Tea is one of the oldest, most popular beverages in the world. People all over the globe have enjoyed it for centuries and its popularity is still going strong. But why is tea so popular? What are the health benefits of drinking it? It is a great source of antioxidants. Antioxidants help to protect the body from damage caused by free radicals, which are molecules that can damage cells and cause disease. It contains polyphenols, which are natural compounds that have antioxidant properties. Studies have shown that regular tea drinkers have a lower risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Tea Nutrition Facts and Calories Chart
A drink that is enjoyed all over the world and has been for centuries. It is known to have a variety of health benefits, including improved heart health, better digestion, stronger bones, and improved mental alertness. Tea is high in powerful antioxidants, which can help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals and may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and some forms of cancer. Also contains caffeine, which can help improve mental alertness and focus. Additionally, it is hydrating and may help reduce stress levels. Nutritional value per 100 g leaves:
- Biotin: 0 µg
- Calcium: 39 mg
- Carbohydrates (Carbs): 3.2 g
- Chloride: 5 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Choline: 0 mg
- Chromium: 0.2 µg
- Copper: 0.3 mg
- Dietary Fiber: 0.4 g
- Energy (Calories): 0 kcal
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Iodine: 0 µg
- Iron: 2.1 mg
- Magnesium: 23 mg
- Manganese: 0.4 mg
- Molybdenum: 0.1 µg
- Pantothenic Acid: 0.2 mg
- Phosphorus: 26 mg
- Potassium: 137 mg
- Protein: 2.9 g
- Saturated fat: 0.1 g
- Selenium: 0.5 µg
- Sodium: 16 mg
- Sugars: 0.2 g
- Vitamin A: 0 µg
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 0.3 mg
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B9 (Folate / Folic Acid): 4 µg
- Vitamin B12: 0 µg
- Vitamin C: 0 mg
- Vitamin D: 0 µg
- Vitamin E: 0 mg
- Vitamin K: 0 µg
- Water: 7.2 g
- Zinc: 0.3 mg
Tea in India
Tea is cultivated mainly in India, Sri Lanka, and China. Leaves are picked throughout the year. When it was first introduced into Europe in the 17th century it was regarded not as an everyday drink, but as a medicinal herb. Numerous tea house advertisements from the time extol the plants virtues as a digestive remedy and cure for overindulgence. It has been drunk in China since around 3000 B.C.
- Scientific Binomial: Camellia sinensis
- Common English: Tea
- Ayurvedic
- Unani: Chaai / Shaahi / Shaayi
- Sanskrit: Syamaparni
- Hindi / Urdu: Chaay
- Bengali: Cha
- Marathi: Chaha
- Telugu: Teyaku
- Tamil: Thaeyilai / Tey
- Gujarati
- Kannada: Teyaku
- Malayalam: Tey
- Oriya
- Punjabi / Sindhi
- Assamese
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Manipuri
- Dogri
- Bhojpuri
Home Remedies
Grown almost exclusively for use as a beverage, it is perhaps the world’s most undervalued medicinal plant. Numerous studies point to the health giving properties of the leaf, especially unfermented green or white form. These teas contain high levels of polyphenols, which have potent antioxidant activity. Leaves has warming and tonic properties, endearing it to those working in the cold. The plant has a stimulating effect on the nervous system because of its caffeine like alkaloids. This substance enhances mental alertness and acting as a “pick-me-up”. Two to three cups a day is probably enough to provide most of the health benefits.
- Eye Health: For tired, irritated, and puffy eyes, place a moist tea bag or a cotton ball that has been soaked in cooled green tea on the affected (closed) eye for a few minutes. Usually symptoms are eased and the eyelids and surrounding tissues are toned. It can also be used in this way to counter inflammation or infection within the eye, for example, in helping to relieve the pain and discomfort of conjunctivitis.
- Tea is useful to soothe sunburns, reduced stroke risk, decreases heart diseases, gives stronger teeth, provides cancer prevention at some extent, heals canker sores, treats anal itching, fights body odor, soothes hemorrhoids. Also help in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, fever, and gastroenteritis.
- Anal Itching: To treat anal itching, use a warm tea bag as an astringent compress to ease itching and swelling. Just boil the bag as you would to make a cup of tea to release the chemicals in the leaves, let it cool down to a comfortable temperature, then hold it against the problem area for several minutes.
