More tea, better health?

More tea, better health?
By Isela Reyes

You’ve seen it all over the place, in all those starbucks, or specialty drink stores, maybe even target. Wherever it may be, it seems like green tea has been popping up everywhere. And not just green tea; white tea, black tea, Tao tea and many more have been making its way to stores and starbucks alike. Is the sudden upswing in tea drinkers just people trying to mimic each other and jump on the wagon, or are they really drinking it strictly for the health benefits?

New research has been popping up about the benefits of drinking tea. Specifically green tea, also called Camellia Sinensis, has been used for vomiting, stomach disorders, diarrhea, as an antioxidant, to prevent dental cavities, to lower cholesterol levels, to reduce cancer, and as a stimulant. Green tea is a natural and cultural way of achieving health that differs from western medicine. Because it is all natural and has been proven to help people, the popularity of this drink has skyrocketed here in the U.S.

Recent studies show that tea can be a key part of a healthy diet for three reasons; it has no calories, it keeps you hydrated and because it is rich in phytonutrients which are plant based substances that are known to have health benefits. Studies also show that tea has more antioxidants than any other food and its benefits will help your health in the long run if ingested on a regular basis.

To reap the benefits of this antioxidant, phytonutrient rich tea, researchers recommend drinking four to five cups a day to really benefit from the tea. This will put you in the highest percent for protection against common illnesses like stroke and heart disease.

But reaserchers also advise that drinking so much tea is not without its bad side. Tea is strongly caffeinated, and that may pose a problem if you have conditions such as heart problems or high blood pressure, kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, an anxiety or nervous disorder, or a bleeding or blood clotting disorder. It is recommended if you have these conditions that you consult a health physician before making tea a regular part of your diet.
Also, some teas like green tea, has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. This could mean that all potential risks and advantages or disadvantages of green tea may not be known.
Whether you are a believer of the benefits of drinking tea, it is not an altogether new idea. People have been drinking tea for thousands of years. It has only recently been popularized in stores everywhere because of the recent studies that show the health benefits. Whether you like tea or are just curious, try a cup today and find out for yourself whether it really is a pleasant drink, or just another way of taking your vitamins.