As one of the world's oldest and most enjoyed beverages. second only to water, according to the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project, tea has a prominent place in many cultures -- from the British, whose identity is nearly synonymous with the stuff, to the Japanese, who consider tea to be as much an art form as a beverage. In addition to the cultural importance of tea, many health benefits are associated with this timeless drink.
CAFFEINE
While a warm cup of tea can be relaxing, an 8-ounce cup of black tea contains roughly 40 to 120 mg of caffeine, according to MayoClinic.com. That's about half the amount that's found in coffee, and about twice as much caffeine as you might find in cola. The major benefit of caffeine in tea is extended mental alertness as well as decreased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to MedlinePlus.
ANTIOXIDANTS
Perhaps the biggest health benefits of tea come from the antioxidants it contains. Flavanoids, which are a type of antioxidant known as polyphenols (naturally occurring chemical compounds that can prevent cell damage), have been connected with reduced risk of heart disease and some cancers. In fact, according to Fitness Magazine, sipping three cups a day can decrease your risk of heart attack by as much as 11 percent, and just one cup a day can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 24 percent. Studies cited by MedlinePlus and the University of Maryland have shown connections between tea and protection against lung, prostate and bladder cancers. While green tea, which comes from the same plant as black tea but undergoes less fermentation and processing, contains the highest amount of polyphenols, black tea does still possess antioxidant properties.
OTHER POSSIBLE BENEFITS
Research cited by MedlinePlus purports that black tea is "possibly effective" for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, kidney stones, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.
SAFETY CONCERNS
Tea is for the most part safe to drink, even for children in small amounts. Adults should take care not to exceed five cups a day, as suggested by MedlinePlus. Drinking more tea than five cups can put adults at risk of some of the detrimental effects of caffeine, such as headaches, anxiety, irregular heartbeat, tremors and a host of other symptoms. Women who are pregnant should limit their tea intake to two cups a day, and people with anxiety or bleeding disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma, osteoporosis or anemia should consult their physicians about possible side effects from the caffeine in tea.
REFERENCES
- https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/997.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18228206
- https://www.powerofpositivity.com/health-benefits-of-green-tea/
- https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/drink/tea-the-ultimate-health-drink/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16855537
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372