Historically, tea has enjoyed an almost mythical reputation for its health giving properties. Today it is believed to aid healthy living in a variety of different ways, from general nutrition to dental health! Here are some key facts:
Tea and Antioxidants
Tea’s antioxidant content is by far the most publicised of all its health benefits. Free radicals can challenge our normal healthy state, and have been implicated in diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancers. It is thought that we can combat this damage by regularly consuming food and drinks that are rich in antioxidants, which 'soak up' these free radicals.
As well as eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, drinking tea significantly increases your daily antioxidant intake. Tea is widely known to be rich in a particular group of antioxidants called flavonoids.
Green and White Teas contain the highest levels, because they’re picked from the youngest shoots of the plant. In fact, there is about eight times the amount of 'anti-oxidant power' in three cups of tea than there is in one apple.
Tea and Hydration
For a long time, it was thought that tea is dehydrating due to its caffeine content - an old wives' tale often mentioned in media reports and even by some health care professionals. In fact, recent studies have shown that tea hydrates the body as effectively as water (with the added antioxidant benefits too).
So… why not include a few cuppas in your two litres of water a day? The Foods Standards Agency and British Dietetic Association both recommend tea help make up your two litres. So get the kettle on!
Herbal health benefits
Technically, all tea must be made from the Camellia Sinensis plant. So peppermint, camomile and friends are - strictly speaking - infusions, and not tea at all. However, we all know they make a great brew, and each boasts its own health boosting properties too.
Camomile is one of the oldest herbal infusions, renowned for its calming, almost sleep-inducing qualities. Loved for centuries, peppermint’s soothing qualities are believed to aid digestion.
Explore our whole range to find out more about herbal health benefits.
For more detail on this and other tea health issues, visit the UK Tea Council website