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    Home » Learning About Tea » Top 10 Health Benefits of Tea

    Top 10 Health Benefits of Tea

    Published: Mar 1, 2018 · Modified: Mar 17, 2020 by Mary Ann Rollano · 11 Comments I independently review every recommendation. May contain affiliate links.

    44 shares

    Health benefits of tea abound because flavonoids are found in very high concentrations. As a result, tea has amazing health benefits.

    Health Benefits of Tea

    Need a good reason to drink tea every day? Personally, I drink tea every day because I love it. The health benefits of tea are just a bonus. But most people in the United States prefer coffee over tea. So, for all you coffee drinkers out there, here are a few reasons to switch it up.

    Thousands of scientific studies show that regular tea drinking can have significant health benefits. After all, it is plant-based food. Flavonoids, the same compounds found in fruits and vegetables, are the major bioactive compounds found in tea.

    Some of the health benefits of  tea:

    1. Drinking tea reduces stress

    We’ve all heard the saying “keep calm and drink tea”, but is tea really relaxing?

    Black tea contains an amino acid called l-theanine, found only in tea and has some very interesting effects on the brain. L-theanine increases alpha brain waves inducing a calm and deeply relaxed state.

    Because of alpha waves' connection with relaxed mental states, an increase in alpha wave activity is a desirable outcome.

    Combined with the caffeine in tea, which is about half the amount found in coffee, the overall effect is relaxed and focused calm.

    2. Tea aids in meditation

    The calm focus obtained from drinking tea is beneficial in the practice of meditation. Buddhist monks traditionally drink tea before their meditation practice. It keeps them awake, calm and focused.

    Tea creates relaxed alertness which aids in contemplation and meditation because of the high concentration of the amino acid L-theanine.

    L-theanine relieves mental and physical stress and enhances cognition and awareness. This unique mix of chemicals in tea delivers wakefulness, awareness, and relaxation all at the same time.

    3. Tea helps to maintain heart health

    Antioxidants have proven health benefits for cardiovascular health. Studies have shown that tea may help support healthy blood flow and circulation by improving blood vessel function.

    Research associates tea drinking with a reduced risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

    4. Certain teas may reduce cholesterol

    Lovastatin is a beneficial statin for reducing cholesterol and is naturally present in small amounts in Pu’er tea.

    Pu’er is an aged tea from the town of Pu’er in the Yunnan Province of China.

    The tea is processed and then pressed into cakes and aged for years. This aging process produces micro-enzymes, probiotic properties and a rich flavor profile that makes Pu’er so famous.

    Related: 10 Best Online Tea Shops

    5. Green tea is known for cancer prevention

    Studies suggest that tea may help reduce cancer risk in a variety of ways:

      • Boosting the immune system
      • Inhibition of uncontrolled cell growth
      • Reduction of free radicals

    The majority of studies on tea and cancer have been done with green tea.

    Green tea contains a compound called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This compound is what scientists believe protects against various types of cancer.

    Emerging research suggests black teas may provide similar benefits.

    6. Tea helps with weight control

    Tea flavonoids may help increase metabolism and fat oxidation and improve blood sugar control. It is the tea catechins, which are a type of flavonoid, that provide a modest shift in metabolism promoting weight loss and maintenance.

    Green tea, in particular, is known for stimulating metabolism and burning calories.

    7. Tea may improve oral health

    Most people don’t know that tea naturally contains fluoride, which is known for strengthening teeth. Tooth decay is inversely related to fluoride intake.

    Tea polyphenols inhibit bacterial growth, further reducing tooth decay.

    Oolongs are produced from a more mature leaf and contain higher levels of fluoride.

    8. Tea could be beneficial to diabetes

    Preliminary studies on the health benefits of tea suggest that people with Type 2 diabetes, non-insulin dependent diabetes, can benefit from the plant extracts found in tea.

    The flavonoid, myricetin, which is in tea, is found to mimic insulin activity.

    Insulin is a hormone in the body, released by the pancreas to regulate blood glucose levels.

    9. Age gracefully with the health benefits of tea

    Scientists believe our cells are genetically designed to deteriorate with age. Growing evidence suggests increases in antioxidants help reduce the cell damage that leads to disease.

    Controlling cell damage and reducing the diseases of old age will improve the quality of life as you age.

    We’re still going to get old, there’s no getting around it. But it’s better to be old and healthy, so you can still do the things you love.

