What you should know about tea |

Tea is a popular drink in many countries around the world. It has been used for centuries as a natural stimulant and it is rich in antioxidants, which have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.

The What you should know about tea is a blog post that will give you all the information you need to know about this popular drink.

Almost everyone nowadays agrees that tea (particularly green tea) has many health advantages. Green tea was hard to come by only two years ago at most grocery shops, convenience stores, and restaurants. It’s now all over the place. If you desire a green tea, you can get it almost everywhere. It’s even available in certain fast food establishments.

So, in this email, we’ll discuss tea: what it is, why it’s beneficial for you, and what advantages it provides.

What exactly is tea?

Tea is a beverage prepared by steeping Camellia sinensis (common tea plant) leaves, twigs, or buds in hot water for 1 to 5 minutes.

The color of a tea is determined by its fermentation. White tea is the least fermented of the tea varieties. The most fermented tea is black tea. Fermentation ceases after the tea is completely dried, which is why tea leaves maintain their color (white, green, or black) after drying.

So, how does a tea leaf make its way from the field to your tea cup? Well, the leaves are fermented before being roasted and dried. Flavor enhancers such as herbs, spices, fruits, and flowers may be added during this procedure.

Note that when the tea is labeled as “herbal tea,” it refers to a beverage made entirely of fruits and/or herbs, rather than real tea leaves. So don’t be fooled. The majority of “herbal teas” do not include any real tea.

Tea has no calories and is high in phytochemicals as well as methylxanthines (theophylline, caffeine, and other similar compounds – but the methylxanthine concentration is considerably lower than in coffee and other caffeinated drinks).

The Effects of Tea on the Human Body

Tea has many health advantages, which will be discussed soon. The flavonoids in tea are responsible for many of its health benefits. Flavonoids are a class of molecules with high antioxidant capabilities and the ability to decrease free radical damage (free radicals cause oxidative stress, which may lead to chronic illness).

Catechins, particularly EGCG, come to mind while thinking about flavonoids. Catechins are a kind of flavoniod that may be found naturally in tea. Many people think that flavonoids are responsible for the majority of tea’s health benefits.

Tea includes methylxanthines in addition to the flavonoids discussed before (caffeine is a methylxanthine). Tea has a lower caffeine level than coffee and does not have an immediate impact. It’s unlikely that you’ll experience any jitters or withdrawal symptoms.

How milk may sabotage tea

Milk has traditionally been used to neutralize tannins (tea’s most bitter components) and decrease acidity, resulting in a smoother flavor. Casein in milk, on the other hand, has been shown to neutralize many of the beneficial components of tea in studies. As a result, don’t spoil your tea by adding milk to it. Simply order it as is. Mix your normal tea with a mint or herbal tea if you don’t like the taste.

A combination of loose green tea leaves and a bag of mint or pear-flavored green tea is my favorite.

Tea bags vs. loose tea

Tea is often packed in “tea bags” for ease of use. Due to its low quality, this tea is referred to as “dust” by tea specialists. The tea in bags is considered a by-product of sorting the higher-quality loose leaf teas. Furthermore, owing to the limited shape of the bag, tea in bags may be prone to oxidation and may not steep as effectively.

Don’t worry if you like tea in bags; it may still provide comparable health advantages. However, we recommend that you try loose tea (or a mix of loose and bagged tea) to see how you like it. If you’re new to loose tea, consider investing in a tea infuser or even a tea press to prevent plucking leaves out of your mouth.

Tea has a different shelf life depending on how processed it is. The shelf life of black tea is longer than that of green tea. Herbal tea has the lowest shelf life of all the teas. Tea should be kept in an airtight container in a dry, cold, and dark area to avoid oxidation.

the temperature of the tea

The following are the recommended water temperatures for steeping tea:

If you don’t feel like getting out the thermometer every morning, don’t worry about it. Bring the water to a boil, but not quite. That typically solves the problem.

Note that higher water temperatures are required for more fermented teas. When the water temperature is too low, the leaves lose oxygen and the flavor becomes bland and flat.

Extracts and supplements

While we don’t have anything against green tea supplements, we do want to make sure you don’t overdo it on green tea extract. There have been case reports published that show that consuming large amounts of these extracts may cause liver damage. This has yet to be shown in well-controlled research, but it’s something to consider.

The advantages of drinking tea on a daily basis

Let’s look at some of the health advantages of drinking tea on a daily basis.

Note: These advantages were presented in the 2007 “Tea and Health” symposium, a gathering of tea experts from across the globe who came together to give some clear answers on what tea does and doesn’t do – at least according to what we know now.

We’ll break down these advantages into categories…

Body composition and tea

• Green tea enhanced energy expenditure and fat oxidation during a 24-hour period.
• Tea intake over three months reduced waist circumference by 4.5 percent.

Tea is good for your heart.

