Drink Halmari Tea for all the General Health Benefits

There is a certain stress hormone that adds to the aging process as well as the fat around the belly. Two different studies proved that tea drinkers have a decrease in cortisol levels. The first study found that around 4 cups of tea per day would lead to a drop in cortisol levels while the other study said that drinking tea for 6 weeks would show the same results. Who would not want to age slower while maintaining their body weight.

Tannins, which are found in tea, not only improve the immune system, they also fight against intestinal and gastric problems by having a therapeutic effect. They also have an anti-diarrheal effect which helps decrease intestinal activity.

While drinking cups and cups of coffee may have its effects like indigestion and disturbed sleep, it is not so in the case of tea since compared to coffee, tea has roughly 70% less caffeine though drinking tea in moderation is also advisable.

Caffeine has traditionally been considered a catalyst for increasing energy levels. The caffeine present in black tea, however, has an added advantage as it contains a compound called ‘theophylline’ that stimulates the kidneys, heart and respiratory system. This is why the stimulating effect of the caffeine present in black tea is greater than that of the caffeine that is present in coffee and cola drinks.

teas contains ample amounts of the flavonoids- quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin and it has been proven through studies that people who consume tea and in turn consume these rich compounds have a lesser risk of serious heart attacks.

Tea contains a lot of beneficial phytochemicals. A study that compared tea drinkers who had been drinking tea for more than 10 years to non-tea drinkers found that the tea drinkers had a better bone condition and strength even after taking aspects like smoking, body weight, age and some other risk factors into consideration.

A higher immune system activity was noticed in the blood of the tea drinkers in a study made by researchers based on volunteers who drank tea or coffee on an average of four to five cups daily for a total period of 4 weeks. Black tea contains alkylamine antigens that help boost our immune response. In addition, it also contains tannins that have the ability to fight viruses and hence keep us protected from influenza, hepatitis, stomach flu and other such commonly found viruses in our everyday lives. Consuming around 3-4 cups of black tea everyday would help in lowering inflammation and getting rid of dangerous pathogens. Catechins, which are a type of tannins, help in restraining tumors.

The new school of thought vs the old school of thought. Caffeine, being a diuretic, would make one urinate more and hence was believed to take away from our fluid requirement as compared to adding to it. Nowadays though research has been showing that tea and other drinks with caffeine do in fact add to our daily fluid needs. However, too much (in excess of 5-6 cups) of any caffeine drink in one shot will not add to fluid and instead may cause problems.

Tea is a totally calorie free drink and studies in the past have shown that even if 250 calories less per day are consumed, it has resulted in a weight loss of about a pound a week.

There are certain properties in tea which help increase metabolism. Green tea has the highest numbers and upon drinking 5 cups of green tea a day, 70 to 80 calories can be burned. On that basis, around 8 pounds can be lost every year just by drinking green tea.

Though doctors these days may be prescribing green tea for a lot of reasons, one of the main ones are for lowering cholesterol levels-both LDL and total serum cholesterol. Majority of the studies have found that around 5 cups a day should be an adequate number but some studies have also said that greater consumption patterns lead to proportionate drops in cholesterol. Black tea also has similar properties as after all green tea and black tea are made from the same source- just different styles of manufacture.

A study in as early as 2001 had shown that tea can also act as a deterrent to blindness caused by cataracts. Though this may seem improbable, studies have found some of the numerous antioxidants that tea contains in eye tissue.

Inflammation whether it is in the form of arthritis or just a swelling to do a simple bump on the head is a common problem that everyone has to deal with at some point of time or the other. There are active compounds found in tea that help in lowering inflammatory reactions.

Two properties found in tea, caffeine and L- Theanine (naturally occurring amino acid), combine to increase one’s concentration and focus while improving memory and reaction as they react on the brain’s theta waves.

Researchers in Japan concluded in a study in 2007 that EGCG- a polyphenol found in tea could be helpful while combating pollen allergies. Quercetin (naturally occurring flavonol) also helps fight allergies.

Studies have shown that the tendency for cardiovascular diseases in regular black tea drinkers is relatively less. The oxidation of the LDL cholesterol is prevented by antioxidants like flavonoids. This leads to protection of the artery walls and blood stream and that is how the chances of heart diseases are reduced. A report showed that black tea is one of the main remedies for a coronary disease called endothelial vasomotor dysfunction as it reverses the process and it also helps in improving coronary vasodilation and diminishing blood clots. Further to the above, the manganese and polyphenols present in black tea help reduce coronary heart disease by assisting the cardiac muscles in its role.

There are molecules called free radicals that are harmful for the body and antioxidants get rid of these free radicals which are a natural side effect of the harm done to the body by the effects of pollution and the natural process of aging. As free radicals are very unsteady, they generally react adversely with other vital molecules like DNA, which leads to grave failure and damage on a cellular level. The effects that these free radicals leave behind if not erased could open the gateways for the developments of heart and other diseases. The free radicals in the body can cause various cell damages such as blood clot formation, cancer and atherosclerosis. The consumption of unhealthy food increases the number of free radicals in your body. The antioxidants present in black tea remove these harmful free radicals, thus protecting the body from diseases such as Alzheimer’s and heart diseases. Black tea with lemon is a good choice for this action.

As black tea contains a significantly lower level of caffeine as compared to coffee, it allows for a smoother functioning as it encourages blood flow in the brain without any additional pressure on the heart and this, in turn, allows for the brain to stay fresher and improves concentration and awareness.

Tea drinkers tend to be healthier, which proves true in research too, as tea drinking correlates with better health outcomes.Just like wine or coffee, there are countless types, blends, styles, countries of origins and more, all for you to try. I’m sure there is a tea to suit any taste and preference.