<p>What’s the most popular drink in the world? Well, water, obviously, but what takes second place? You may assume coffee because of its immense popularity that transcends borders, along with its coveted place in millions of morning routines.</p> <p>Coffee can be found everywhere, but it isn’t everyone’s bag: some are too sensitive to it and get jitters, anxiety, or overstimulation. Some don’t like the strong taste, and the caffeine crashes later in the day can be too much for others on top. Coffee’s appeal, massive as it might be, is limited.</p> <p>That leaves room for the gentler alternative: tea. It follows a rich tapestry spanning thousands of years across diverse cultures and continents. Tea is found in ancient legends and embedded in global trade routes throughout history, playing a significant role in societies and rituals that live on to this day.</p> <p>Tea trumps coffee in many ways. It predates coffee by roughly 3,000 years and is believed to have been harvested as early as 2,700 BC in China. Coffee came around much later, and there’s some dispute as to whether it was Ethiopia or Yemen in which it was first discovered. Tea wasn’t brought to Europe until around the 17th century, and it wasn’t until the early 1800s that afternoon tea became a bedrock of British culture.</p> <p>Tea’s more distant origins probably owe to its simplicity. It’s more likely someone stumbled across a satisfying combo of hot water and dried leaves before discovering coffee. The jazzy stuff like milk, honey, and sugar came about later, but tea doesn’t need any of these to be satisfying.</p> <p>Coffee might be the go-to American hot beverage, but tea is the national drink of China and India, both of which have over a billion residents. Tea is generally cheaper, and it’s long been feted for having healthy properties.</p> <h2>The garden of tea hosts many colors</h2> <p>Many studies have demonstrated that a variety of teas host health benefits like boosting your immune system, helping to fight inflammation, and fending off heart disease. </p> <p>Of course, there are so many different brews of tea out there, and the health benefits that come along vary as a result. While some are more beneficial than others, the takeaway is that there’s abundant evidence showing that regular tea consumption can have a long-term impact on your wellbeing.</p> <p><em>Camellia sinensis</em> is the mother of tea. This plant is the source of the five most popular teas in the world: green tea, white tea, yellow tea, Oolong, and black tea. Black tea is the most popular type, followed by green, Oolong, and white tea. </p> <p>Tea flavors vary according to the location of the harvest along with how they are grown and processed. In terms of caffeine, all five contain varying amounts of the stuff, but none approach the territory of coffee: a cup of black tea, the most potent, has half the caffeine of a cup of coffee. White and green tea are excellent alternatives for those who are sensitive to caffeine as they contain minimal amounts.</p> <p>Herbal teas are not born of mother <em>Camellia </em>but from dried herbs, spices, seeds, roots, fruits, and flowers. They typically do not contain any caffeine.</p> <figure><img alt="Tea | Source: gate74/Pixabay" src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/lAWjNNInqO/thumbnail.jpg" /> <figcaption>Variety of Teas. <em>Source: gate74/Pixabay</em></figcaption> </figure> <h2>Benefits of tea</h2> <h3>Antioxidant powerhouse</h3> <p>Tea is a rich source of polyphenols; chemical compounds that act as antioxidants. They inhibit the destructive effects of free radicals in the body, which are unstable molecules that cause cellular damage, accelerate aging, and contribute to various diseases. Free radicals thieve electrons from DNA, an action that can increase bad cholesterol and change cell membrane traffic. </p> <p>Antioxidants in tea like catechins counteract these dangerous free radicals, promoting cell health and possibly reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Green tea appears to be the richest in polyphenols overall, but black tea uniquely features a subtype called theaflavins, so it has unique advantages.</p> <p>Theaflavins are connected to lower cholesterol, and flavonoids (also found in red wine, dark chocolate, and nuts) may reduce the risk of heart disease by 8%. Flavonoids combat inflammation and support healthy immune function on top. </p> <p>Regular black tea consumption has been linked to lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke. A Japanese study that followed 82,369 men and women for an average of 13 years found that those who drank 2 to 3 cups of green tea daily had a 14% lower risk of stroke. Drinking 4 or more cups a day was associated with a 20% lower risk.</p> <figure><img alt="Antioxidants are Heroes | Source: TheVisualMD" src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/4Awj7Wurqz/thumbnail.jpg" /> <figcaption>Antioxidants are Heroes. <em>Source: TheVisualMD</em></figcaption> </figure> <h3>Weight management</h3> <p>Some of the worst offenders with weight management are sodas and sweetened beverages of a million kinds. Finding a tasty and satisfying alternative that quietens the cravings for a treat has proven to be a challenging task, but tea, like coffee, can be made in many ways that skip the unhealthy elements. </p> <p>Tea is calorie-free (assuming you don’t add milk or sugar, though a splash of the former isn’t going to do much harm) and has a strong flavor profile. It’s a great way to stay hydrated and can also curb hunger pangs, keeping your appetite in a more sustainable place.