Benefits and Risks of Drinking Tea

Tea

Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world and it is also the most beloved. With a wide variety of tea that has over 20.000 different kinds spread across the globe it also has all kinds of flavour and types, from bitter to sweet - from rich and earthy flavours to light, airy and flowery scent. It’s not a surprise that almost all people in this world have at least drunk tea once in their life. 


This aromatic beverage is well known for soothing several ailments and its healing properties. Modern studies even suggest that tea might play a role in reducing the risk of chronic conditions, such as cancer, obesity, stroke and heart disease. As it is also a no calorie drink, it has been corporated a lot in diabetic patients' diets. Tea is also a rich source of antioxidants.



Benefits of drinking tea

Tea is one of the enjoyable beverages to consume as it can be modified to cater to different taste buds. It can be consumed hot or cold, it also can be added with a few twists of your own. It is hydrating as it is refreshing to our tongue. 


While tea is not the solution or cure to any health problems. There are several healthy reasons why it is good to be drunk on a daily basis :


  1. Lower cholesterol - Black tea contains theaflavins and thearubigins which benefits your body. A study found that they help alleviate people with high cholesterol.

  2. Lower risk of cancer - Green and black teas also contain important polyphenols, which are associated with the healthy regulation of cancer cell growth and survival, Meaning it lowers the risk of developing cancer.

  3. Heart health - One of tea’s most helpful qualities is that it has anti-inflammatory properties. This allows your blood vessels to relax, which puts far less stress on your heart. As a result, you can develop resistance against stress.

  4. Better sleep quality - As herbal teas contain no caffeine at all. It can be consumed to help people wind down and relax at the end of the day. Teas such as chamomile and lavender have been known to soothe the nerves and help with sleep quality.

  5. More focus and alertness - Traditional teas do contain caffeine like those in coffee but less in amount. It is said that teas contain 50% less than coffees. In common conception, caffeine helps us to stay awake and be more alert to our surroundings thus contributing to better focus. However further study needs to be done to actually prove the effects of caffeine to the brain and the nerve system


Potential risks of tea

Consuming a moderate amount of tea daily is a very healthy choice for most people, however exceeding 3–4 cups (710–950 ml) per day could have some negative side effects. Such as :

  1. Reduced iron absorption - Tea is rich in tannins. Tannins bind to iron in certain foods, causing it to be unavailable for absorption in your digestive system. Excessive tea drinking may lead to iron deficiency 

  2. Increased restlessness, anxiety and nervousness - Teas also contain caffeine like coffees. Even though it’s less in amount, overconsuming caffeine may contribute to increased alertness, restlessness and anxiety. If you notice your tea drinking habit leads to you being prone to nervousness, it may be better to cut back your consumption.

  3. Poor sleep - Excessive caffeine intake may also lead to poor sleep schedule. Some studies say that caffeine may hinder melatonin production, melatonin is a hormone that signals your brain that it is time to sleep. Lack of melatonin might result in poor sleep quality.

  4. Heartburn - Caffeine may also cause heartburns. Research suggests that caffeine can relax the sphincter that separates your esophagus from your stomach, making acidic stomach contents more easily move into the esophagus. Caffeine also contributes to boost stomach acid production.

  5. Caffeine dependence - Regular intake of caffeine from tea or any other beverages may lead to a caffeine dependence. Not getting the usual amount of caffeine might result in caffeine withdrawal with symptoms such as headaches, irritability, increased heart rate and tremors in muscles. 


Conclusion

Tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world. It has a wide variety to choose from ranging from traditional black tea, green tea to non-caffeine herbal tea such as chamomile, lavender, lemon grass and more. 


Researchers have also tested and proved the benefits that come from drinking a moderate dose of tea daily. Nonetheless, over indulging in tea consumption could lead to negative side effects.


Most of the side effects of drinking an abundant amount of tea are related to the caffeine or tannin content. Some people may be more sensitive to these compounds and the effects might differ from each person. So it is important to be self aware of your own body and its tell tales. 


If you are starting to experience any symptoms relating to your tea intake. You might want to cut back until you find the balance that is right for you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cryptocurrency : What is it and What You Should Know About it

Image
Cryptocurrency : What is it and What You Should Know About it Cryptocurrency has been one of the hot topic these days, especially since the COVID 19 pandemic was declared by WHO (World Health Organization) last year. These digital currencies have rocketed high and there are even some currencies worth hundreds millions rupiah  for each piece. There are several cryptocurrency available in this world but in Indonesia there are only 229 cryptocurrency which have been legalized by Bappebti (Badan Pengawas Perdagangan Berjangka Komoditi), some of you may have heard about it. Such examples are Bitcoin, Litecoin, Digibyte. Ethereum, Chainlink, Binance Coin and Vidycoin among others. Vidycoin has been gaining popularity in Indonesia these past few months. It’s price drastically increased from a mere 20 rupiah at the beginning of March and now sits at around 100 rupiah for each piece. For those who don’t know what cryptocurrency is, here’s a short explanation of it. A cryptocurrency is a di...
Read more

Loneliness

Image
  Loneliness Loneliness is such a dangerous thing. It is akin to a slow acting poison, seeping slowly but surely through our bones and flesh. It sounds horrid and a tad morbid I know, but that is the truth of the continuous feeling of loneliness. In this world that has approximately  7.9 billions of humans, surprisingly or unsurprisingly around 40 to 60% people have stated that they feel lonely.  We all have felt lonely at some point in our lives. It is inevitable in this steadfast and digital world we are residing in. For some people, these feelings of loneliness are just an occasional thing that can be quickly dispelled by meeting with loved ones. Yet for some people, loneliness is a daily thing that hovers around never never truly leaving one’s mind. Now, this type of loneliness is the dangerous type. The longer it is left untreated, the bigger the backlash is going to be in the future. Humans are a highly social species Humans crave affection from others as humans are...
Read more

Brain Freeze : Brrr?

Image
  Brain Freeze : Brrr? Brain freeze or the ice cream headache, the sudden pain can make you almost regret scarfing down the nice and cold scoop of ice cream you just got on this especially hot summer day. Even though the pain went away as fast as it came, it is still an unpleasant feeling to go through.  Sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia what? Sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia is what we call brain freeze in a scientific way. It is rather a handful name to say but it is named like that because it is caused by sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgic nerves (SPG), a group of nerves near trigeminal nerves in the brain which is located behind the nose and palate. When this group of nerves sense something cold they send an instant message to the brain, causing arteries and blood vessels to react. Now if you eat or drink something cold slowly, the nerves in your mouth have a chance to familiarize themselves with the cold and prevent the sudden headache. But if you slurp down that ice cold smoot...
Read more