Tea - more than just a beverage

'Tea' the word brews in our minds picture of a steaming cup,that so charmingly steals us off all our laziness and fatigue as it slowly pours in to be a part our system.Tea is a dawn-breaker, a stress-reliever, a lets-get-together beverage from ancient times.

Lets' peep into the health aspects of 'tea drinking' to know about the miraculous effects,each cup of tea has on us in our day-to-day lives.


Health Facts and Nutrition Data :

*Tea without milk has no calories. Using semi-skimmed milk adds around 13 calories per cup, but you also benefit from valuable minerals and calcium

*Tea with milk provides 21% of daily calcium requirement in 4 cups

*Tea contains some zinc and folic acid

* Tea with milk contains Vitamin B6, Riboflavin B2 and Thiamin B1

*Tea is a source of the minerals manganese, essential for bone growth and body development, and potassium, vital for maintaining body fluid levels

*The average cup of tea contains less than half the level of caffeine than coffee. One cup contains only 50mg per 190ml cup

*Tea is a natural source of fluoride and drinking four cups makes a significant contribution to your daily intake

*Green and black teas are from the same plant, Camelia sinensis, and contain similar amounts of antioxidants and caffeine

* The antioxidant power of tea:
Like fruit and vegetables, tea is a natural source of flavonoids that generate antioxidant activity. In fact, many scientific papers suggest that as part of a
healthy lifestyle, four cups of tea a day could help to protect your body against the damaging effects of free radicals.

*Flavonoid antioxidants - what are they?
They are a group of compounds that occur in most
fruit and vegetables, as well as in tea.

*Flavonoid antioxidants - what do they do?
They may help to protect the body’s cells against
damage and assist with arterial function.

*Flavonoid antioxidants - where are they found?
Tea is the biggest source of flavonoid antioxidants in the UK diet. Other sources include apples and onions.

*The evidence for tea and cancer:
Tea and flavonoids have been identified as potential cancer preventatitive components. Drinking both green and black tea is compatiblewith healthy eating dietary advice to help reduce the risk of developing cancer, helping to maintain overall health and well-being.

*Counting caffeine :
Four cups of tea contain only moderate amounts of caffeine. Moderate amounts of caffeine throughout the day can increase concentration and alertness thereby improving performance. A typical cup of tea contains less caffeine per cup than coffee.

*Tea and hydration :
Tea helps you stay hydrated and can make a positive contribution to the required daily fluid intake the body needs to stay healthy. Contrary to popular belief, the caffeine content of a cup of tea is not sufficient to cause a diuretic effect in the majority of individuals. The Food Standards Agency and British Dietetic Association both advise that tea can help towards meeting daily fluid requirements

*Tea and theanine
Theanine is a non-protein amino acid that is rare in nature, but found naturally in black and green tea where it is thought to be a flavorous constituent of tea leaves. Tea drinkers have long believed their cup of tea has unique properties (relaxing and reviving) and early research on theanine is starting to help us understand why tea is so different from other hot beverages. Drinking tea has been shown to have positive effects on maintaining daytime alertness and has
a unique and positive effect on mood.

*Treat for teeth
Tea is a natural source of fluoride and drinking three to four cups makes a significant contribution to your daily fluoride intake. Regular intake of fluoride can contribute to dental health in both adults and children and help protect teeth and gums.

Note – The Food Standards Agency recommends that pregnant women limit their consumption of caffeine to 300mg per day, which is equivalent to six cups of tea per day.