Tea is a widely consumed beverage worldwide. A hydrating drink with a wide variety of flavors. Tea is a common beverage across many cultures. The taste varies depending on the production area, cultivation method, and processing method of the tea leaves. Black tea is the most popular tea in the world, followed by green tea, oolong tea and white tea (Brennan, 2020). 

While the majority of traditional teas are low in nutrients, they are high in polyphenols. These are plant compounds that may have health-improving qualities and give teas their distinctive flavor and aroma (Harvard T. H. Chan, 2022). Tea is low in calories, making it ideal for low-calorie diets. The caffeine content of tea differs by variety, but in general, tea has much less caffeine than coffee. This article discusses the nutritional and health benefits of drinking tea, as well as the side effects that tea can have.

Tea is not only a drink you can enjoy, but it also has many health benefits. Depending on the type of tea, it may relieve or alleviate certain ailments (Alshi, 2021). Minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper and zinc are found in trace amounts in both caffeine and herbal teas. Different types of tea may have different benefits (Gordon, 2022). It is important to remember that many of these minerals are only present in trace amounts since nutrients are lost during the dehydration and boiling processes used to prepare tea and tea leaves.

Not only is it hydrating and delicious, it can also be a partial replacement for water; caffeine, which is present in tea, enters the bloodstream and increases urine production in the body. If you're trying to stay hydrated or eliminate toxins, this diuretic effect may be beneficial (Tea Crossing, 2022), but the nutrients and minerals available help with overall health. While drinking tea is not a panacea for all health conditions, it can be easily incorporated into a healthy diet. 

Here are some of the TEArrific benefits of tea:

1. Relieves cough and cold symptoms 

Tea has many properties that help relieve cold and cough symptoms and make breathing easier. According to Human Healthy Life, teas like ginger tea have antispasmodic, expectorant, healthful, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that help reduce the symptoms of colds and coughs (Human Healthy Life, 2022). Tea relaxes the cough reflex and soothes the throat. Tea might not cure a cold, but it can lessen its symptoms, like sore throat. People may find chamomile, ginger, and elderberry teas to be calming (Furushima et al, 2018).

2. Aids digestion 

Some herbal teas have been shown to improve digestion. Tea helps to hydrate the body, and a well-hydrated body is less likely to experience constipation. Tea water passes through the body, bulking up your stool while keeping it soft for easy elimination. Furthermore, specific teas provide nutrients such as antioxidants, polyphenols, and other herbal compounds that boost digestive enzymes (Stevens, 2022). In addition, it relieves constipation and controls regular bowel movements.

3. Antibacterial properties 

Not only is tea delicious, but it also has antibacterial properties. Drinking black tea can prevent many oral infections. The polyphenols in various teas act as prebiotics, feeding healthy bacteria in the gut. Increasing the number of healthy bacteria in the body can help with not only digestion but also weight loss (Stevens, 2022).

Tea has also been linked to a lower risk of a variety of ailments, including cognitive issues, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and others. Black tea, for example, contains theaflavins and thearubigins (antioxidants) that have health benefits for the body (Brennan, 2020).

Overdosing on caffeine which is also present in tea can result in symptoms like a faster heartbeat, muscle tremors, headache, nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia. However, excessive coffee consumption, which has significantly more caffeine than even the strongest teas, is more frequently linked to these symptoms.

Tea is a go-to drink for health advocates due to its several health benefits. So, the next time you brew that cup of tea, you are actually doing your body a favor! (CMU BSND OJT Lhalene Flores / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 09631091098).

References:

Alshi, S. (2021, July 19). Tea - nutrition: Health benefits and facts - times foodie. Tea - Nutrition: Health Benefits and Facts - Times Foodie. https://www.timesfoodie.com/nutritional-facts/tea-nutritional-benefits/84554761.cms?fbclid=IwAR3P3QMJ1l6Bbm-fs7FsPf0bqYdzcgdYnU_HFPqoQGZDsZ-KK8mOw8OThGo 

Best tea for colds, flu, cough: Benefits, and treatment. Human Healthy Life. (2022, May 10).https://humanhealthylife.com/best-tea-for-colds/#:~:text=It%20is%20widely%20known%20that%20ginger%20tea%20is,fight%20off%20the%20symptoms%20of%20cough%20and%20colds. 

Brennan, D. (2020, October 17). Tea: Are there health benefits? pros and cons, benefits, and Nutrition Information. WebMD.https://www.webmd.com/diet/tea-health-benefits?fbclid=IwAR3S-6y5zYTg8nqNjXVjoPveWDmY2F7rIPnjZYnxGdCAmhFCG8whkJjD2lg

Furushima, D., et al. (2018). Effect of tea catechins on influenza infection and the     common cold with a focus on epidemiological/clinical studies.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6100025/

Gordon, B. (2022, January 13). The health benefits of tea. EatRight. https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/preventing-illness/the-health-benefits-of-tea?fbclid=IwAR22ZS6008lERy-fN1Yo-PdDr5etfqVmPAEtLbRndxa1ren_ZvuayBTtRqQ

Stevens, V. (2022, September 27). The 6 best teas that support digestion. Dherbs. https://www.dherbs.com/articles/the-6-best-teas-that-support-digestion/#:~:text=First%20and%20foremost%2C%20drinking%20tea%20helps%20to%20hydrate,while%20also%20keeping%20it%20soft%20for%20easy%20elimination. 

Tea. The Nutrition Source. Harvard T.H. Chan.  (2022, January 27). https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/tea/?fbclid=IwAR2ScBETJIiaCW6owAYEK-23zM-fudAKfDdQyHodUGIeE27mwg1dSEKCUSk

Tea Crossing. (2022, April 9). Why does tea make you pee?.https://teacrossing.com/when-you-drink-tea-the-caffeine-enters-your-bloodstream-and-causes-your-body-to-produce-more-urine-this-diuretic-effect-can-be-helpful-if-youre-trying-to-stay-hydrated-or-flush-out-toxins/