Why Good Health is Everybody’s Cup of Tea
Posted: October 21, 2022 | By: Rocio Ramos
Why Good Health is Everybody’s Cup of Tea
People have been promoting the health benefits of tea for nearly 5,000 years. It’s believed to help “purify the body” and “preserve the mind” since China’s earliest recorded history of its healing powers in 2737 BC. And now there’s new testing to back up the claims.
The Latest Research From China & The UK
A team from China did the latest research, which involved over a million adults from eight different countries, with striking results. The study showed a 17% decline in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes over a decade for people who drink at least four cups daily of black, green, or Oolong tea. However, the study also finds that drinking less tea is less beneficial overall. For example, one to three cups daily decreased the risk of type 2 diabetes by only 4%.
“While more research needs to be done to determine the exact dosage and mechanisms behind these observations, our findings suggest that drinking tea is beneficial in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, but only at high doses,” said the lead author of the research, Xiaying Li of Wuhan University of Science and Technology, in a news release.
Another recent study from the UK is also quite revealing. It shows that a minimum of two cups of black tea daily decreases mortality risk from 9% to 13% for people in the UK over 14 years. “We think our findings will be very reassuring to people who are already drinking tea,” said Dr. Maki Inoue-Choi, a staff scientist at the National Cancer Institute who led that research. It’s also worth noting that drinking more tea doesn’t seem problematic healthwise. People who exceeded 10 cups daily “didn’t see any negative effects on mortality risk,” according to Inoue-Choi.
Antioxidants & Reduced Inflammation
Polyphenols are plant compounds with antioxidant properties that may be at the heart of tea’s healing powers. For instance, according to the National Library of Medicine: “Through cellular, animal, and human experiments, green tea, and its major component, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects.”
Catechins are the most prevalent polyphenols in green tea, and they’re known to protect cells from damage, which may also help shield the body from various diseases. In addition, fermented green tea transforms catechins into another type of antioxidant called theaflavins, which may significantly contribute to the tea’s beneficial health properties.
“Tea drinking boosts T cells’ ability to react against bacterial and viral infections,” says Jack F. Bukowski, MD, Ph.D., a rheumatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. This action helps your body fight off colds and flu. “I suspect this is good for people with rheumatoid arthritis, who are taking immunosuppressive medications that make them more susceptible to infection,” he says.
Additional studies support the idea that tea has legitimate anti-inflammatory benefits. For example, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland conducted lab studies that revealed EGCG might stop arthritis advancement. That’s because it blocks a pro-inflammatory cell called interleukin-1 from destroying cartilage.
Drinking Tea Should be an Easy Choice
It’s clear from the latest research that drinking tea is one easy way to help support your health. There are hundreds of brands and flavors to choose from on the market, you can drink it hot or cold, and it takes very little preparation. Try some of L’Dara’s Wellness Teas offered by Youngevity. But, most importantly, just four cups a day could make all the difference.
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