5 benefits of tea

Tea is more than a common cold-weather drink. Tea has been, and still is, a practice and ritual for thousands of years and is rooted profoundly in cultures all over the world.


But make sure what you’re drinking is actually real tea. Tea comes from a particular plant (Camellia sinensis) and includes only four varieties: green, black, white, and oolong. Anything else (such as herbal "tea") is an infusion of another plant, and is technically not tea. But what real tea lacks in variety, it makes up for with great health benefits.

The medicinal benefits of tea have been recognized for thousands of years, no matter what the variety. And now, much of those benefits are being backed up by modern science. Here are 5 reasons to drink more tea:

  1. Tea speeds up your metabolism. Polyphenols of black, oolong and green tea have all been shown to improve calorie intake and minimize body fat. Tea promotes one type of fat: brown fat. This form of fat is more involved in metabolism and contains more mitochondria than white fat which means that brown fat can actually burn calories and increase metabolism.
  2. Tea increases hydration. Although tea (and coffee) was traditionally thought to encourage dehydration by serving as a diuretic and causing the body to lose more fluid, recent research shows that up to six to eight cups of tea a day are just as hydrating as the same amount of water.
  3. Tea helps prevent cancer. Recently, some high-profile studies have suggested tea drinking could seriously help your chances of cancer avoidance. Although research is still underway in this area, reports indicate that cases of prostate, mouth, and breast cancer are much lower among those who drink five or more cups of tea a day regularly.
  4. Tea boosts memory power. Most scientists agree that some forms of tea, such as green tea, will strengthen memory cells in the brain, and protect against dementia and even Alzheimer's disease. No wonder the elderly drink such a lot of tea.
  5. Tea boosts exercise endurance. Scientists have found that the catechins (antioxidants) in green tea extract boost the ability of the body to use fat as fuel, which results in enhanced muscle strength.

The research is clear, in spite of your tea of choice. Drink white , green, oolong, black, or herbal tea three to six cups a day as a way to stay warm in the cold months, cool off during the hot months, and enjoy a healthier heart, brain, and body. Want to be an expert in food? Join one of Hospitality Academy's courses and programs! From online courses to Bachelor's and Master's degrees, Hospitality Academy guarantees you accredited education and paid work experience during and after your studies! 

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