- Alternative to Carbonated Drinks: It is also a great way to stay hydrated. It contains no calories and is a great alternative to sugary drinks like soda. Studies have shown that it can help to increase fluid intake, which can help to keep you hydrated throughout the day. Also contains caffeine, but it’s not as much as coffee. Caffeine can help to improve alertness, concentration, and reaction time. It can also help to reduce fatigue and improve mental performance. Tea also has a calming effect. Studies have shown that drinking it can help to reduce stress and anxiety levels. It can also help to improve sleep quality.
- Piles: For external hemorrhoids, apply a warm, wet tea bag. The warmth is soothing, and you get added benefit from one of tea’s main components, tannin acid. It helps reduce pain and swelling, and since it also promotes blood clotting, this treatment helps stop the bleeding.
- Canker Sore: Apply a damp tea bag to canker sore for five minutes. It is alkaline, so it neutralizes acids. It also contains astringent compounds, which may help relieve the pain.
- Gum Problems: Applying such wet bag is also useful in case of gum problems placing against the painful area. It contains tannic acid, a powerful astringent that shrinks swollen tissues and helps stanch bleeding. If bleeding and inflammation persist, fold the bag in half and bite down on it.
- Athlete’s Foot: Try tea bath for athlete’s foot. Tea contains tannic acid, a natural astringent that works wonderfully to dry out sweaty feet. Steep five bags in a quart of boiling water for five minutes. Let cool to lukewarm, then soak your feet in this “tea bath” for 30 minutes. This is also effective for foot odor.
Black Vs Green vs Fermented Oolong
Tea can help to boost your immune system. Studies have found that drinking tea can help to increase the number of immune cells in the body, which can help to fight off infections and illnesses. These are just a few of the many benefits of drinking tea. It’s no wonder why so many people around the world choose to drink tea every day. So, why not give tea a try and experience the many health benefits it has to offer?
- Formation: Black and green tea both are obtained from Camellia sinensis but only difference is the way it is treated or processed. The green variety popular in Asian countries is simply the steamed, rolled and dried leaves of this plant. While black tea leaves are rolled, oxidized and dried. Black teas undergo a process of fermentation that gives them stronger flavors and darker colors and perhaps lower levels of health protective chemical compounds. This difference in processing gives the two teas their distinct flavoring, color, and health benefits.
- Fermentation: Most of the tea drunk in the West is black tea made by fermenting the leaves, while green tea is made from leaves that have been pan-fried and then dried. Oolong tea is a partly fermented variation.
- Heath Benefits: Green tea is generally considered to be a healthier choice, as it is high in antioxidants and other substances that can help protect the body from disease. Black variety, on the other hand, is known for its caffeine content, which can give an energy boost. However, both types have been linked to potential health benefits, such as improved digestion, improved cardiovascular health, and reduced risk of certain types of cancer.
- Nature: In China, green tea is considered cooling and is preferred in hot weather, while oolong and black teas are more warming for cold days. Black tea is especially astringent and is ideal to ease diarrhea. It is also a traditional Cantonese remedy for hangovers.
- Quality: High quality teas such as white or oolong tea, which is made with the youngest leaf buds have the highest levels of polyphenols, and can be expensive. Black tea is allowed to ferment, leading to a significant loss of antioxidant constituents, notably polyphenols.
Side Effects and Precautions
If you usually take tea with milk, you might be missing out on some of the health protection. Proteins in milk may bind to tea’s polyphenols and block their beneficial effects.
- Excessive use of tea may cause nervous irritability and digestive distress such as ulcers.
- Some believe tea to be addictive.
- Avoid tea in cases of hypertension and insomnia; avoid large doses during pregnancy and while nursing.
- Tea can interfere with the effectiveness of drugs such as allopurinol (for the treatment of gout), antibiotics, antiulcer drugs, and the drug theophylkline, prescribed for asthma. It can prevent the absorption of iron and interfere with the effectiveness of sedative drugs.
- Drinking tea to excess can cause constipation, indigestion, dizziness, palpitations, irritability, and insomnia.
- It is best avoided during premenstrual syndrome, research has repeatedly shown that caffeine leads to a worsening of symptoms, and may be unhelpful during menopause, as it can increase hot flashes.
- The chemicals in tea help prevent cholesterol from oxidizing. Oxidation occurs when cholesterol is bombarded by free radicals. The process makes the cholesterol more likely to stick to artery walls, a step on the road to heart disease.