It's Tea Time!
8 examples of why tea is good for you
Have you noticed the rise in popularity of tea drinking where you live? Tea shops are popping up as often as coffee houses! But in all the years that I’ve been drinking iced tea and hot tea, I had no idea that it might actually be having a significant impact on my health — for the better. Beyond just the charm of drinking tea, science supports the health benefits of tea.
The world consumes 8000 tons of tea every day - and each cup is a cultural journey unto itself. After water, tea is the most frequently consumed beverage in the world. Which make sense; tea goes hand in hand with images of Asia, the United Kingdom, India, Russia. According to legend, tea was invented in China in 2737 BC, when a breeze blew a tea leaf into a cup of hot water about to be consumed by Emperor Shennong. Tea arrived in Great Britain in the 1600's, originally as a medicinal drink. By the 1800's, tea was a common touch-tone among all social classes. But how about here in the United States of America? It might not seem like we have a booming tea culture, but the fact is that on any given day, more than half of the American population drinks tea. But here’s the twist: 85 percent of that tea is served on the rocks.
Regardless of the temperature it is served at, tea is chock full of good things. There has been much research done, and compelling conclusions that tea can reduce the risk of heart disease, and possibly even help prevent a number of others. In warmer weather, having your tea iced is a great way to reap the benefits all year. Whether black, green, white or oolong – all of which come from the same plant, just processed differently – all teas do a body good. Here are a few of the ways in which they do so (with the caveat that you aren’t drinking tea drenched in sugar).
- Keeps you hydrated
Dehydration NOT so good. Hydration is so good. Tea is one of the best sources of hydration, second only to water. Yay! - Boosts your antioxidants
Everything is all about the antioxidants these days, we can’t seem to escape the heaping of accolades on these plant compounds that fight cell-damaging free radicals in the body. But if they really prove to be as beneficial as science seems to think they are, then we should be consuming them as frequently as possible! And on that note, tea has about eight to 10 times the polyphenol antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. - Low in Sugar and Calorie
A 12-ounce can of regular Coke contains 39 grams of total sugar, which is about 9 1/2 teaspoons of sugar and 140 calories. Twelve ounces of unsweetened iced tea has 0 teaspoons of sugar and 2 calories. Unsweetened iced tea has two major advantages over sweet tea -- it's lower in calories and sugar. An 8-ounce serving of packaged sweet iced tea contains 89 calories and 22 grams of sugar, while an equivalent portion of brewed, unsweetened black iced tea contains just 2 calories, less than a gram of carbohydrates and no added sugar. Switching from sweet tea to unsweetened iced tea makes it easier to stay under your recommended added sugar limit -- 24 grams daily for women and 36 grams for men. - May help your teeth
Some research has shown that drinking tea may help prevent tooth loss; tea changes the pH in your mouth, which may prevent cavities. At the very least, it appears not to harm tooth enamel like some beverages do. - Could fight cancer
The leaves of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) contain antioxidants called catechins, which may help prevent cancer in a variety of ways, including keeping free radicals from damaging cells. Lab studies have found that catechins in tea can shrink tumors and reduce tumor cell growth. - Provides a surprise source of manganese
You may not go around wondering how you can get more manganese in your diet, but hey, it can’t hurt. An 8-ounce glass of brewed black iced tea provides 520 micrograms of manganese, which is 35 percent of the recommended daily intake for women and 23 percent for men. Manganese promotes healthy wound healing, helps maintain the strength of your bones and supports your metabolism. - Chills the nerves
It has been found that people who drank tea were able to de-stress more quickly than those who didn’t. As well, the tea drinkers – who drank black tea four times a day for six weeks – had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood after a stressful event. - Helps your heart
There's a lot of literature out there on tea and heart health. A comprehensive review study found a nearly 20 percent reduction in the risk of heart attack and a 35 percent reduced risk of stroke among those who drank one to three cups of green tea daily. Those who drank four or more cups of green tea daily had a 32 percent reduction in the risk of having a heart attack and lower levels of LDL cholesterol.
You can make iced tea by brewing tea traditionally and then adding ice or allowing it to cool. You can use any type of tea – or herbal tea. Go crazy! Mix things up, how about adding lemon, mint and ginger to black tea? Peaches and lime to white tea? Raspberries and orange slices would go beautifully with Earl Gray. Have a tea free-for-all ... and reap the many benefits along the way. Few things can compare to sitting out on the porch at the end of a long summer day with a cold glass of iced tea. When it comes to a healthy beverage that will satisfy your thirst, look no further than unsweetened iced tea.
Restaurants offering fresh brewed iced tea are also switching to Saftea® Liner to ensure optimum freshness, quality and safety in the iced tea served to their patrons. Saftea® Liner is used in stainless steel tea urns commonly found at restaurants, cafes, and convenient stores, and ensures the highest quality and freshness in fresh brewed iced tea. Residual tea can become trapped in the urn or spigot, which can then build up forming harmful mold and bacteria. Using Saftea® Liner eliminates this issue since the tea never comes in direct contact with the tea urn. Switching liners is quick simple, and as an added bonus, no funky aftertaste from residual cleaning chemicals!
Restaurant operators, learn more about Saftea® Liner and visit our web store:
