Tea is indeed a magical elixir. Ask a regular who starts his day with a cuppa and he could tell you why.
It is not only a stimulant that energises you, but it is also known to promote weight loss, improve mood and prevent a host of ailments, among other things.
A recent study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition sheds new light on why this humble cuppa is good for health. The most beneficial compounds in tea, experts say is flavonoids. These antioxidants boost our body’s ability to fight a host of ailments. They detoxify and help remove harmful chemicals from the body.
“Caffeine stimulates alertness and lifts your mood,” says Lovely Ranganath, Senior Nutritionist, Healthtrendz, World Trade Centre.
“It also helps raise your metabolic rate, acts as an appetite suppressant and hence makes you shed weight,” she adds.
Tea is rich in an antioxidant called catechins which, studies have suggested, offers protection of the artery walls, helps fight heart diseases and prevents formation of blood clots.
Women would be keen to know about the good qualities of catechins – it can make the skin smoother and hair shiny.
Ranganath says the best type of tea is the green variety because it has less caffeine which is known to cause acidity, poor digestion, weaken bones and disturb sleep patterns. Green tea is known to bring about thermogenesis (a process triggering fat burning) because of its polyphenol content, she said.
Tea is an absolutely safe drink and even people suffering from high blood pressure or hypertension can safely drink 2-3 cups of green tea daily. However, too much of anything is bad for health, Ranganath said.
How many cups must one drink a day to gain health benefits is debatable, but there are studies suggesting that drinking even as little as one cup as day offers protection to the heart.
Ranganath said two to three cups a day is good enough because more than that would mean compromising on nutrition.
Tea, which also contains tannin, often interferes with the absorption of essential minerals such as iron and zinc and if you are anaemic, tea should definitely be left out of your meal plans.
Does adding milk and sugar reduce the health benefits of tea? “No,” she says. “There have been no conclusive studies to indicate this. It doesn’t matter how you prefer your brew, it’s a matter of personal choice.”
Why tea is good for your health
Green tea is high in antioxidants which protect the body against a host of ailments.
Caffeine raises metabolism.
Tea is an appetite suppressant and aids weight loss.
Catechins offer protection against heart diseases as well as formation of blood clots.
Black tea is high in flavonoids which help prevent strokes, type 2 diabetes, reduce stress and risk of certain types of cancer.
