Tea and health
Health benefits of tea drinking
“If you are cold, tea will warm you - if you are too heated, it will cool you - if you are depressed, it will cheer you - if you are excited, it will calm you.” - William Gladstone
For 5 000 years, the Chinese have used tea to treat many ailments, from colds and coughs to body aches and headaches. More recently, researchers have discovered tea's association with the prevention and management of certain illnesses, including heart disease, cancers of the digestive tract and skin, and osteoporosis.
A serving of tea generally contains about 40 milligrams of caffeine (less than half as much caffeine as in coffee), but the actual levels vary depending on the specific blend and the strength of the brew. Decaffeinated tea is also available.
Beneficial properties of tea
- Tea is an affordable healthy beverage.
- A cup of tea provides a sense of wellbeing.
- Tea provides relief from fatigue and increases alertness.
- Tea aids digestion when taken with meals.
- Tea is a hydrating liquid and counts towards our recommended daily intake of 2 to 3 litres of fluid a day.
- Together with fruit and vegetables, tea forms part of a healthy diet.
- Tea has hardly any calories and is low in sodium. It contains traces of proteins and carbohydrates, amino acids and lipids.
- Tea is also a natural source of powerful antioxidants known collectively as flavonoids. Antioxidants help protect the body from the damage caused by harmful free radicals. The amount and type of flavonoids in tea depends on the variety, the amount of tea used in the pot or cup, and brewing habit.