Happy hormones are basically chemicals that are released in the bloodstream because of certain internal or external factors. The purpose of these hormones, as is obvious, is to balance stress hormone levels and help you feel happy.

With tea, which can be a great daily habit, you will ensure the boost of happy hormones regularly and keep your hormones balanced. Thus, encouraging your gut, mood, and sleep to always stay on the better side.

4 Types of Happy hormones and how Tea helps you boost them

• Dopamine:

Dopamine is the most popular one amongst all happy hormones and is also known as ‘the reward molecule’. It gets boosted by any pleasure/reward-seeking activity. The activity can be anything from eating ice cream to going out for a family get together. Nowadays, with social media all around, a like or a share is also enough to boost the levels of this happy hormone in our bloodstream. However, it is one of the unhealthiest ways to do so because of social media’s addicting properties.

With the lifestyles that we lead today and the health conditions that come with it, our bodies are not able to regulate dopamine levels on their own. This leads to low dopamine levels and hormonal imbalance along with it. It is important to ensure the regular release of this happy hormone in the body to keep potential stress and anxiety at bay.

Tea can help assure this in a healthy way. The caffeine in tea helps prevent hormonal imbalance by increasing dopamine receptor levels in the brain. Moreover, an amino acid called L-theanine has been researched with results suggesting that it boosts dopamine levels by increasing the activity of alpha waves in the brain. Thus, helping the body maintain proper dopamine levels.

• Endocannabinoids:

One of the not-so-famous happy hormones, Endocannabinoids are the body’s self-produced cannabis. Cannabis, as most of us would know, is already famous for its psychoactive properties which help one relax and calm incited nerves.

Research shows that the catechins in tea target and bind to cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system. Well-Known catechin, EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) has proven to do a great job at supporting the endocannabinoid system in certain researches.

One popular endocannabinoid is Anandamide, which owes its name to ‘Ananda’. The Sanskrit term literally translates to ‘Bliss’ which is the reason why this happy hormone is also called ‘the bliss molecule’ by some. No wonder Teafloor’s very own bliss king, an infusion of nourishing herbs and green tea is named ‘Ananda’.

• GABA:

Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is one of those happy hormones that are produced naturally in the brain. Its role in the body is to relax and calm the nerves by reducing the activity of neurons in the central nervous system.

The tea plant, Camellia sinensis, has quite extensive amounts of an amino acid called L-theanine. Research suggests that this amino acid increases the levels of GABA by increasing the activity of alpha waves in the brain. Also, magnesium and ginseng in some teas are known to interact with GABA receptors to improve functions like lowering blood pressure, balancing of moods and inducing sleep.

While most teas are rich in L-theanine, magnesium can be found richly in black teas and herbal teas to take advantage of its benefits including the increase in happy hormones.

• Serotonin:

Serotonin is a happy hormone that is released naturally in the body and plays a role in digestion, blood clotting and balancing moods. It is also responsible for the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle and body temperature. With low levels of this hormone, one’s health will very likely face negative effects. Additionally, some social experts believe that low confidence is directly linked to low levels of serotonin. Knowing how big role confidence plays in this day and age, our happiness becomes highly dependent on this happy hormone.

Tea helps boost this extremely important happy hormone with the immense amounts of L-theanine present in it. L-theanine is an amino acid that positively affects mood, sleep, and emotion. It lowers a person’s aroused heart rate and is also known to improve mental cognition. Thus, becoming an amazing booster of serotonin and ultimately, happiness.

Although, the caffeine in tea is known to deplete serotonin over time. This is one reason why it is not recommended to have caffeinated teas. However, one can enjoy green tea or herbal tea as they contain almost no caffeine without compromising the health benefits that they have to offer.

Lastly, it is worth noting that herbs like Tulsi and Ashwagandha along with flowers such as lavender, passionflower, and chamomile are believed to improve the levels of happy hormones in our body. These can be found in teas like Tulsi green tea, Chamomile green tea, Ananda and Nidra from the wide range of teas available at Teafloor.

