Brewing Good Health: Benefits of Drinking Hot Tea

January is a time for fresh starts and better habits, but it is also National Hot Tea month. Hot tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Tea is an infusion of the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. According to the Tea Association of the USA, on any given day over 159 million Americans are drinking tea. Aside from being a delicious hot beverage, tea contains plant compounds that have health promoting properties. Read on to see the benefits of drinking hot tea.  

Types of Tea

The various processing and harvesting methods determine the different types of tea.

White Tea

White tea is made from immature tea leaves that are steamed then dried (1). It goes through minimal oxidation. White tea is made up of young tea leaves therefore the flavor of white tea is usually subtle.

Green Tea

Green tea is made from non-fermented tea leaves that are steamed or fired then rolled and dried (1). Because green tea is not fermented, it contains the highest concentration of antioxidants. Green tea has a range of tastes due to its growing location, type of processing and harvesting.  

Black Tea

Black tea is made by crushing and drying fresh tea leaves that are then oxidized completely. Due to fermentation, black tea is rich and robust in flavor compared to green and white tea.

Herbal Tea

Herbal tea is a blend of herbs, spices, fruits, seeds, flowers or leaves from anything besides the Camellia sinensis plant (2). Due to processing, herbal teas are caffeine free making them a perfect option for people sensitive to caffeine or cutting back.

Nutritional Value of Tea

Tea does not contain a significant amount of nutrients, but tea contains thousands of compounds including polyphenols, minerals, alkaloids, and trace elements.

Macronutrients

A cup of brewed tea contains no calories! Tea does not contain protein, fat, sugar, or carbohydrates on its own. These nutrients are added when you add milk, creamer, honey, or sugar to your cup of tea. Similarly, there are trace amounts of vitamins and minerals in a brewed cup of tea.

Antioxidants

Tea is a health promoting beverage because it contains polyphenols which act as antioxidants that fight cell damage throughout the body. Tea also contains caffeine, theaflavins and catechins which are associated with health promoting benefits.

Benefits of Drinking Hot Tea

Animal and human studies show that tea has beneficial effects on various health problems.

Cancer Prevention

Increased tea consumption is associated with a decrease in certain cancers. Tea drinkers, especially black tea drinkers, have a significantly lower risk of developing skin cancer compared to non-drinkers (3). Numerous studies demonstrate the relationship between tea drinking and lung cancer risk. Increased tea consumption led to a reduced risk of lung cancer in non-smoking females and smoking males (3).

Weight Management

Tea drinking may affect appetite, decrease fat absorption, and improve insulin sensitivity (4). Tea is a calorie-free beverage therefore drinking tea instead of higher calorie beverages can help control calorie intake and keep you hydrated.

Heart Health

Tea flavonoids help maintain blood vessel functioning. Increased daily tea consumption (3 cups per day) is associated with lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and cardiac death (1, 3). A small study found black tea and green tea lowered blood pressure in study participants (1). Tea shows favorable effects on heart health and disease related risk factors.

Brain Health

Higher intakes of tea are associated with better cognitive function, reduced dementia risk in older adults and delayed onset of Parkinson’s disease compared to non-tea drinkers (1). Larger scale studies are needed to determine the effect of tea on neurodegenerative disorders. Drinking tea may also reduce stress and anxiety.

Brewing Good Health with a Cup of Tea

Despite containing no macronutrients and trace vitamins and minerals, tea is rich in polyphenols. Whether white, green, black, or herbal, tea is a delicious, hydrating beverage with many health benefits. Tea is associated with heart health, cancer risk reduction, brain health, and weight management. Will you be adding a cup of tea to your daily beverage intake? If so, what are you drinking? Don’t miss out on tea’s nutritional magic. Brew up a cup today!