The Tea Council of the USA reminds you that tea is good for you and that enjoying tea is a great way to rejunevate, warm the body, promote relaxation and enjoy the many health benefits associated with consuming tea. Approximately four out of five consumers drink tea, according to the Tea Council, which points out that tea is “steeped” in health benefits.
Tea contains no sodium, fat, carbonation, or sugar and is virtually calorie-free. Thousands of published studies in leading medical journals support the potential health benefits of drinking tea. The major bioactive compounds in tea, called flavonoids, have been linked with the beverage’s healthful properties.
The Tea Council cited the benefits of tea discussed in the December 2013 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; which published 12 studies about tea’s role in cardiovascular health, body weight, bone health, metabolism and brain function:
• Tea and Body Weight: In one review, researchers concluded that subjects consuming green tea and caffeine lost an average of 2.9 pounds within 12 weeks while adhering to their regular diet. The results of another meta-analysis suggest the increase in caloric expenditure is equal to about 100 calories over a 24-hour period. The weight loss benefits of tea vary based on many factors, but studies have found benefits with the equivalent of as little as 2.5 cups of green tea.
• Tea and Bone Health: Research suggests that polyphenols in green tea may help improve bone quality and strength. One study found that drinking tea was associated with a 30 percent reduced risk in hip fractures among men and women 50 years of age or older.
• Tea and Mood, Mental Alertness & Problem Solving: A study found that drinking tea improved attention and allowed individuals to be more focused on the task at hand. In this placebo-controlled study, subjects who drank tea produced more accurate results during an attention task and also felt more alert than subjects who drank a placebo. These effects were found for two to three cups of tea consumed within 90 minutes. It is thought that caffeine and the amino acid theanine, both present in tea, contribute to many of tea’s psychological benefits.
• Tea and Heart Health: A study published by Claudio Ferri, MD, University L’Aquila, Italy found that black tea reduced blood pressure, and among hypertensive subjects, it helped counteract the negative effects of a high-fat meal on blood pressure and arterial blood flow. The study also indicated that consuming one cup of tea per day may reduce incidence of stroke and heart attacks by 8 to 10 percent.
Visit the Tea Council of the USA or follow @TeaCouncil on Twitter to learn more about the many health benefits and varieties of tea.
About the Tea Council of the USA:
The Tea Council of the USA is a non-profit association that was formed in 1950 as a joint partnership between tea packers, importers and allied industries within the United States, and the major tea producing countries. It functions as the educational arm of the tea industry with a primary goal of increasing overall awareness of tea by providing information about its many positive attributes. One of the Council’s primary objectives is the dissemination of key scientific findings about tea to the public. The Tea Council does this in several ways including: funding scientific meetings to bring tea researchers from around the world together to share key information and identify next steps for future research projects; and working with health organizations and international scientists to disseminate information about potential positive health effects of tea consumption on a public level.