Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Sip Your Way to Good Health

By Kaitlin Koppenal

Being a new tea explorer, I came across a website online that talked about the health benefits of different types of tea. Naturally I was intrigued, because why spend tons of money on supplements and other remedies they might not even work! Not only do I love the taste of tea, but I love the overall experience of it! Curling up on the couch, watching a movie or my weekly show with a cup of nice hot tea makes all the problems in my world disappear and allows me to wind down from a long, stressful day.

While starting my research on the health benefits of drinking tea, I was shocked to find all the different advantages it has. Tea is known to include many great antioxidants. The antioxidants' role in the body is to protect it from being damaged by dangerous and very destructive molecules called free radicals. The body is exposed to these free radical molecules through pollutants, when the body breaks down certain medicines, sun light, chlorination and other chemical sources.

Not only is tea a great source of antioxidants, but it is known that it has many other health benefits as well. Here are some other great facts about tea that help your body:


  1. White tea has more antioxidants in it than most other teas.

  2. Fresh brewed teas have more antioxidants than instant or bottled teas.

  3. Studies have proven that tea drinkers are most likely to have lower blood pressure than non-tea drinkers.

  4. Black teas may lower LDL, “bad” cholesterol.

  5. By drinking tea you can help decrease skin damage and aging that are thought to be caused by free radicals and oxidation in the body.

  6. Antioxidants are thought to help and prevent some disease like coronary artery disease, some cancers, macular degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease.

  7. Tea is thought to boost the immune system, building your body’s defense against infection and disease.


Not only are you having a great experience by pouring yourself a nice cup of tea, but you’re helping your body as well! Who could resist?

1 Comments:

Martin P. said...

Great entry.

Tea has been with us since time immemorial and yet, if people only found time to do some research, they will find out that preventing illnesses and diseases through conscientious tea-drinking over time can possibly save them from years seeking treatment in the hospital.