An apple a day keeps the doctor away. This is a common phrase used to explain the importance of a healthy diet to keep you from constant health problems that lead you to the hospital. The same should be said about drinking tea, “A cup a day keeps the doctor away.”
There are numerous steps to take to maintain your physical well-being and a healthy lifestyle. One of those ways is by incorporating tea into your diet.
Why?
Historically, tea was used for medicinal and recreational purposes in different cultures in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Much of the world’s tea consumed today is produced in China with a large percentage also produced in India and Kenya. Based on various scholarly articles, testimonies, and research done in Asia and Africa, tea is known to have benefits including lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, detoxifying the body, cleansing the intestines and the digestive system, and even being a preventative measure for some illnesses. Tea is important to what is known as flavonoid intake. Flavonoids are nutrients found in plants, fruits, and vegetables that are antioxidants with benefits for the immune system.
Lower Blood Pressure
The antioxidant flavonoids found in different teas have been referenced to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and lowering blood pressure. For example, green teas can relax the blood vessels which get rid of hypertension and this affects your blood pressure. Drinking tea consistently for prolonged duration has more of an impact on blood pressure and other heart ailments. It is important to keep steady blood pressure and take preventative measures to eliminate the risk of further heart problems. It is important to also have a healthy diet, reduce sodium and alcohol intake as well as exercise to truly see results and positive changes in your health.
Reduce Stress
Cortisol is the stress hormone in our bodies that affects our level of stress, anxiety, and depression depending on the amount of cortisol produced. Drinking tea, specifically black teas can reduce the cortisol levels in a person’s body which ultimately results in reduced stress levels. This is particularly helpful when a person is in post-stress recovery because drinking black teas can help calm those hormones and allows easier recovery. Tea contains much less caffeine than coffee and many other sugar-filled drinks and it helps to clear a person’s mind without increasing their blood pressure or making them anxious in the way caffeine and sugar do.
Detox The Body
The antioxidants and flavonoids in tea fill your body with nutrients and help to detox and cleanse your body including the digestive system, intestines, and other parts of your body. By consistently consuming tea, you are providing your body with the properties it needs to flush out the toxins in your body. By detoxing and ridding your body of harmful toxins, your body becomes rejuvenated and makes way for improved health and even weight loss.
Soothes Sore throat
During cold and flu seasons many people of all ages experience symptoms such as coughs, runny nose, and sore or strep throat. While tea alone does not treat these symptoms, it has a significant impact on your immune system and things like your throat to ease the discomfort of the cold or flu. Warm black or Green tea, when mixed with honey which is an antibacterial ingredient, can soothe the irritation of a sore throat. The antioxidants in the tea combined with the antibacterial properties of honey, lemon, ginger or mint, can fight off bacteria causing pain and irritation.
While drinking tea has a multitude of benefits, people must understand that it is not the sole solution for a healthy body. It takes a well-balanced diet, exercise, and hard work to fight off illnesses, attain healthy body goals, and have a well-rounded lifestyle and tea is simply a significant factor in that process.