Upon conclusion, tea can be one of the splendid ways to prove that money can certainly buy happiness. However, not much of it is required considering the discounted rates of authentic, garden-fresh teas that we, at Teafloor, bring for you.

Lakshmi Jaisimha

I write to fulfill your appetite for thought, to get only in return your smile.

The post How Tea Boosts Happy Hormones That Turn You Into A Happy Soul appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

Oolong Tea Weight Loss

Talking about the oolong tea weight loss, the fact of the matter is that this brew is known to improve metabolism within the body. It also helps in accelerating the natural fat burning process of the body, which leads to weight loss over time. It is a natural way of losing weight, and when coupled with exercise as well as a balanced diet, you will be able to notice a huge difference in a few months. You need to keep in mind that oolong tea weight loss is no overnight miracle, so being consistent with it for a few months is key. Have at least two and at most four cups of oolong tea every day, preferably after each meal to see your waistline reduce. In fact, the women of China and Taiwan have embraced this brew, because it helps them to maintain a slender waistline.

Now Buy Best Quality Oolong Tea In India

It is very important that you lay your hands over the best quality oolong tea. It is not very accessible and buying the adulterated brew will not get the job done. So it is imperative that you find a reputed and well-known source from where you can buy authentic oolong tea. Teafloor is home to some of the most exotic, yet good quality leaves and you can easily buy oolong tea online from Teafloor. The pricing of the leaves is just right and you will be able to tell that the quality is impeccable. Buying oolong tea in India can be a tough task, but Teafloor has your back.

Other Oolong Tea Benefits

Apart from the weight loss, there are many oolong tea benefits. The brew not only helps you shed those extra kilos, but is excellent for diabetics and heart patients as well.

• It has the properties to wipe off the plaque from the arteries of the heart, which helps in lowering cholesterol levels.
• In fact, come to think of it, it also normalizes blood pressure levels and makes sure that the heart rate is steady.
• Apart from that, it is also known to reduce the body’s insensitivity towards the naturally occurring insulin formed within the body. This means that those suffering from blood sugar will be able to normalize their sugar levels all thanks to this particular brew.
• Oolong tea is also excellent for maintaining dental health. As it has plaque removing tendencies, so it also wipes the teeth clean thereby eliminating most chances of cavity formation. It also reduces bad breath by a great deal.

If you are a big fan of healthy teas and are looking forward to shedding some kilos before an event or the festivities, then be sure to choose oolong tea, which is now easily available on Teafloor. You can pick and choose across varieties and grades. The brews are available in different price brackets so there is something for everyone.

Abhishek Dixit

The post The Best Oolong Tea For Weight Loss In India appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

“My fitness journey will be a lifelong journey” says Khloe Kardashian an American television socialite, model and television personality.

For some of us who consider beauty and fitness an important part of our lives, idealizing models or film stars or as a matter of fact, anyone with a good body and a pretty face, is a common thing. Trying to be like them might seem a very tedious task and also might seem impossible. However, pushing our body off limits is not the only step to a healthy lifestyle. To initially begin with, there can always be some easy steps that we can take to move towards it. The easiest solution that we bring to you is your very own cup of tea.

When you hear the word tea, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? It can be simply just a habit, a source of refreshment or something that relaxes our mind or makes us feel better. However, there is another aspect of drinking tea that most of us fail to throw light upon. It is, Beauty Benefits, YES, you heard that right, drinking tea can make you prettier. This ages old drink has to capability to keep your skin from ageing. So, instead of spending a lot of time and convincing your mind to follow a diet schedule that’s not easy, or applying a lot of cosmetic products on your skin, just sip a cup of your favorite healthy drink.

Super model, Miranda Kerr, is all about making sure you take a couple of minutes to relax, unwind, and enjoy with a cup of tea. Jessica Richards, the owner of a famous boutique in Brooklyn, Shen says, “Beauty tea is the next wave” She states so because of the beauty benefits that a cup of tea can add to a person’s life. This is the kind of value that tea holds in the life of people that believe in making the most of their time that they have and improve their own health.

