Drink Tea for Good Health
Who doesn’t enjoy a cup of hot tea, especially in winter? Does tea have any health benefits? Do different kinds of tea have different
health benefits? Yes. An interesting article, in Environmental Nutrition
discussed teas for various health reasons such as weight, insomnia and
improving your immunity.
Many people make health claims for herbal teas, but what
health claims are true and reliable?
Weight – are there
herbal teas that promote weight loss?
- Green, white and oolong teas: These 3 teas have chemicals in them called catechins. In the lab at least, these chemicals do affect fat metabolism. Green tea is especially rich in catechins.
- Roobios tea: This is a different tea, a red tea with a different chemical. This one has the chemical, aspalathin. One study showed it helped improve fat metabolism.
- Peppermint tea: a real treat on a cold winter day. The smell of peppermint in this tea seems to help suppress one’s appetite.
Insomnia and
Anxiety
- Chamomile tea: have trouble sleeping? Then a cup of chamomile tea may be helpful. One study indicated it helped those with anxiety – so if you feel stressed, enjoy a cup of chamomile tea.
- Kava tea: studies have shown it may help relieve anxiety – but CAUTION. Stay clear of kava supplements which have been linked to liver damage.
- Valerian tea: Some studies have found a cup of valerian tea can help you sleep better.
Immunity – are
there teas that can help boost your immunity?
- Echinacea tea: Studies have provided mixed results on the link between this tea and immunity. Some studies have shown it may help prevent the common cold.
- Ginseng tea: Some studies have found this tea helpful in preventing colds and the flu or at least help improve symptoms.
CAUTION –
drinking herbal teas may indeed have some health benefits but more research is
needed. But stay
clear of buying the herbal and dietary supplements that contain green tea
extract. The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
acknowledges the benefits of drinking green tea and notes, “Green tea has long
been believed to have health restoring properties and its ingredients have
antioxidant activity. “ But NIH also
notes that dietary supplements, like Hydoxycut, which contains high
concentrations of green tea extract, has been linked to liver injury.
Enjoy a brewed cup of herbal tea. Just stay clear of herbal and dietary
supplements containing extracts, like the green tea extract which can be found
in some weight loss pills.
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