    10. Tea helps to increase good intestinal bacteria

    The intestines contain bacteria known as "normal flora" or healthy bacteria. This bacteria aids in the digestive process. Other microorganisms can secrete harmful bacteria in the intestines.

    Drinking tea over a period of weeks have shown that the polyphenols in tea help to increase the beneficial Lacto-bacilli bacteria and Bifidobacteria, commonly referred to as probiotics.

    The same polyphenols help to decrease the harmful Enterobacteriaceae bacteria in the intestines.

    Some very serious Enterobacteriaceae, like e-Coli, can produce toxins that, when released into the bloodstream causing a systemic inflammatory and vasodilatory response. Not a good scenario.

    Sources: Linus Pauling Institute, Fifth International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health, Teausa.com

    Cultivate your body and mind

    It really doesn’t matter which type of tea you drink - black, green, white, matcha, oolong or Pu-erh. As long as it’s from the Camellia sinensis plant, studies are finding benefits from all of them.

    The key is to select a quality tea and skip the tea bags full of dust and fannings, which are the remnants of processing whole leaf tea. High-end specialty teas are readily available now. Go out, experiment and find your favorite!


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    About Mary Ann Rollano

    Mary Ann is a 3x award-winning tea specialist, nurse, and author of Life Is Better With Tea - introducing tea drinkers to the world of specialty tea, herbs, and wellness. Click here for your FREE Tea Guide.

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    1. Alicia Kraus

      October 14, 2018 at 6:48 am

      I always prefer black tea, sometimes with lemon and honey . I had no idea it had so many health benefits. Thanks for the post.

      Log in to Reply
      • Mary Ann Rollano

        October 23, 2018 at 8:45 pm

        I'm amazed too. There are always new studies coming out on all the positive benefits of tea. It's good to know our favorite drink is also healthy.

        Log in to Reply
    2. Gina Caro @ Gypsy Soul

      March 07, 2017 at 9:50 am

      I'm a huge tea fan! Found this post really interesting, I have pinned it to my 'health benefits of tea' board on Pinterest 🙂

      Log in to Reply
      • Mary Ann Rollano

        March 14, 2017 at 12:23 pm

        Thanks Gina!

        Log in to Reply
      • Jack @ Readyfortea

        July 26, 2017 at 3:22 am

        Me too, I drink tea for years and years, and I don't plan to stop 🙂

        Log in to Reply
    3. Maria

      December 01, 2016 at 8:04 pm

      I love a good brew. I prefer traditional black tea with a little milk for breakfast, and have recently had to swap over to decaffeinated tea on Doctor's orders. It's taking me a while to find something I like...

      Log in to Reply
      • Mary Ann Rollano, RN

        December 07, 2016 at 11:07 am

        Oh thats a tough one. Some teas are naturally lower in caffeine content and decaffeinated tea is done so with chemicals. You could always switch to herbals, which don't have any caffeine. This gives me an idea for a post. Lots of people are in your situation. I'm going to do a little research and find out what the best options are for tea lovers who enjoy black tea but need to stay away from caffeine. You're not the only one!

        Log in to Reply
    4. Sam

      November 06, 2016 at 3:06 am

      I agree - tea is a wonderful drink for promoting health. You just need to learn how to make it properly, e.g. not using boiling water for green tea, and you'll drink it forever. 🙂 - Sam

      Log in to Reply
      • Mary Ann Rollano, RN

        November 09, 2016 at 12:58 pm

        Yes! There are a lot of nuances to making great tea properly. That's what trips a lot of people up. Might be a good topic for a blog post.

        Log in to Reply
    5. LeeLee

      October 02, 2016 at 4:21 pm

      I love tea and these are wonderful tips, Mary Ann.

      Log in to Reply
      • Mary Ann Rollano, RN

        October 05, 2016 at 7:24 pm

        Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying them.

        Log in to Reply

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    Hi, I'm Mary Ann, an award-winning tea expert, retired registered nurse, and author writing tips on all types of tea and herbs. I show you all the benefits of tea - nutrition, medicine, and an abundance of culinary joy.

    I believe tea is more than a beverage; it's a lifestyle. Tea calms the mind and soothes the spirit. If you want to live well, start by drinking tea.

    Here I show you how to select quality loose leaf teas, make tea with the best flavor, and create tea recipes. Experience a lifestyle change of wellness through the beauty of tea.

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