</p> <p>As to whether tea can directly reduce your weight, research has come up short: studies on the effects of green tea and fat reduction haven’t been promising, and the slew of “weight loss” teas out there often contain harmful substances like laxatives. Supplements containing green tea extracts have also failed to demonstrate big claims on weight loss.</p> <p>Tea’s greatest weapon in weight management is rather its ability to help you avoid the junk that’s packing on pounds.</p> <h3>Improved focus</h3> <p>You might be skeptical of what you’ve read so far since nothing could replace your beloved coffee. It gives you that caffeine boost you need in the morning to face the day and provides clarity and focus to keep you productive. But the crash you suffer later on may not be worth it, and topping up will cost you at bedtime when your mind is still racing.</p> <p>Tea contains caffeine but in significantly smaller amounts, providing a gentler form of stimulation. There’s a bonus in the form of an amino acid called L-theanine which also contributes to better alertness and focus. As opposed to coffee’s jittery overload, tea has a smoother and more sustained lift in energy.</p> <figure><img alt="10 caffeine knowing-neurons | Source: Knowing Neurons/Wikimedia" src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/VdKBmZhwoK/thumbnail.jpg" /> <figcaption>Caffeine's Effects on Neural Activity. <em>Source: Knowing Neurons/Wikimedia</em></figcaption> </figure> <h3>Reduced risk of diabetes</h3> <p>Research on tea and its ability to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes has been inconsistent, but a recent review is shifting things in a positive direction. </p> <p>The paper, a meta-analysis of 19 cohort studies involving over 1 million adults from 8 countries, found that moderate consumption of black, green, or Oolong tea is connected to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Participants who drank 4 cups a day enjoyed a 17% lower risk.</p> <p>Research has also shown that black tea improves blood sugar levels following meals in both normal and pre-diabetic adults. Owing to their antioxidants, black, green, and Oolong may enhance insulin sensitivity and regulate blood sugar levels. </p> <p>All in all, regular consumption of tea may contribute to the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes.</p> <h3>Calm and relaxation</h3> <p>Tea’s versatility is remarkable, and it has long been beloved for its calming and stress-reduction qualities. Just the act of preparing and slowly sipping on a warm cup of tea can be a meditative and introspective experience. </p> <p>Japan has a rich tea culture that has been deeply embedded across generations — one traditional ceremony that translates to “the way of tea” can take up to several hours to complete! We can’t say for sure what helped Queen Elizabeth II to live for 96 years, but as a daily tea drinker, she was the poster child for British culture. Perhaps that was her secret to a long life.</p> <figure><img alt="Foods for Stress management | Source: TheVisualMD" src="https://cdn.storymd.com/optimized/lqLOexiKdX/thumbnail.jpg" /> <figcaption>Beat Stress with Green Tea. <em>Source: TheVisualMD</em></figcaption> </figure> <h2>Herbal tea benefits</h2> <p>The benefits of the popular teas might sound appealing, but if you are ruling out caffeine entirely or just don’t like the taste of Camellia’s offerings, herbal teas have their own benefits.</p> <p>Also called tisanes, herbal teas are renowned for their calming properties. Some of the more popular herbal teas include:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Chamomile</strong>. A relaxing brew used to aid sleep and reduce stress. It can also help to reduce menstrual pain and muscle spasms.</li> <li><strong>Rooibos. </strong>Promotes good cholesterol while lowering the bad kind; improves blood pressure and circulation; boosts hair and skin health, and may also provide relief from allergies.</li> <li><strong>Peppermint. </strong>This menthol-infused blend can alleviate upset stomachs and help with constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and motion sickness. It may also offer pain relief from tension headaches and migraines.</li> <li><strong>Ginger. </strong>Combats morning sickness. May aid against chronic indigestion and joint pain caused by osteoarthritis.</li> <li><strong>Hibiscus. </strong>Improves liver health and lowers blood pressure. May reduce the risk of kidney stones.</li> </ul> <h2>More on Benefits of Tea</h2><ul><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/5mrekkphzw-tea" target="_blank">Tea</a></li><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/jan34oz04w-tea-and-cancer-prevention" target="_blank">Tea and Cancer Prevention</a></li><li><a href="https://soulivity.storymd.com/journal/xjnp9yvirm-herbal-medicine" target="_blank">A Guide to Common Medicinal Herbs and Their Uses</a></li></ul>