Tea is one of the oldest and most popular beverages on the planet, second only to water. It’s history goes back as far as 10th Century B.C. China. It was first introduced to Europe in 1657 by Dutch traders. China, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Japan are the world’s top tea growers.
All tea comes from the same plant but the way it’s processed produces the different types:
- Black tea is oxidized or fermented the longest of the four types of tea and it also contains the most caffeine which is still about half of the caffeine in a cup of coffee.
- Oolong tea is fermented less than black tea and contains just over 1/3 the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee.
- Green tea is fermented less than Oolong tea and contains about 1/4 the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee.
- White tea is not fermented and contains the least amount of caffeine of all of the teas. It contains roughly 1/8 the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee.
The teas that have gone through the least amount of oxidization or fermentation have the highest levels of antioxidants. White teas have the most and black teas have the least. Antioxidants are thought to prevent cancer by repairing or limiting damage to the body’s cells. Studies have shown, however, that tea, when consumed with milk does not posses the health benefits it has when it is by itself or “black”.
According to a 2006 study by the United States Department of Agriculture, tea raises your metabolism and, more importantly, increases fat oxidization.
A cup of tea is a natural appetite suppressant. Drinking tea during meals will make you full and satisfied quicker and send a signal to your brain to stop eating. Drinking tea between meals will help you to avoid snacking. Any of the four types of tea as long as they are unsweetened and plain will work equally well as an appetite suppressant During the summer when I don’t feel like a hot beverage, I brew a cup of tea and pour it into a large glass full of ice.
I hope that you can see the healthy benefits of tea and understand why it is consumed so much in so many countries today. I would like to hear your favorite tea and your health and weight loss stories.
References:
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563182/Tea.html
http://www.gol27.com/HistoryTea.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10913-milk-wrecks-the-health-benefits-of-tea.html
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/sep03/tea0903.htm
http://www.veganworldezine.com/articles/77/1/Green-Tea—A-Natural-Appetite-Suppressant-To-Help-Weight-Loss/Page1.html
