Is tea really all that good for you? Are there any negative effects of drinking it, especially if you’re sipping on it every day?
Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the entire world. People drink it in the morning to wake up, before bed to wind down, or during the afternoon for, well, some tea time. But is tea really all that good for you? Are there any negative effects of drinking it, especially if you’re sipping on it daily?
1. You’ll get more phytonutrients
Tea is packed with nutrients that you don’t get in many other beverages, especially coffee.
Teas contain a variety of phytochemicals and phytonutrients since they are coming from different types of plants. According to the National Library of Medicine, phytonutrients are common plant nutrients that produce certain biological activity and support human health in many different ways. Some ways that the phytonutrients found in teas can benefit our health is through antioxidants, fighting certain allergies, lowering the risk of some cancers, and supporting the anti-aging process.
2. You can regulate your metabolism
There are even certain teas that help you regulate your metabolism if it’s been off balance for various reasons. A study published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences states found that green tea specifically has a positive effect on regulating metabolism, which is also directly correlated with controlling glucose levels and weight management. The study found this to be true for diabetes patients, as well.
If you’re wanting to drink tea for the purpose of recentering your metabolism, try drinking black, green, or oolong tea.
3. You can lower inflammation
Tea is also commonly known for its anti-inflammatory properties. According to a study from the International Journal of Molecular Science, there is a hefty amount of research that can prove the positive anti-inflammatory benefits to drinking tea on a regular basis. This study in particular looks at green tea and black tea. What researchers discovered is that the properties found in green and black tea can have an enormous impact on lowering inflammation in red blood cells. They even found that people with lupus who consumed green tea on a daily basis for 12 weeks, reported less inflammation in their bodies.
4. You’ll lose weight
Any plain tea without sugar, honey, and syrups is great for weight loss. Not only can you get fluid for hydration, [but you’re also] filling up your stomach for only a few calories.
A cup of tea can ward off cravings, and if you swap your daily sugary blended coffee drink for tea, you can save 250 to 450 calories.
In addition, some studies have shown that regular tea drinking combined with diet and exercise may improve weight loss.
A study in the The Journal of Nutrition found that compounds called catechins in green tea, when paired with moderate exercise, boosted weight loss and abdominal fat loss.
5. It may protect you from skin cancer
Researches suggests that drinking tea—green, black, or white—delivers a host of beneficial compounds that may ward off some cancers, including non-melanoma skin cancer.
One study from the American Association for Cancer Research found that tea strength, brewing time and temperature may affect the potential protective effects. Steeping longer for stronger tea and drinking it hot was associated with lower risk of skin cancer.
Adding citrus peel to hot black tea may offer further benefits for protecting against squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common skin cancer, according to a report in BMC Dermatology.
Researchers say citrus peel not only contains a higher concentration of vitamin C than is found in the juice, but also a greater amount of the bioflavonoid d-Limonene, which has been shown to provide antitumor agents in rodent studies.
6. You may have stronger bones
A couple of cups of tea a day may keep the orthopedic surgeons away. That’s because studies have found that tea contains a powerful group of nutrients that can stimulate bone formation and help slow its breakdown, protecting against osteoporosis, also known as brittle bones.
Black and green tea have been shown to be beneficial. In one study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, scientists exposed bone-forming cells called osteoblasts in a laboratory culture to three key chemicals found in green tea and found that one, the catechin EGC or epigallocatechin triggered new bone grow by up to 79%. In the Mediterranean Osteoporosis Study, black tea was identified as being protective for the risk of hip fractures of men.
7. It could protect you from certain cancers
A number of epidemiological studies have demonstrated that black and green tea contain natural compounds, such as polyphenols and the catechin EGCG in green tea that may provide a protective effect against certain cancers. Drinking several cups of tea daily, the studies suggest, may reduce the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal and pancreatic cancers.
8. You’ll need to use the restroom frequently
There are certain types of teas that actually cause you to urinate more frequently. Dandelion tea, green tea, barley tea, and hibiscus tea all have diuretic properties. Diuretics are the nutrients that cause our body to get rid of salt and water in the form of urine. Tea with diuretic properties is often recommended for people with kidney issues, diabetes, or certain heart problems. Because of the strength of diuretics, suggests avoiding these teas after 4 p.m., unless you want to spend your night going to the bathroom!
9. It could give you yellow teeth
Tea is generally a very healthy beverages but it’s notorious for staining teeth. The acid and tannins in tea can give teeth a yellowish hue over time if you drink it daily.