After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage around the world.

In the United States, its health benefits have only in recent years begun to catch on with the coffee crowd, but it’s something Mary Grace Otis has known since studying in Germany in high school and college, and later while in India where she resided for three years.

“I would bring loose-leaf tea back to the States and my family would look at me like I was crazy. It’s kind of a new concept in the U.S., it’s not as common here to have all these varieties,” said Otis, 31, of East Jordan.

Otis and her husband, Andrew, are tea connoisseurs who enjoy the taste and health benefits of the beverage. They sell loose-leaf varieties on their Internet site, www.sojournerteas.com, and have a display in Andrew’s parents’ pottery shop in East Jordan.

As they delve more into the varieties of tea available from around the world, Mary Grace has left coffee behind.

“I’ve always been a tea drinker, but it was just last March that I switched completely from coffee to tea,” she said. “I just notice that I feel better all around. I don’t have to have the caffeine anymore. My stomach doesn’t cause me problems. My energy is more steady, not so up and down. Tea releases caffeine in a different way than coffee does, it’s a slow release.”
 

A cuppa health

Green tea gets all the press, but experts say any type of tea may have health benefits -  black, white, oolong green, fruit or blends.

“Black tea is really healthy as well, with antioxidants, too — they’re just different antioxidants,” said Otis, who has picked up an education about the health benefits through her journeys and research into tea. “A lot of studies on black tea show it helps to expand the arteries to the heart, and people who drink black tea after a stressful event recover from the stress quicker.”

The potential effects of tea on health have been touted for more than 4,700 years, ever since the Camellia sinensis bush discovery was attributed to the legendary emperor, Shennong (according to Wikipedia).

Since then, many have looked into its effects on health while steeping their favorite varieties.

Mayo Clinic medical experts recently reported that while evidence of the disease-fighting power of tea remains under study, most research based on population studies show it has some health benefits, particularly to the cardiovascular system.

Others in the medical arena continue to look at whether tea might positively affect cholesterol levels, blood pressure and atherosclerosis. Green tea in particular has been touted as a way to reduce heart attack risk.

It’s still unknown whether regular black tea consumption influences cancer rates, the Mayo Clinic reports. Early lab tests with white tea indicate it may protect against colon cancer in particular.

Further, green tea may be beneficial in reducing inflammation related to arthritis and slowing cartilage breakdown, and it could improve bone mineral density in older women.

When it comes to green-tea or other tea supplements or capsules, the clinic experts report there’s no certainty that the compounds in supplements are the same ones found in tea, nor that they might provide the same potential health benefits as a cup of the stuff.

And besides, popping a capsule could mean you’ll miss out on a new experience by enjoying a cup of something different.

“There are so many different flavors and types of tea,” said Otis. “Give it a chance, because it’s really tasty and it’s good for you.”

The secret ingredient

Catechins, a type of disease-fighting flavonoid and antioxidant, are the keys to tea’s health benefits. Here’s a tip: The longer you steep the tea, the more flavonoids you’ll get.

To get the best tea benefit, some studies suggest drinking three cups each day to cut heart disease risk. Since iced tea is diluted, it’s a lighter source of flavonoids, but it still counts.

One caveat: Don’t add milk to your tea. German researchers recently found that the relaxing effect of a few cups of ordinary black tea on the arteries is completely wiped out by milk.

Source: WebMD, New Scientist 

Teas, explained

Green tea gets all the attention, and its popularity skyrocketed further when it was featured as a weight-loss method on the Oprah show (soaring again each time the show is re-run). Green tea has been claimed to be helpful for weight loss, plus atherosclerosis, LDL cholesterol, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, liver disease, neurodegenerative diseases and even halitosis.

Black tea is originally green tea with the leaves further dried — this changes its color and taste. It undergoes full fermentation and oxidation. Some studies have declared black tea a potential heart tonic, cancer blocker, fat buster, immune stimulant, arthritis soother, virus fighter and cholesterol detoxifier.

Herbal teas are a variety by themselves. Not tea in the true sense, herbal tea is a fresh herb containing medicinal properties, and these properties seep into the water and purportedly giving the drinkers the desired effect: laxative, curative, refreshing, sedative or antacid.

Hibiscus tea, made from the hibiscus flower, is gaining worldwide popularity. It has been touted for its variety of antioxidants that may help protect against cell-damaging free radicals. It may lower blood pressure, lower high cholesterol and strengthen the immune system as it is rich in Vitamin C.
Source: www.teabenefits.com