The benefits of tea begin from adding shine to your hair to soothing sun burns, minimizing bug bites and moisturizing dry skin, it can do a lot for your body. Tea in itself comes in a number of forms like green, white and black and their own benefits. Some of which if we inculcate in our lives, will only act be adding good value to our health.

Let’s See How Tea Can Make You Fitter And Better

• Keeping the traditional sweetened cup of tea aside, if we start talking about Green Tea, it can do a lot for you other than helping you to reduce your belly fat. A cup of rose green tea loaded with antioxidants will improve your physical performance, dental health and help you live longer.
• Next in line is Earl Grey Black Tea, a precursor to vitamin A, if applied to our face, can clear acne, reduce dark circles, prevents tooth decay, other gum diseases and minimizes puffiness. So, if you don’t feel like consuming the unsweetened form of Black Tea, just spread some of it on your face.
• Similarly, White Tea sourced from plants rich with nutrients, too plays a very important role in leading us to a healthy lifestyle. The one desirable benefit of white tea is that it will reduce your sugar cravings without adding on to our calorie intake. Its anti-bacterial ingredients will have a control on your ageing skin, reduce sagging and give you the kind of skin you’ve always wanted. So just when you think you’ve started ageing, tell yourself that it’s time to drink
• Also, Rooibos or Red tea, a caffeine free alternative is one of the solutions to control ageing skin.
• Last but not the least, Oolong Tea has its own benefits. It can be used as an energy drink before going for a log jog or even to a gym. The minimum amount of caffeine present in that keeps your mind activated and energizes your body. This energy giving drink can always be a companion to those who love to exercise.

Benefits of Tea

Other than these, there are some other benefits of tea like clearer skin complexion, natural skin toner, hair growth, enhancing hair color and adding gloss to your scalp and dry skin. All this however, cannot be done just by drinking tea. It can be made possible by mixing the loose form of tea with some other ingredients like honey, turmeric powder or even with just lukewarm water. Mixing used tea bags with some amount of honey and applying it on your skin will not only give you clearer skin but will also save you from using any harmful chemicals on your skin in the form of beauty cosmetics.

When it comes to hair, let’s be honest, we put them through a lot every day. From dusk to scorching heat our hair our hair have to go through it all. Therefore, mixing some amount of tea with your shampoo is nothing but a healthy alternative to keep your hair shiny and thick as they are. This is not enough, finding these natural remedies to look better will also help you save the extra money that you’d spend on any other costly hair spa or skin facials.

After reading all these benefits of tea, we all must agree to this one famous Japanese proverb “If a man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.” Tea in any form always makes us feel better, freshens our mind and takes us closer to truth, beauty on the other hand goes hand in hand with a cup of tea. It might not be the only solution to all the fitness needs but it can definitely make things easier and help you meet a new version of yourself. So the next time you compare yourself to someone with a fit body, don’t underestimate yourself and just happily sip a cup of tea.

Ankit Tiwari

I’m a Blogger, always ready to explore new things. Starting from Technology to Seo, webiners etc. Driving more and more traffic to our website is my passion.

The post I’ll Have What She’s Having! appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

These differences are due to the differences in the horticulture methods used as well as the style of production. The oolong tea varieties which are produced in the Wuyi Mountains of northern Fujian are quite famous Chinese teas. Although the differences in the production styles lead to there being different varieties of oolong tea, the tea leaves are only mostly formed into two distinct styles. In some styles, the oolong tea leaves are rolled into long and curly leaves and in some styles, the oolong tea leaves are wrap-curled into small beads where each bead has a tail.

Oolong tea is produced from the leaves of a tea plant called Camellia sinensis which is a small shrub. The leaves and in some cases, even the young buds of the same tea plant Camellia sinensis are used to produce other varieties of tea which are known as white tea, green tea and black tea. So all these four varieties of tea are close cousins since they are produced from the leaves as well as in some cases the young buds of the same plant. So therefore, just as we know that tea is good for the health of our body, skin and hair; oolong tea which is one of the varieties of tea is no exception. Oolong tea is also very beneficial for our health, skin and hair. Let us find out the amazing oolong tea benefits for your health, skin and hair.

