Tea for Health

With cold season in full bloom, it is hard to decide which remedy is the best to cure what ails you.

However, one ancient remedy that can help soothe the cold blues away is tea.
“Tea is a very soothing drink, so drinking it when we are sick helps with our comfort level, which in turn can speed recovery,” Paul Dickson, managing editor at TeaGenius.com, said.

Along with the soothing effects tea has to offer, tea has medicinal benefits as well.
“Tea is high in antioxidants which have many health benefits, including reducing the risk of cancer,” Dickson said.

Tea and Antioxidants
“A 2005 study linked the consumption of tea to a lower risk of ovarian cancer. Other benefits of drinking tea regularly include preventing blood clotting and lowering cholesterol level,” Dickson added.

Antioxidants are an important part of any diet.

“Antioxidants protect us from disease by binding harmful oxygen-containing molecules called free radicals and peroxides that otherwise could damage your DNA, cell membranes and other cell components,” Dickson added.

There are many different varieties of tea, all which are beneficial to the body.
“All tea - green tea, oolong tea, and black tea - is good for us. Green tea is high in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) which are highly effective antioxidants,” Dickson said.

“Black tea and oolong tea have less EGCg than green tea, but they have higher levels of theaflavins and thearubigens compounds which have been found to as effective antioxidants as EGCg, “ Dickson added.

Organic Tea
Organic tea offers a chemical free alternative for tea drinkers.

“Organic tea is free from chemical residues and their potential health risks. Organic tea also tastes better,” Dickson said.

However, there are some that should abstain from tea.

“Tea has caffeine which can cause insomnia or irritableness if too much is consumed. Children and pregnant women should restrict their consumption of caffeine,” Dickson said.

Some students drink tea on a regular basis.

“I drink tea a lot. My mom buys it for me at home and I know it is good for me,” Emily Miller, senior public relations major at Illinois State University, said.

Tea for Health
by Kristi Kawanna

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