Tea is one of the
most widely consumed beverages in the world. Tea leaves are rich in
phytochemicals and antioxidants.
Phytochemicals are
non-essential compounds found in plants that are believed to promote
good health and reduce the risks of heart disease, cancer, and other
health concerns.
Antioxidants are
compounds that protect other compounds from oxygen. An antioxidant
will prevent the damage of oxygen by itself reacting with oxygen in
the body.
Tea contains about
half the amount of the caffeine found in coffee and has many health
benefits such as lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease,
lowering the risk of cancer, and lowering the risk of
neurodegenerative diseases.
Tea lowers the risk
of cardiovascular disease by reducing inflammation, decreasing total
cholesterol, decreasing LDL-cholesterol, protecting against blood
clot formation, and decreasing blood pressure.
Tea lowers the risk
of cancer by inhibiting carcinogenesis and by suppressing the
formation of carcinogenic substances. Tea also increases the
effectiveness of several chemotherapeutic agents.
Tea protects against
deterioration of brain function. Tea also decreases the plaque
formation associated with Alzheimer's disease and raises dopamine
levels to prevent Parkinson's disease.
The production
method of tea leaves determines whether it will be green, black, or
oolong. Green tea is produced by steaming fresh leaves at high
temperatures and then a series of drying and rolling steps, which
results in a chemical composition that is very similar to the fresh
leaves. Black tea is produced by fermentation. Oolong tea is produced
by solar withering the leaves and partial fermentation.
Drinking tea has many benefits but opt for unsweet tea, you can always add an artificial sweetener to fit your taste!
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