Teatime for a Healthier You: Why Your Daily Brew Matters

Who doesn’t enjoy a cup of tea? As NIH noted, “drinking tea has been considered a health-promoting habit since ancient times”. Researchers have found this to be true. Why is tea so healthy? What are the substances in tea that promote health? Polyphenols include catechins which are antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. Flavonoids act as antioxidants in our bodies and may inhibit cancer cell growth. Theanine is an amino acid that helps with relaxation. Caffeine is a stimulant that can improve alertness and focus. A cup of tea provides much less caffeine than a cup of coffee: black tea about 47 mg of caffeine, green tea only 28 mg. Herbal teas like ginger tea and peppermint tea have no caffeine. Minerals : Tea can provide minerals like potassium, magnesium, copper, and zinc. What are so...