Here’s Why You Should Start Drinking Tea, If You Aren’t Already
These women share why they prefer tea over coffee
Do you drink coffee or tea in the morning? If you answered the former, you may want to switch it up a bit. Studies have shown that tea has a lot of benefits you may not know about.
Tea is a drink greatly rooted from tradition. Tea making originated from China, then was eventually learned in Japan, Holland, the rest of Europe, and America. Tea has been around for centuries, and many drink it for its health benefits.
According to a study, “Tea, next to water, is the cheapest beverage humans consume. Drinking the beverage tea has been considered a health-promoting habit since ancient times.”
Kalthem, 23, has been a tea drinker since she was in high school. She tells OneLife.ph that she only used to drink black tea, but has now discovered other varieties (green, peppermint, green-lemon, earl grey, English breakfast, Irish breakfast, chai) that she enjoys as well, although she mentions that she likes drinking berry flavored teas the most. She prefers tea over coffee in the morning because it is simpler to make and it benefits her more.
“On a practical sense, brewing tea is simpler than coffee. Just open a tea bag, add hot water and sweetener (optional), and that's it. I am always hustling and multi-tasking most of the time, I don't have the luxury of time to brew coffee every time I need my dose of caffeine. Carrying a tea bag is handier than bringing a coffee maker of course. And tea can keep you awake too without experiencing palpitations,” she explains.
Kalthem drinks brewed tea and usually buys her stock from the grocery. “It became an everyday staple after college, at work, especially after lunch,” she adds.
Proven Health Benefits of Tea
Black Tea
Black tea has the highest caffeine content since it is made with fermented tea leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It is used as the base for all flavored teas. According to different studies, black tea has shown significant protection of the lungs from cigarette smoke exposure. This can also reduce the risk of stroke and can promote healthy immune function. It can also be used to relieve pain and swelling of minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises when pressed upon them. Since it is a caffeinated drink, you should monitor your intake.
White Tea
White tea is known as the least processed tea variety. It has very high levels of antioxidants and has the least amount of caffeine. A study says that white tea may be the most effective [among teas] in fighting various forms of cancer.
It is also good for your oral health since it can strengthen teeth and remove plaque due to the excessive source of fluoride, catechins, and tannins. White tea also has anti-aging benefits.
Green Tea
Green tea originated from China where tea leaves are usually processed with heat through a roasting method. In other parts of the world, green tea leaves are usually steamed. It is one of the most popular tea varieties because of its health benefits. Green tea’s antioxidants may help prevent different forms of cancer such as breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, bladder, prostate, liver, colorectal.
It has a high concentration of EGCG catechins which is good for heart health. Green Tea also contains the similar minimal amount of caffeine that white tea has.
Matcha is also a type of green tea that has gained admiration from a lot of people. It is a high-quality green tea powder that contains high levels of antioxidants and caffeine.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea variety. It is made from the same plant that produces green and black tea. The distinction lies in the way the three types of tea are processed. Green tea is only allowed to oxidize a little while black tea is oxidized until it turns black. Oolong is somewhere in the middle as it is partly oxidized.
Oolong tea has an amino acid called L-theanine that helps reduce anxiety, prevents diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and inhibits the growth of cancer.
Herbal Teas
Peppermint Tea helps soothe stomach pain since it contains menthol. It aids in digestion and can treat constipation, motion sickness, and irritable bowel syndrome. It also helps relieve pain from headaches, flu, and colds.
Rooibos Tea or red tea can boost good cholesterol. It also improves blood pressure and circulation, keeps hair and skin healthy, and relieves allergies
Ginger Tea helps relieve joint pain. It also helps fight against morning sickness and indigestion. It also provides relief from colds and sore throat.
Chamomile Tea promotes restful sleep and stress relief. It can also reduce menstrual pain and muscle spasms. It can also help prevent complications from diabetes such as vision loss and kidney damage.
Hibiscus Tea helps lower blood pressure and improves liver health. It also prevents respiratory diseases and formation of kidney stones.
Nineteen-year-old Alissha also started drinking tea in senior high school, when she was around 16 years old. She prefers tea because the taste is more subtle and it’s easier to make. She says coffee makes her palpitate so she avoids it as much as she can.
She drinks steeped tea and buys her supply of mugicha tea, or barley tea, from a Japanese grocery. Alissha recommends the brand Twinings.
“My favorite type of tea is mugicha or roasted barley. It’s what is usually served as service tea in Japanese restaurants we visit and I just grew to love it. When roasted barley isn’t available, I drink honey ginger lemon or just lemon tea. Peppermint, too.
I just like how it tastes and how it can give me the effects of caffeine as an alternative to coffee,” she shares.
Samantha, 33, also started to drink tea in high school. She specifically likes black tea and oolong tea and drinks it to help her stay awake.
“Black coffee tastes too strong for me. On the other hand, I can’t stand drinking coffee with too much sugar because I feel like I’m drinking sugar water. Tea just tastes better,” she explains.
Just like Kalthem, Samantha prefers brewed tea and gets her stock from the grocery. She also mentioned that she buys tea from Säntis Delicatessen.
Is tea healthier than coffee?
Tea and coffee are alike in a lot of ways, but they also have notable differences. Both are consumed for their social and health benefits.
For social get-togethers, coffee is usually a drink between co-workers who are about to start a long day or at the breakfast table before getting ready for work or school. Tea, on the other hand, is meant for relaxing conversations, catching up with friends, or refreshments before bedtime.
Caffeine can be both beneficial and unfavorable for people, depending on how much you take. The safe consumption of caffeine is at 300 to 400 mg per day. Coffee, obviously, has more caffeine content than tea, which is why it can cause palpitations for a lot of people. For those who need the energy boost throughout the day, drinking more tea than coffee is advised, so you won’t exceed the recommended amount of caffeine. For an immediate energy boost, however, coffee will do the trick.
Kalthem shares how tea benefits her. “It serves as a breather for me. The aroma, warmth, and light flavor of brewed teas soothe me. I usually pair it with my favorite pastry while watching, as a reward for myself. I usually keep a bag of tea in my purse and even in my pocket so I can brew one during exhausting meetings and to keep myself awake,” she says.
As for which drink has more antioxidants, tea definitely has the upper hand. Both contain antioxidants but coffee has a significantly lesser amount.
Tea and coffee are two well-liked drinks by a lot of people. There really is no correct answer to which one is better or healthier than the other, because each presents a lot of benefits that help us go on with our daily lives. In the end, it’s really just a matter of preference. Just take these drinks in moderation, and that’s the tea!
