Tea is a beverage loved by most, with a modest few non-takers. It is a classic drink that is popular across the world. However, its merits aren’t limited to taste alone. This blog outlines everything you need to know about tea’s benefits from a nutritional perspective!

Introduction

Tea and Immunity

Tea is one of the most popular drinks consumed worldwide with immense fervour. It is an aromatic beverage prepared by cooking leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant in boiling water. Ask the tea lovers in India and they’ll tell you the infamous chai isn’t just a drink, but an emotion.

Beyond it being a refreshing drink, tea comes in several varieties and does wonders for your health. A variety of teas have been shown in numerous studies to strengthen your immune system, reduce inflammation, and even guard against cancer and heart disease.

In this blog, we explore the different types of teas and their role in strengthening the immune system. Read on to know how and why tea is good for health!

Different types of teas

  1. Green Tea:

    Green tea is produced by steaming freshly harvested leaves to produce a dry and flavoursome end product. Green tea retains its colour because the heat destroys the enzymes that can break down its pigments. This process is also responsible for preserving natural polyphenols, a group of compounds present in the leaves that are associated with their health-promoting properties. Pour a cup for yourself every day to leverage the green tea benefits.

  2. Black Tea:

    Unlike green tea where the leaves are immediately steamed, to prepare black tea, the leaves are first exposed to air for several hours. The next step is to put them through extreme heat. This process turns them brown in colour, intensifying their flavour. 

  3. Chamomile Tea:

    Chamomile is an ancient medicinal herb, and its dried flowers contain many important substances, namely terpenoids and flavonoids. These impart many medicinal properties to the tea, making it a popular healthy beverage. 

  4. Lemon-ginger tea:

    It is made by the combination of the sour-tasting lemon infused with the popular Indian spice - ginger. It has a humble tribe of consumers due to its unique taste and nutritional lemon tea benefits. 

  5. Tulsi tea:

    Tulsi or the Indian basil holds prominence in Indian culture. Regular consumption of tea made with tulsi is also deemed an essential lifestyle practice.

Health Benefits of Different Teas

Here are a few reasons why drinking tea is good for health: 

Green tea benefits:

  • Catechin is the name of the polyphenol present in green tea.
  • These catechins support the immune system in a variety of ways.
  • Green tea can protect the body against oxidants and radicals - the substances that are known to damage our cells.

Check out this classic Kashmiri tea recipe to benefit from the goodness of green tea.

Black Tea Benefits:

  • Although green tea is usually glorified for its several health benefits, recent research suggests black tea too has such positive elements to it.
  • Studies have also found that daily consumption of black could improve your skin in many ways.
  • One of the black tea benefits is that it imparts a protective effect due to its relationship with citrus peel, saving you from many ailments.
  • It is also considered an effective remedy to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease - a disorder of the nervous system that affects one’s movements.

Chamomile Tea benefits:

  • It may boost the immune system and help fight infections associated with colds.
  • It is beneficial for wound healing and can aid the process of wound drying after injury.
  • Chamomile is also traditionally used for stomach disorders and to treat an upset tummy, gas, and ulcers. It has a soothing effect on stomach muscles and facilitates the easy movement of food.
  • It can also induce sleep, owing to its calming effects on the brain. This is one of the primary chamomile tea benefits.

Lemon ginger tea benefits:

  • Lemon ginger tea has anti-inflammatory properties and may impart anti-ageing benefits. 
  • It can boost the functions of the immune system and relieve nausea.
  • Lemon-ginger tea can be an excellent source of Vitamin C, the antioxidant used to fight harmful free radicals. 
  • One of the major lemon tea benefits is that it may also provide relief from a runny nose and sore throat.
  • If these facts have convinced you to include lemon-ginger tea in your diet, here’s a revitalising recipe for you! 

Tulsi tea benefits:

  • Tulsi is found to have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties that can act on pathogens and protect the body from human infections.
  • It is also found to have anti-diabetic properties and may control blood sugar levels.
  • Another one of the tulsi tea benefits is its ability to prevent weight gain when consumed. 
  • It replenishes your energy and can improve the immune response to infections.
  • It may also have a positive psychological effect and help deal with stress.

Conclusion

While in most Asian countries, people sip tea out of habit, there are a plethora of benefits of drinking tea. The different concoctions of teas possess a blend of active substances that have been proven to be soothing and refreshing. Second to water, it is supposed to be the cheapest beverage consumed and may be used in the prevention of several cellular irregularities. 
It is also stated to be a mood uplifter by its many consumers! So whether you found yourself enticed with lemon ginger tea benefits or tulsi tea impressed you, the habit of drinking tea is sure to help you better your health. 

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