Oolong Tea Benefits for your health, skin and hair

• Oolong tea can help in fighting obesity as well as aid in weight loss –  The polyphenols found in oolong tea can help in maintaining a good rate of metabolism which aids in weight loss process. These polyphenols can also in reducing the visceral fat thereby aiding in fighting against obesity. The catechins and the caffeine present in oolong tea have also been indicated to work together to maintain a lean body mass.

• Can help lower the risk of cancer – Some studies indicate that oolong tea can aid in reducing the risk of ovarian cancer amongst women as well as it can help to prevent skin cancer as well as gallbladder cancer. While conclusive results are still to be found, these are good indicators to include a cup of oolong tea in your diet.

• Can help reduce the risk associated with heart diseases – In some studies it was indicated that people who drank at least 10 ounces of oolong tea per week has a lower risk of high cholesterol while the people who had been consuming oolong tea for a very long period of time were found to have lower levels of cholesterol. Another study indicated that a regular intake of oolong tea may help in reducing the risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases. Oolong tea contains caffeine and antioxidants which may be the reason for its contribution in improving the heart health.

• May help prevent diabetes – Studies suggest that oolong tea can help reduce as well as prevent type 2 diabetes as it helps in stabilising the blood sugar levels. Oolong tea contains polyphenols which may help in improving the insulin activity in the body.

• Helps boost brain health – Several studies indicate that oolong tea may help improve the brain health by boosting brain function. The caffeine present in oolong tea triggers the release of norepinephrine and dopamine which aid in improving mood as well as helps in lowering stress. The amino acid L-theanine is also known to boost attention as well as relieve anxiety, while the tea polyphenols have a calming effect on the mind. So now you know why so many people are addicted to their cups of tea!

• Helps in improving the bone health as well as improves oral health – Studies indicate that oolong tea can help in maintaining a high bone mineral density levels. Oolong tea can also help improve the oral health as a regular consumption of oolong tea has been found to reduce the formation of dental plaque. Also, tea in general is known to help in reducing bad breath caused due to decay in teeth and plaque.

• Oolong tea fights against inflammation – Oolong tea has anti-inflammatory properties which helps in conditions such as arthritis. The epigallocatechin gallate or ECGC present in oolong tea fights the harmful free radicals which cause inflammation and helps in the prevention of inflammation related diseases like clogged arteries and cancer.

• Oolong tea may help in improving the health of your skin – Some studies indicate that the anti-allergenic antioxidants present in oolong tea can help in relieving skin conditions such as eczema. Oolong tea also contains powerful anti-oxidants which fight against the harmful free oxygen radicals which are responsible for early signs of ageing such as expression lines and wrinkles. The antioxidants present in oolong tea may also help to treat common skin problems such as acne, pimples and blemishes. A topical application of oolong tea on the skin can also help in such conditions.

• Helps in promoting hair health – Some people believe that a regular intake of oolong tea can help in preventing hair fall as well as improve the overall health of hair and scalp. A topical application of cold oolong tea such as a hair rinse can also help in improving the shine and lustre of your mane.

Thus with so many wonderful oolong tea benefits for your health, skin and hair you must try and include this to your diet to see the results for yourself.

Mukul Singhal

The post Health Benefits of Oolong Tea for your skin and hair appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

In China as well as in the languages of a few of its neighbouring counties, black tea is also known as “red tea.” It is referred to as red tea based on the description of the colour of the brewed tea which has deep red hues. In the Western languages, black tea is called black tea based on the type of the colour of leaves which become black due to the process of full oxidation which they undergo at the time of processing.

