Most of us will enjoy a hot cup of tea from time to time, usually on a daily basis. Here are some of the teas with the most important health benefits.
Modern research about the history of tea-drinking in the world confirms that early in its history, the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) became popular for its medicinal properties.
The tea plant's main varieties — Camellia sinensis sinensis and Camellia sinensis assamica — are responsible for most of the tea brews that we are accustomed to: black tea, green tea, white tea, and oolong tea.
There are many other types of teas and infusions using various other plants, such as Aspalathus linearis, which is better known as "rooibos" or "redbush".
Here, we'll give you an overview of the top five teas that can benefit your health.
1. Green Tea
Probably the most favorite with tea drinkers everywhere, green tea has been praised for its medicinal properties for years. Recent studies have confirmed some of these benefits, suggesting that green tea may protect various aspects of our health.
Firstly, Green tea has been found to enhance cognitive functioning, with one study connecting it to better working memory, the type of we use on a day-to-day basis.
Researchers in Switzerland found that healthy people who agreed to consume a soft drink containing 27.5 grams of green tea extract exhibited more intense activity in brain areas linked to working memory.
Therefore, participants who had ingested the green tea extract had better connectivity between the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain, which are two regions involved in aspects of learning, memory processes, and decision-making.
The health benefits brought about by green tea have been linked with their content of polyphenols, which are micronutrients with antioxidant properties. Antioxidants, can protect against the action of free radicals, which induce the type of cellular damage consistent with aging.
A 2017 study that was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society found that one such polyphenol found in green tea — called epigallocatechin gallate — may lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease by interacting with the "building blocks" that form beta-amyloid plaques. This same green tea polyphenol has also been said to slow down the growth of tumor cells of certain types of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer.
2. Jasmine Tea
What we refer to as "Jasmine tea" is a type of beverage that usually has green tea at its base, to which jasmine flowers are added for an enriched aroma.
But the benefits of jasmine tea aren't solely due to the antioxidant effects of the tea plant, since jasmine blooms also bring their own medicinal properties to the mix.
Like the tea plant, jasmine flowers contain antioxidants — which may protect cells from age-related damage.
Jasmine itself has been linked with improved physical well-being and is said to reduce the impact of stress. That is why some researchers have experimented with compounds derived from this plant in the search of better therapies.
If you happen to enjoy drinking jasmine tea simply because you love the way it smells, there's actually a good reason for that. Research explains that the smell of jasmine tea is soothing, able to calm nerves, and able to help regulate mood.
3. Rooibos Tea
Another type of tea with antioxidant properties is rooibos or "redbush tea," which is prepared from the Aspalathus linearis plant native to South Africa.
Research has suggested that the antioxidant effects of rooibos are similar to, if not quite as strong as, those of green tea. Studies have suggested that the antioxidants in rooibos tea may offer a useful health boost by providing the liver with an enhanced antioxidant capacity to reduce damage induced by toxicants.
Moreover, rooibos has also been cited as helpful in lowering blood pressure and relaxing tense muscles, suggesting that the active ingredient in this instance might be one of the flavonoids (pigments) that it contains: chrysoeriol.
Unlike green or black tea, rooibos does not contain any caffeine, so it won't have the same stimulating effects. This makes it good to drink well into the evening.
4. Hibiscus Tea
Those of us who may enjoy the refreshing taste of a more sour brew may also be familiar with herbal infusions of hibiscus, a plant whose flowers can be used not just to make invigorating beverages, but also to give a subtle "punch" to salads, or as an elegant garnish for sophisticated dishes.
The most commonly used variety is Hibiscus sabdariffa, also known as the "roselle."
For the tea — or, more correctly "tisane" (herbal tea) — its calyces are typically used, although other parts of the plant, such as the leaves, seeds, and roots, are safe for consumption.
Studies have suggested that extracts from the hibiscus calyx and hibiscus leaves have antioxidant and anti-tumor effects.
Therefore, they may protect against the aging action of free radicals at a cellular level, as well as fight certain types of leukaemia cells.
Hibiscus tea has also been tied to cardiovascular benefits, helping to regulate systolic and diastolic blood pressure — that is, blood pressure during and in-between heart beats, respectively.
Though not so commonly used to brew tea, hibiscus leaves have also been linked repeatedly to a wide array of health benefits.
5. Lemon Herbal Tea
Another herbal tea whose medicinal properties are getting increasingly recognized is that made out of lemon verbena, scientifically dubbed Aloysia citrodora.
It is the citrus-flavored cousin of a better-known plant that has been used in herbal infusions for years: verbena, or vervain.
Infusions made with lemon verbena are great for those who prefer a subtler citrusy aroma in their hot drinks, rather than the strong, lemony flavor of commonly commercialized citrus tea blends.
Studies have shown that the polyphenols in this plant can decrease the formation of fatty acids, marking its potential use in the treatment of obesity-related health issues.
Conclusion
There you have it, the top 5 tea’s that may enhance and benefit your health.
Having a cup of your choice of tea is a pleasant way to carve out some self-indulgence time and stimulate your bodily and mental well-being in a subtle way.
Improve the tea experience even further by using filtered water. It will not only improve the taste of your beverage by removing the metallic taste and odour of chlorine, it will also remove chemicals, bacteria and other contaminants from the water, particularly if you are having a cold beverage.
But remember that the most potent health benefits are best reaped by leading a healthy, wholesome lifestyle.