Fitness
A cup full of health
Tea has numerous curative and preventive health benefits. This drinking habit can lead to a healthier and longer life

The medical community is all praises for the positive effects that tea has on health. There are various types of teas and each of these is believed to have its own specific aroma, nutrients, minerals and health benefits. The difference in aroma comes from the variations in processing the leaves after these are harvested. But all these 2,000 varieties come from basically four major categories i.e. black tea, the oolong tea, the green tea and the white tea.

Tea drinking improves concentration and alertness Thinkstock

For all top-grade fine teas, only the top two leaves (which are the most aromatic) and the unopened leaf bud is used.

Black tea: To produce black tea which is the most commonly used tea available at your nearest grocery store, the leaves undergo full oxidation fermentation, which causes the leaves to turn black and gives them their strong, typical flavour. When the aroma and flavour has fully developed, the oxidation process is stopped. Then the leaves are crushed to various sizes and are sorted out and stored according to their sizes.

Green tea: The regular green tea, which is commonly consumed and is also available easily, is produced in a similar fashion, except that after the leaves are picked, these are not oxidised as it occurs during the production of black tea. These are spread out in the hot air to become soft and pliable. Then these are rolled which gives the leaves their characteristic style and also helps to regulate the release of the natural substances and flavour during the sleeping. Then the leaves are dried whereby their natural fragrances and flavour are stabilised. The aim during the production of green tea is to preserve the healthy, natural and active substances of the fresh leaves so that they can be released into the cup at the time of infusion. Research conducted by countries that mainly drink green tea, namely China and Japan, says that green teas are high in nutrients and minerals and have numerous health benefits.

Oolong tea: Oolong teas fall in the category in between the unfermented green tea and the fully fermented black teas. These have health benefits similar to black teas depending upon the degree of fermentation.

White tea: It is not so common in India. When infused in water it has a pale yellow colour and a delicate flavour. This tea is generally not fermented and has a very mild flavour. It has health benefits similar to green tea.

Herb teas: These are a variety by themselves. These are completely different, from the teas describe above. These are not teas in the true sense of the word but fresh herbs, which have medicinal properties. When a tea spoon of these fresh herbs like mint, tulsi, ginger, jasmine and many others are infused into hot water, their medicinal properties seeps into water which when taken gives a desire effect which may be laxative, refreshing, sedative, curative or antiacid in nature. According to their medicinal effects, these teas are named as sleeping tea, slimming tea, dieter's tea, cholesterol-lowering tea etc. according to their specific medicinal properties.

Herb teas are available under different brand names, according to their medicinal effect.

For instance you have herb teas, which help to relive colds and congestion, sore throat and stuffy nose.
Some herb teas contain ginseng which helps the body physical and mental strength.
It also helps strengthen the immune system.
Some herb teas are caffeine-free and are used for relaxing and getting good sleep.
The tea made from jasmine flowers has antioxidant and provides a fair amount of vitamin C and soothes the digestive system.

Ginger tea: It is made from the ginger root. It is pungent in taste and is used to give warmth to the body, aids digestion, prevents hansea, and aids arculation. It is also known to provide relief from colds by drying up the mucous.

The health benefits derived from herb teas are different from those derived from the regular teas described earlier. Both type of teas are considered to have positive effects on health and well-being.

Regular tea and its health benefits

Research conducted on tea, states that tea, whether green or black, contains antioxidants that fight against free radicals and hence prevents cell destruction.
The antioxidants in tea are vitamin C, polyphenols and trace tea vitamins and minerals tea is also known to contain some essential oils which develop during the production process and gives tea most of its aroma and fragrance.
Vitamin C is present in green teas and it is said that two cups of green tea have as much vitamin C as a glass of orange juice.
Tea also contains, potassium, niacin, folic acid, the mineral manganese and trace amount of the B vitamins namely B1 & B2.
The polyphenols identified in tea are primarily antioxidants, which are also found in fruits and vegetables.

Tea drinking and alertness: Tests shows that tea drinking improves concentration and alertness.

Tea and cancer: The antioxidant properties of tea inhabit cell mutations and formation of cancer causing substances.

Tea increases immunity: The WBC's (white blood cells) are generally responsible for fighting any infection in the body. Both polyphenols and vitamin C present in green tea help to increase the WBC count and thus helps increase immunity to colds and thus helps to increase immunity to colds and diseases.

Tea and heart: Research suggests that any diet rich in antioxidants is able to stimulate circulation, strengthen the blood vessels and decrease the cholesterol levels. Tea is rich in antioxidants and hence helps to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Tea and weight-loss: Certain slimming teas are known to help in reducing body weight as these have an effect on the fats in the blood stream and in the tissues.

Tea aids digestion: The essential oils present in tea increase the flow of digestive juices and thus aids digestion. The most commonly known such tea is the Chinese tea which the Chinese usually drink after or with their meals. In the digestive tract, tea is known to help fight food poisoning. Tea is also known to have antibacterial properties that help to fight threat infections. An infusion of green tea can also disinfect cuts as a home remedy.

Tea and dental health: Tea is rich in fluorides a mineral that helps strengthen bones and tooth enamel. Hence tea drinking can also help fight osteoporosis. The polyphenols present in tea destroy the bacteria present in the mouth thereby help in preventing plague formation.

To sum it up findings from research indicates that tea has numerous curative and preventive health benefits, which indicate that the tea drinking habit leads to a healthier and longer life.

The writer is a nutritionist and Founder Director of Health Total. She treats obesity and related health disorders online. She can be reached at ask@health-total.com / www.health-total.com

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