Unlike green tea leaves which tend to lose their flavour within a year, black tea leaves can easily retain their taste for several years. That is one of the reasons for its popularity, and it has long been an article for trade. Although black tea originated in China, it was made famous by the British tea traders. Initially, the British traders would procure the black tea leaves from China and sell it in the western markets. Later, the British traders were tired or the monopoly of the Chinese traders and were looking for other ways to procure the tea leaves. They found their answer when the East India Company came to India and found black tea leaves in the Assam district of India. Thus, the British traders successfully found another source of black tea leaves in India where the labour was cheap, and they could earn much more due to increases profit margins. Today India is one of the largest exporters of tea in the world. Market research indicates that black tea still accounts for over ninety percent of all the varieties of tea sold in the West.

Different Varieties of Black Tea Available in India

There are several different varieties of black tea which are produced in India. Here we have briefly described the different types of black tea grown in India-

• Assam Black Tea- This variety is a full-bodied tea from the lowlands of Assam. It has a strong and a distinctive malty flavour. Assam black tea is the highest produced tea in the world.

• Darjeeling Black Tea- This variety of a thin bodied tea from the Darjeeling district of West Bengal in India. It has a floral and fruity aroma and taste with defining muscatel tones. Today, Darjeeling tea is often processed as a mixture of black, oolong and green tea elements. Even so, it is still classified as black tea.

• Kangra Black tea- This variety of Black tea originates from The Kangra district in the state of Himachal Pradesh of India. It has a subtle pungency and a vegetal aroma. The Kangra district produces basil cinnamon and java plum-blueberry blends as well as Chinese hybrid teas. The brew is a pale liquid.

• Munnar Black tea- This variety of black tea is grown in the Munnar Town of Idukki district of Kerala state in India. It produces a robust-bodied tea. The color of the brew is golden yellow liquor. The flavour has a refreshing briskness and a hint of fruit. The fragrance is quite medium tones and is akin to malted biscuits.

• Nilgiri Black tea- This variety of black tea originates in the Nilgiri hills in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu state of India. It is an intensely aromatic, fragrant and robust tea.

What are the Different Blends of Black Tea?

There are several other popular blends of black tea. To obtain a beverage, black tea is often blended with various other plants, oils, and spices. The following are the different blends of black tea-

• Earl Grey Tea – This is black tea blended with bergamot oil

• English Breakfast Tea- This is a full-bodied black tea which is blended ties milk and sugar. It has a robust and rich flavour.
• English Afternoon Tea– This is a medium-bodied black tea. It has a bright and refreshing flavor. For preparing this blend, strong Assam and Kenyan teas are blended with Ceylon. The Ceylon adds light and a brisk quality to the enlist afternoon tea blend.
• Irish Breakfast Tea- This type of black tea is a blend of several varieties of tea. The blend most often includes Assam teas. Although sometimes other varieties of black tea are used, they are used less often.
• Masala Chai- This is one of the most famous types of black tea which originated in India. Although in a slightly different form, the blend was first introduced by the British East India Company in India during the British Raj to encourage tea consumption among Indians and to also complete with Chinese tea plantations. Traditionally masala chai is a mixture of black tea, milk, a sweetener such as sugar or honey and spices such as green cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, ground ginger, and black peppercorn. In the West, masala chai has been adapted with some changes to the method of preparation.

How to Brew Black Tea?

As a general rule of thumb, for brewing black tea use about 4 grams of tea for every 200 ml of water. In other words, for every cup of water use about 1 level teaspoon of black tea leaves. For a much stronger and full-bodied tea, you may use one heaping teaspoon of black tea leaves. Black tea should be steeped in water which is heated up to 90–95 degree Celsius. This is unlike green tea which should not be brewed at a very temperature since it turns bitter. For brewing black tea, the first brew should be 60 seconds. The second brew should be 40 seconds, and the third brew should be 60 seconds. If you are using high-quality tea leaves, then you can continue using the same leaves for brewing a fourth and a fifth time but add 10 seconds to the brew time after the third infusion.

