A cup of tea is much more than just a nice beverage to warm our bodies
and eat scones with. Studies have shown that the antioxidant polyphenols
found in tea called "catechins" have been linked with anti-cancer
activity, while certain teas like green tea are also known to have
various health benefits. Below is a list of health benefits that have been linked to tea:
Boosts The Immune System
Green tea boosts the number of "regulatory T cells" in the body, which are important for the immune system.
This has to do with the green tea compound EGCG, a kind of polyphenol which researchers discovered can influence the expression of genes without changing the underlying DNA.
May Lower Risk Of Heart Disease
Drinking three or more cups of tea per day is linked with a lower risk of coronary heart disease. This is most likely due to the amount of antioxidants found in tea. Green tea and black tea were also found to have atherosclerosis-preventing effects.
Could Shrink Tumors
Lab tests conducted by Scottish researchers found that applying a compound called epigallocatechin gallate found in green tea was effective in shrinking tumors.
Potential Prostate Cancer Treatment
Studies involving mice showed that radioactive gold nanoparticles mixed with green tea compounds worked great as a delivery mechanism to potentially kill prostate cancer cells, reducing tumor size by up to 80 percent.
Boost Functioning In Old Age
A study that observed 14,000 adults ages 65 and older over a three-year period showed that the ones who drank the most green tea had the best functioning in old age compared with those who drank the least.
This led research to believe that drinking tea is significantly associated with a lower risk of incident functional disability that occurs during the onset of old age.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Drinking black tea could slightly decrease blood pressure. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that participants indulged in either black tea or a non-tea beverage that had similar caffeine levels and taste three times a day had a slight decrease in blood pressure after six months.
Aids Weight Loss
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found a link between weight loss and drinking five cups of tea a day, particularly in decreasing belly fat.
Boosts The Immune System
Green tea boosts the number of "regulatory T cells" in the body, which are important for the immune system.
This has to do with the green tea compound EGCG, a kind of polyphenol which researchers discovered can influence the expression of genes without changing the underlying DNA.
May Lower Risk Of Heart Disease
Drinking three or more cups of tea per day is linked with a lower risk of coronary heart disease. This is most likely due to the amount of antioxidants found in tea. Green tea and black tea were also found to have atherosclerosis-preventing effects.
Could Shrink Tumors
Lab tests conducted by Scottish researchers found that applying a compound called epigallocatechin gallate found in green tea was effective in shrinking tumors.
Potential Prostate Cancer Treatment
Studies involving mice showed that radioactive gold nanoparticles mixed with green tea compounds worked great as a delivery mechanism to potentially kill prostate cancer cells, reducing tumor size by up to 80 percent.
Boost Functioning In Old Age
A study that observed 14,000 adults ages 65 and older over a three-year period showed that the ones who drank the most green tea had the best functioning in old age compared with those who drank the least.
This led research to believe that drinking tea is significantly associated with a lower risk of incident functional disability that occurs during the onset of old age.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Drinking black tea could slightly decrease blood pressure. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that participants indulged in either black tea or a non-tea beverage that had similar caffeine levels and taste three times a day had a slight decrease in blood pressure after six months.
Aids Weight Loss
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found a link between weight loss and drinking five cups of tea a day, particularly in decreasing belly fat.
