Wellness  Tea - Health Benefits of Tea

 With tea being the second most consumed beverage in the world, after water, it is clear to see why so many studies have been conducted surrounding this incredible drink. While research is constantly being updated on this topic, studies overwhelmingly conclude that tea is an extremely healthy beverage, which may help protect the body against various diseases and may be an important tool in maintaining overall health and wellness. Researchers believe that many of the properties present in tea are responsible for making it such a healthy beverage. Polyphenols which have antioxidant properties, are naturally occurring in many foods including tea and help to improve overall health and wellness. Flavonoids are a subdivision of the polyphenol group and like polyphenols act as antioxidants in the body, which have been linked to numerous health benefits.

Antioxidants are an important part of the reason tea is such a healthy drink, as they consist of molecules that slow down or prevent oxidation of chemicals. This lack of oxidation, among other things, protects the body from free radicals, which can cause health concerns such as cancer. Catechins have recently been linked to many health benefits including reducing the risk of heart failure, stroke, cancer and diabetes. Interestingly, the largest source of catechins, which can be delivered to the human body through a food source, comes from tea. The final naturally occurring property of tea that makes it such a health beverage is epigallocatechin-3-gallate, also known as EGCG. While it has a very complex name it is simply a variety of catechin abundant in tea, which is thought to aid in the prevention and treatment of many diseases.