Tea does not seem to be a favorite drink while flying.

The title should have said, ‘Coffee, tea, or water,’ but I could not resist using the 1973 movie title starring Karen Valentine to start this article. All three drinks have excellent health value.

Tea

https://www.heart.org/en/news/eat-it-or-leave-it Tea is the most popular drink in the world next to the number one choice, water. Most teas contain next to no calories and have different flavor profiles. Each tea has unique properties that help the body in different ways.

Teas enhance brain and heart function, boost HDL cholesterol, and even help with weight loss.

HDL Cholesterol

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.118.008814 A 2018 study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association stated that tea slows the HDL cholesterol loss as the body ages. HDL cholesterol is known for its ability to counter the effects of increased LDL cholesterol levels.

Black & Green Teas

https://www.thespruceeats.com/black-tea-or-green-tea-which-is-healthier-4058865
Black, green, and white tea come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The timing of picking tea leaves determines what to call it. Each has its unique health benefits. Black tea is fermented, and green tea is not.

All teas have caffeine and antioxidants, some more than others. The antioxidants and flavonoids are beneficial aspects of tea. Black tea is known for reducing blood pressure, improving gut health, and lowering blood sugar levels.

Green tea has a few more nutritional components, such as catechins and the amino acid L-theanine. Epi-gallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) is the most well-known catechin in green tea. Green tea’s health benefits include fighting disease, especially upper respiratory infection, improving fat burning, enhancing brain function, and reducing anxiety.

White Tea

https://senchateabar.com/blogs/blog/white-tea-benefits White tea is one of the teas with the most antioxidants. Studies show improved cardiovascular function and reduced insulin resistance. Protection against osteoporosis and skin aging is on the list of health benefits from white tea.

Pu Erh Tea

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/pu-erh-tea-benefits Pu Erh tea is my favorite tea for taste. I drink a mixture of six different teas daily. When I want a single cup of tea, Pu Erh is my choice. Many people attribute weight loss to this tea.

Pu Erh tea, like black tea, is fermented. Healthy probiotics from the fermentation process improve gut health and reduce hunger cravings. Pu Erh tea stabilizes cholesterol and blood fat levels. Scientists are testing highly concentrated clinical extracts of Pu Erh tea to inhibit certain kinds of cancers.

Oolong Tea
https://serasana.com/oolong-tea-benefits/ Scientists conclude that oolong tea reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and inflammation. Oolong increases energy, prevents diabetes, and fights obesity. Oolong is my second tea for taste.

Oolong tea is fermented but not as long as black tea. The National Cancer Institute is studying oolong tea as part of treating cancer treatment protocols.

Conclusion

I drink many teas daily. I choose them for their health and longevity benefits. Many years ago, I used to drown my iced tea in sugar. Nowadays, I prefer my tea unsweetened. I went from sweetened sodas to sweet tea to diet soda to unsweet tea over the last five decades or so.

Add sugar to anything, and you decrease the health benefit. Some teas have higher amounts of caffeine, and you might notice caffeine side effects when you drink more than a moderate amount.

There are many flavored teas. I never acquired a taste for flavored teas. Beware of the extra ingredients when selecting a flavored tea. Another concern for a few people is an iron deficiency that can happen when overindulging in tea.

Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com

 

3 Responses

  1. Red, Thank you for this interesting article about the benefits of Tea.
    My wife, who is a certified tea sommelier,and I are opening a tea room and art gallery in the Katy/Richmond Texas area.We will invite you to try our loose leaf teas that you correctly described.

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