• Tea enhanced the oxidation of lipids.
• Tea enhanced the function of blood vessels.
• Those who drank three or more cups of black tea per day had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
• The use of 6 or more cups of black tea per day was linked to lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides.
• When compared to non-tea drinkers, those who drank a cup or more of black tea daily had a 44% lower risk of heart attack.
• Those who drank tea in the year leading up to a heart attack had a 44 percent higher chance of surviving the cardiac event.
• Japanese men and women who drank just over 2 cups of green tea per day had a 22–33% lower chance of dying from cardiovascular disease.
• When compared to placebo drinks, 5 cups of black tea per day lowered LDL cholesterol by 11% and total cholesterol by 6.5 percent.
• Atherosclerosis risk was reduced by 69 percent in those who drank four cups of tea each day.
• Tea improved the function of blood vessels in those who had coronary artery disease.
• Tea has been shown to help prevent atherosclerosis.
• Tea increased blood vessel dilatation.
• Tea drinkers had a decreased chance of having high blood pressure by 65 percent.

Cancer and tea

• Tea protected against oxidative damage.
• Tea reduced uncontrolled cell development and slowed the formation of aberrant cells.
• Tea consumption reduced free radical damage.
• The immune system was strengthened by tea.
• Tea has been shown to help prevent prostate cancer.
• Tea drinkers have a lower chance of developing skin cancer.
• Oral cancer was regressed with the use of tea.
• Tea users had a lower risk of ovarian cancer.

Tea and the immune system

• Tea increased the body’s inherent resilience against illness.

Oral health and tea

• Oral bacteria’s capacity to produce plaque was reduced by tea.

Bone health and tea

• Although it has been claimed that caffeine use is a risk factor for decreased bone mineral density, research has shown that drinking tea has no detrimental impact on bone mineral density.
• Tea-drinking older women had greater bone mineral density than those who did not.

Kidney stones and tea

• Tea drinkers were less likely to develop kidney stones.

Tea and the onset of dementia

• Tea consumption was linked to a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Selection of tea and spouse

• Those who consumed 5 cups of green tea each day had a more beautiful spouse (are you still reading my article?). This one hasn’t been proven by science yet, but you never know).

Recipes for tea

When I ask people why they don’t drink enough tea, they typically say they don’t enjoy the flavor. This explanation, on the other hand, is rather pathetic. You’ll have to be creative, just as with other healthy meals and drinks. That that end, here are a few recipes to make including tea into your diet a tasty proposition:

Chocolate Mint Shake

Ingredients: 1/2 cup minty green tea (highly brewed) 1 pound of ice 2 scoops whey protein (chocolate) 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil or fish oil with a vanilla taste 1 tbsp cocoa nibs or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Steep green tea for 5 minutes or use a tea press/infuser to make it. Allow time for cooling.
2. Pour the tea into a blender with 1 cup of ice.
3. Combine the protein, yogurt, oil, and chocolate in a blender.
4. Blend on high until the mixture is creamy and smooth.

Makes 1 large 593-calorie shake (22-fat, 36-carb, 61-protein) or 2 small 296-calorie shakes (11fat, 18carb, 30 protein).

Oatmeal with Blueberries

Ingredients: 1/2 cup berry-flavored green tea with a strong brew 1 cup of liquid 1/2 cup big flake oats, old fashioned 2 tbsp flax seeds, ground 1 tbsp honey (pure) a quarter cup of low-fat or soy milk 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder a quarter cup of frozen berries

Instructions:

1. Steep green tea for 5 minutes or use a tea press/infuser to make it. Allow time for cooling.
2. In a saucepan, combine the tea and 1 cup of water.
3. Bring the water to a boil over high heat before adding the oats.
4. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook until the liquid has been absorbed (approx 7-10 mins).
5. Remove the pan from the heat and add the flax and honey.
6. In a blender, combine the milk and protein, then pour over the oats.
7. Frozen berries should be added.

Makes 1 large 472 calorie serving (10 fat, 60 carbs, 35 protein) or 2 small 236 calorie servings (5fat, 30carb, 15 protein).

Finally, some ideas

The majority of the advantages may be obtained by drinking 3–4 cups of green or black tea each day. As a result, make sure you begin there. The majority of the studies in the study utilized normally brewed tea. To that reason, pre-bottled teas should be avoided since they may contain excessive quantities of added sugars as well as damaged beneficial components. As a result, they may not provide the same advantages as stepped tea.

Find out more.

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Tea 101 is a comprehensive guide to the world of tea. This article will give you everything you need to know about this ancient beverage, from how it’s made and what it tastes like, to how it can help your health. Reference: tea 101.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I learn about tea?

There are a variety of ways to learn about tea, including tasting it and reading books.

What should I look for in a good tea?

A good tea should be brewed in a glass teapot, should have a light and sweet flavor, and preferably contain a mixture of black and green tea leaves.

What is special about tea?

Tea is a drink that is made from the dried leaves of camellia sinensis plants. It has been around for thousands of years, and it was originally used as a medicinal drink.

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