4 grams of tea per 200 ml of water. Unlike green teas, which turn bitter when brewed at higher temperatures, black tea should be steeped in water brought up to 90–95 °C. The first brew should be 60 sec., the second brew 40 sec., and the third brew 60 sec. If your tea is of high quality, you can continue to brew by progressively adding 10 sec. To the brew time following the third infusion (note: when using a larger teapot the ratio of tea to water will need to be adjusted to achieve similar results). If you are using a delicate variety of black tea such as Darjeeling black tea, then you should steep the tea leaves for about 3 to 4 minutes. Similarly, broken leaf teas need less brewing time than whole leaf black teas since the surface area of the broken leaf teas is much more than whole leaf teas. If the whole leaf black tea and other black teas are going to be served with milk or lemon, then you should steep them for longer, i.e., for about 4 to 5 minutes. Once you have finished brewing the tea for the stipulated time, you should strain it using a fine mesh strainer before serving.

Abhishek Dixit

The post All About Black Tea | Benefits Of Black Tea appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

The Oolong Story

Oolong tea has a long evolution history and it originated during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) in the Beiyun region of Phoenix Mountain (Fenghuanshang) in Fujian Province. It was first known as Beiyun Tea and because of its fine quality and unique flavor. It was the first tea to be given the name of the “tribute tea” in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). During that time there were various tea regions which were being selected by the Emperor to produce tea to be offered as a gift to the royal court, which was a great honour and good for business. With time the tea became famous in China as government officials, monks and scholars began visiting and emigrating to the Fujian area. They liked the “earth-stone” taste of the teas from the Wuyi Mountain region as they were different from the typical green tea.

Hearing of this wonderful new tea, the Emperor sent a sample of an un-fermented compressed Green Tea cake to Wuyi and asked for tribute tea. What he received was Dragon Phoenix Compressed Tea which was made from a mold which imprinted the tea cake with the design of a dragon and a phoenix. This tea became very famous as a result. The fame of this tea lateron spread to the Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing Dynasties (1644 – 1911). It was in the late 1725 that Oolong tea was then developed in the Anxi region of Fujian and in 1796, Oolong Tea was introduced to the Northern Fujian region and to Taiwan.

How to Prepare Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is simply a tasty cup of beverage which relishes your palate evenly. The characters of oolong tea fall between black and green teas in terms of strength and caffeine levels. Oolong tea has powerful antioxidant knock that can be enjoyed any time of day. In general, you should use about 2 teaspoons of tea per 8 oz. (236 ml) of water with water temperature should be between 90 and 95ºC (194-205ºF). The tea has a steeping time of 2 to 3 minutes and is best made when a ceramic or clay vessel is used. The ideal ceramic vessel is a traditional gaiwan.

Buy Oolong Tea Online

Before purchasing any oolong tea online, always remember to purchase it from a verified or famous website. You can buy different styles of oolong tea with wide flavor according to your taste and aroma. At Teafloor, you will find the best varieties of Oolong tea at good prices. Log on to www.teafloor.com and shop today only.

Ankit Tiwari

I’m a Blogger, always ready to explore new things. Starting from Technology to Seo, webiners etc. Driving more and more traffic to our website is my passion.

The post Cultural History of Oolong Tea appeared first on Teafloor Blog : All About Tea | Health Benefits of Tea.

Green Tea is produced by heating the leaves shortly after harvesting through a process of steaming or pan-firing to prevent oxidation from occurring, and then rolling and drying the leaves. Black and Oolong Tea undergo full or partial oxidation, which makes the leaves and subsequent brew darker in color.

History speaks for itself:  Tea is believed to “purify the body” and “preserve the mind”. Ancient Chinese tradition used tea as a miracle decoction for the cure of various diseases. Over the past several decades, thousands of published studies in leading medical journals have provided the proof to support tea’s ancient health claims.

Composition of Tea

Tea consists of more than a hundred ingredients of which the main are the flavonoids. These flavonoids and the related polyphenols account for more than a third of the weight of the tea leaves. The health benefits of tea are said to be attributed to these ingredients. Tea has cardiovascular, chemo-preventive, metabolic, neuroprotective and other health benefits.

