Health Benefits

Tea has always been a health beverage. As of late this has been more prevalent in the mainstream media and in health journals. The different types of tea are known to have different benefits. Thus a white tea has different health boosting properties than a green or a black tea would.

You’ll hear all kinds of terms thrown around such as “flavonoids”, “antioxidents” and “free radicals.” Know that these don’t have anything to do with flavor, oxidation or radical politics! Flavonoids are a type of antioxident compound which break down free radicals. Free radicals are believed by scientists to cause damage to the body over time.

Tea has been suggested to lower your risk of cancer, prevent heart disease and strokes, boost your immune system, improve bone health and promote proper oral hygeine including improving your breath! Some teas have even been found to assist in weight loss!

Note that while the efficacy of tea’s health benefits is not always the same between men and women, however we all get healthy benefits from drinking tea. Studies have not been able to find any detrimental effects of drinking tea, regardless of the amount you drink. Five, ten, fifteen cups a day… you’re healthy, happy and well hydrated! Bonus for tea being tasty!

Cardiovascular Health

Studies show significantly decreased risk of Coronary Heart Disease in men aged 30 to 70 drinking more than six cups of tea a day.
Studies show markedly reduced concentrations of cholesterol in men aged 30 to 70 drinking more than six cups of tea per day.
One or two cups of Black tea a day provides a 46% lower risk of severe aortic atherosclerosis studies show.
That number goes up to a 69 percent lower risk for those who drink more than four cups a day.
Studies show tea reduces the risk of stroke in correlation with the amount of tea consumed.
Studies also show a reduced risk of heart attack in correlation with the amount of tea consumed.
A Harvard study concluded tea drinkers who already had a minimum of 44% reduction in risk of recurrence.
Another Harvard study showed a maximum 44% increased likelihood of heart attack survival if the individual has consumed tea in the twelve months before the heart attack.
That same study shows a 28% reduced death rate for those drinking less than 14 cups a week and 44% for those who drink more than 14 cups a week.

Cancers

Tea has been shown to help with a wide range of different cancers. Here’s a helpful list!

52% lower risk of rectal cancer in women. 45% in post menopausal women.
Green tea decreases oxidative bio-markers, believed to be a leading cause of cancer by 31%.
Green tea prevents cancer causing DNA changes using natural EGCG.
42% lower risk of colon cancer overall. 70% lower risk in men!
32% reduced risk of digestive tract cancers in post menopausal women.
60% reduced risk of urinary tract cancers in post menopausal women.
Reduced effect on gastric cancer in men directly inverse to levels of tea intake.
Green tea led to an 18% decrease in colon cancer risk for men and 33% for women.
Green tea led to a 28% decrease in rectal cancer risk for me and 43% for women.
Green tea also led to a 37% reduced risk of pancreatic cancer in men and 47% for women.
The EGCG in Green tea reduces cancer risk when combined with Sulindac (an anti-inflammatory drug.)
Black tea has been found to prevent negative DNA changes in colon tissue.
Green and Black teas were both found to help cancer cells die off.
Green tea is believed to help prevent cancers caused by solar and high UV exposure.
Both Green and Black teas have been found to reduce risk of skin cancer.
Tea has been found to aid the regression of pre-cancerous oral lesions.
In tests Green tea combined with curcumin (a spice) reduced the number of visible tumors in mice.
28% risk reduction of lunch cancers in mice. Add 38% reduction in tumor size to that.
Ovarian cancer risk reduction found in women who drink tea. Reduction increases with increased tea intake.

Cholesterol

USDA researchers noted an 11.1% decrease in bad cholesterol (LDL) associated with drinking five or more cups of black tea per day.
That same study showed a 6.5% overall reduction in cholesterol associated with drinking five or more cups of black tea per day.

Immunity

A Harvard study indicates drinking five or more cups of Black tea a day can increase levels of interferon (an important part of your body’s immune system. Drinking coffee had no effect.

Kidney Health

Studies also show that tea can help reduce the chance of getting kidney stones by as much as 8% per 8oz cup consumed each day, regardless of tea type!

Oral Health

Drinking Black tea has been shown to reduce formation of dental caries in hamsters.
Black tea has also been shown to help prevent plaque buildup.

Osteoporosis

Although caffeine intake has been shown to lead to a decrease in Bone Marrow Density, studies indicate tea has not shown a negative effect, and in fact may actually improve bone health.
Another study found that habitual tea-drinking was seen to have a significant beneficial effect on the BMD of adults (30 years and older), especially in those who had been habitual tea-drinkers for six or more years.

Weight Management

Green tea has been shown to increase 24 hour energy expenditure and fatty cell oxidation in healthy men.
In moderately obese patients, Green tea led to a decrease in body weight by 4.6%.
That same study showed a decrease in waist girth by 4.48%.
Researchers found that tea helps reduce of fatty foods into fat cells.
USDA researchers found that Black, Green and Oolong teas all increased levels of insulin.

Bibliography

I’m too lazy to create my OWN bibliography. Instead, please reference the Tea Association of the United States of America, which has produced a lengthy and extensive bibliography for your use.