5 types of teas and their health benefits
#1 – Black Tea
It’s high caffeine content and strong flavor makes black tea a popular drink among coffee drinkers. Known as red tea in China, this variety retains its flavors for many years. The tea is blended with various other ingredients to make flavored teas such as chai and the Irish breakfast. The tea can easily be brewed with your favorite herbs and spices such as cinnamon, ginger, black pepper to get the flavor of your choice. Black tea can be brewed from four to fifteen minutes depending on the flavor and the ingredients being added to it. While black tea can give you that instant energy boost whenever you need, it has also been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases as well as reverse lung damage caused by cigarette smoking. Addition of various herbs and spices can help improve digestion and relieve cold and flu symptoms as well.
#2 – Green Tea
Probably the most popular type of tea among health enthusiasts, green tea is often used by people trying to lose weight. Green tea is made from leaves that go through minimal processing. The leaves are simply heated and then rolled to release their flavor. Many people prefer the mild, grassy and sweet taste of green tea and it is not usually brewed for a long time. Green tea has a high concentration of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a catechin, which makes it quite useful for the treatment of various health disorders. It has been found to prevent cancers of the bladder, breast, lungs, stomach, and colon. Green tea is also beneficial for reducing the risk of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, as well as reducing bad (LDL) cholesterol and improving good cholesterol (HDL). Its ability to burn fat makes it quite useful for losing weight.
#3 – Oolong Tea
Falling somewhere between the black and the green variety, as far as caffeine content is concerned, oolong tea is considered to be quite beneficial for the digestive system. There are different varieties of this tea, including Darjeeling oolong and Vietnamese oolong. The tea is brewed in a traditional vessel called the gaiwan. However, you can always make your oolong tea by steeping about two teaspoons in a cup of hot water. The leaves are allowed to steep for three to ten minutes and can be re-brewed multiple times. Oolong tea is beneficial for managing blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. It is also beneficial for balancing cholesterol levels, detoxification, and reducing excessive weight.
#4 – White Tea Made from buds and select leaves of the plant, white tea is uncured and unfermented. This is what makes this variety as the most beneficial for your health. Studies have shown that it contains the highest amount of antioxidants compared to the other varieties, which makes it a potent cancer-fighting drink. Silver Needle and White Peony are the two best varieties of white tea. White tea is usually brewed in near-boiling water to retain its mild and sweet taste for about three to ten minutes, depending on how strong a flavor you want. Regular consumption of this tea is believed to strengthen your bones and teeth, improve cardiovascular health, control blood sugar levels, and increase energy levels as well.
#5 – Pu-erh Tea
Made from fermented and aged leaves, pu-erh or pu’er tea is a variety of black tea. It has a rich and deep flavor and is another popular choice among coffee drinkers. Pu-erh tea is considered to be beneficial for blood purification, detoxification and improving digestion. The tea, which is pressed into large cakes, may lower blood cholesterol levels and increase metabolism. It may also be quite useful in lowering the blood pressure of people with hypertension. You can make your pu-erh tea by prying off one or two teaspoon of leaves from the compressed form. Rinse it off slightly to remove the dust which may have settled during the fermentation process by placing it in near-boiling water and then discarding the water quickly. The tea is then steeped in hot or boiling water for about three to five minutes. Prefer coffee? Learn about the 7 health benefits of drinking coffee.
Courtesy of http://www.uncoverdiscover.com