Various researches have been conducted which demonstrates the health attributes of tea flavonoids. Human clinical trials, population-based studies and in vitro laboratory research have found that people who regularly consume three or more cups of Black Tea per day have a reduced risk of cardiovascular conditions, cancers etc.

Let us find out how tea may play important roles in various areas of health operating through a number of different mechanisms.

1. Role in Cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular diseases cause more than 15 million deaths in the world each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva). They are also the major cause of death in adults. In addition, many cardiovascular incidents are not necessarily fatal but may impair the ability to lead a normal daily life, resulting in enormous health care costs to society.

Drinking tea regularly as part of a healthy lifestyle may help maintain a healthy heart. Numerous population health studies conducted around the world have demonstrated that drinking tea is linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The researchers have also found that those who drank more than six cups of tea per day (>480 mL) had significantly lower prevalence of CHD than non-tea drinkers.

While much of the strongest research support for tea’s potential to contribute to heart health has focused on black tea, new research has shown that green tea also offers cardiovascular benefits. Some studies suggest that tea flavonoids provide several mechanisms that work in tandem to collectively improve markers for cardiovascular health.

High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. High cholesterol can lead to a buildup of plaque in the artery walls and narrow the arteries. Tea and its flavonoids can have a significant cholesterol-lowering effect. A research was published in 2003 in the Journal of Nutrition, which stated that people consuming five servings of black tea per day reduced “bad” LDL cholesterol by 11.1 percent and total cholesterol by 6.5 percent.

2. Cancer risk reduction

More than 3,000 published research studies exist that evaluate the role tea whether white, green, oolong or black and tea compounds, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), may play in cancers of various sites. The studies suggest that tea compounds have many mechanisms by which they provide chemoprotection: reducing free radical and DNA damage; inhibiting uncontrolled cell growth etc.

Various studies have shown that green tea has the most superior cancer risk reduction as compared to all the other forms of tea. This is attributed to the strong antioxidant activity (and other bioactive properties) of green tea polyphenols such as EGCG and ECG.

Anti-Cancer Activities of Green Tea

Laboratory studies have shown that green tea:

• Slows down or completely prevents growth of cancer cells
• Blocks formation of new blood vessels that cancers need to feed themselves with nutrients
• May protect the body’s cells against ultraviolet (UV) damage
• May boost the immune system
• Appears to trigger natural detox enzymes in our body that help to protect against cancer formation

Tea also plays a major role in preventing prostate cancer. Based on epidemiological in vitro and in vivo studies, the researchers suggest that tea-especially Green Tea may be a good public health recommendation that may help prevent prostate cancer. It also plays some role in the reduction of various other forms of cancer such as Digestive cancers, Skin cancer, and lung cancer.

3. Role in Neurological Health

Age-related declines in memory and cognition occur naturally, but research suggests that modifiable factors, such as diet and exercise, may help slow the progression of age-related neurodegeneration. The bioactive compounds found in tea may promote neurological health through various actions.  In addition, L-theanine in tea has been shown to directly affect areas of the brain that control attention and ability to solve complex problems.

Research reports that tea polyphenols, particularly (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, are bioavailable to the brain and can act via antioxidant, iron-chelation, signal transduction modulation, and other mechanisms to effect neuroprotective and/or neurorescue action, with potential implications for age-related dementia, and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

A recent human study examined the effect of the unique tea amino acid L-theanine (glutamyl ethyl amide) on attention-related task performance. Task performance was measured by electroencephalographic (EEG), or the measurement of electrical activity produced by the brain as recorded from electrodes placed on the scalp. The results suggest L-theanine plays a role in attentional processing in synergy with caffeine.

Caffeine and L-theanine in tea may offer cognitive benefits and improve mental clarity and work performance. A cross-sectional study showed that participants who consumed more tea felt less tired and reported higher levels of subjective work performance.

4. Role in Obesity and weight loss

Several studies suggest drinking calorie-free tea may help with weight management.  Preliminary research suggests that tea flavonoids help elevate metabolic rate, increase fat oxidation and improve insulin activity. This is especially true for green tea and the tea catechins in green tea provide modest shifts in metabolism that may improve weight loss and maintenance. catechins or epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-caffeine mixture have a modest positive effect on weight loss and weight maintenance.

