of Lean ‘N Green noted how green tea can help promote brain health by improving various aspects of brain function such as mood, vigilance, reaction time and memory. All of these benefits can be attributed to the trace amounts of caffeine in green tea, which then reacts with l-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation without inducing drowsiness. In addition to boosting brain function, a recent study conducted by the National University of Singapore also noted that drinking tea on a regular basis can have protective effects against age-related decline in brain organisation.
It is packed with antioxidants
Regardless of the kind of tea you are accustomed to drinking, the main benefits that tea variants provide can be traced back to the health-promoting substances they have: catechins and epicatechins. These two work together to provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These benefits, in turn, lower the risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease among regular tea drinkers. The teas that are known to be jam-packed with antioxidants are white tea, jasmine tea, green tea and black tea.
It can aid in weight management
If you are someone trying to watch their weight, swapping your coffee with tea would be a great idea. Style Craze’s review of Total Tea Gentle Detox explained how traditional teas like green, oolong, white, black and puerh tea can speed up one’s metabolism, thus promoting weight loss. When mixed with the right herbs, flowers, stems and spices, the aforementioned teas can also decrease water weight by increasing one’s urinary output. However, it’s important to note that such teas are only made as supplements and should therefore not be expected to induce weight loss on their own.
It can help you socialise more
As mentioned, in many parts of the world, tea is more than just a simple drink. Mental Floss’s list of tea cultures exemplified how this drink is something that brings people together and creates opportunities for socialisation. For instance, in Argentina, tea prepared in a small pot or dried calabaza gourd is passed around a gathering to encourage people to bond. In China, traditional tea ceremonies are highly elaborate and are conducted so people can come together and relish in the aroma of a variety of teas.
Article written by Alina Canon