Green Tea catechins led to a reduction in body fat, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol compared to the control group. The authors suggest that Green Tea catechins may help prevent obesity and reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease.

5. Role in Diabetes & Blood Sugar Control

Type 2 diabetes is considered a global epidemic. 85 Catechins in tea have been shown to help reduce blood sugar and provide insulin-boosting activity, which may be beneficial for people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Recent USDA research reviewed the effect of tea on insulin sensitivity and risk factors for diabetes. Epidemiologic studies suggest some relation between tea consumption and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Some human clinical studies show tea and its components improved control of glucose metabolism.

Hence, tea plays an important role in the control of blood sugar level, although further research may be needed.

6. Role in Immune Function

Our immune system is responsible for warding off bacterial, fungal and viral infections that cause disease and illness, such as influenza, thrush, and herpes. Immune system impairment can cause a variety of symptoms including fatigue, muscle weakness, susceptibility to infection, tissue inflammation, poor wound healing and heightened allergic reactions.

The main role is played by the antioxidants present in the tea which are responsible for boosting the immune system. Tea contains a component that can help the body ward off infection and disease and that drinking tea may strengthen the immune system. The researchers identified a substance in tea, L-theanine, which primes the immune system in fighting infection, bacteria, viruses and fungi.

7. Role in Oral Health

Tea may contribute to oral health through various characteristics, including anti-bacterial properties and fluoride content, that may help protect against cavities and gum disease and may strengthen tooth enamel.

Tea flavonoids may inhibit the plaque-forming ability of oral bacteria, and the fluoride in tea may support healthy tooth enamel. Because green tea controls bacteria and lowers the acidity of saliva and dental plaque, it may be a useful tool in preventing cavities. A recent Egypt-based study tested people before and after they gave their mouths a five-minute rinse with green tea. The test subjects had less bacteria and acid in their mouths, as well as reduced gum bleeding.

Green tea’s anti-inflammatory powers seem to help control periodontal (gum) disease. A Japanese survey of almost 1,000 men found that those who drank green tea regularly had healthier gums than those who didn’t. Also, Green tea has been associated with better-smelling breath because it kills the microbes that make our mouths stinky.

8. Reduced Risk of Osteoporosis

Drinking tea has been linked to higher bone mineral density (BMD) and has been shown to boost bone-building markers and improve muscle mass, both of which may reduce the of osteoporosis and fracture.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that older women who drank tea had higher BMD measurements than those who did not drink tea. A recent study found that habitual tea-drinking was seen to have a significant beneficial effect on the BMD of adults (30 years and older), especially in those who had been habitual tea-drinkers for six or more years.

9. Role in digestive system

green tea and many herbal teas may help improve your digestion and limit any adverse digestive effects, such as gas and upset stomach. Green tea may be beneficial for digestion because of substances it contains called polyphenols, including catechins. A study published in the “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry” in 2005 found that catechins from green tea increase the activity of pepsin, the digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins in the stomach.

Chai tea, which contains a mix of spices including cinnamon, pepper, cardamom and ginger, may also be beneficial for digestion. Cinnamon may help relieve a variety of digestive ailments, such as gas, indigestion, heartburn, stomach cramps and nausea.

A wide variety of herbal teas is also sometimes credited with improving digestion.

Final Verdict

Tea drinkers tend to be healthier, which proves true in research too, as tea drinking correlates with better health outcomes.

You can support your health, including your skin and body composition, with as few as 2-3 cups per day, so join this growing health movement and start today exploring the novelty of tea.

Just like wine or coffee, there are countless types, blends, styles, countries of origins and more, all for you to try. I’m sure there is a tea to suit any taste and preference.

Ankit Tiwari

I’m a Blogger, always ready to explore new things. Starting from Technology to Seo, webiners etc. Driving more and more traffic to our website is my passion.

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