You've probably heard that tea is an incredibly healthy drink. However, most likely, you know the opposite point of view. Scientific research shows that drinking tea regularly reduces the risk of diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, and also helps to strengthen bones. In addition, tea improves the health of teeth and gums. But not all of those ideas about tea that exist in the mass consciousness are true.
The point is that scientific ideas are constantly changing. Scientists receive new information about the properties of certain products. In a word, scientific thought does not stand still. Meanwhile, many people do not follow the news of science and follow the ideas that were formed many years and even decades ago. Tea and the way it is consumed are no exception. Such ideas about him are widespread among people that do not reflect the real state of affairs.
Tea is a very popular drink. Perhaps in this respect, it is slightly inferior to coffee, nevertheless, many people prefer a fragrant infusion even to a drink made from coffee beans, which humanity may eventually lose. Let's look at the main questions about tea from a scientific point of view and try to answer the most important one - is it really healthier than coffee?
Can milk be added to tea?
Several studies have shown that adding milk to tea reduces its health benefits. However, a recent study on this issue found that milk tea contains about the same amount of catechins (antioxidants that reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer) as black tea without additives. In addition, it is known that milk mixed with tea is absorbed by the body much better.
Also, the disadvantages of tea with milk include its high calorie content. But this problem can be easily solved by using less fatty milk and green tea. Green tea with milk, by the way, is an excellent thirst quencher - you can try it yourself. How do you like it?
Promotional video:
Is tea healthier if you don't add anything to it?
Citric acid, added to tea in the form of lemon, lime or orange juice, helps preserve flavonoids, substances that have antimicrobial effects. Additives to tea are made in those cases when they are not going to drink it right away, but, for example, prepare a chilled drink with ice.
Flavonoids are considered to be one of the compounds that make tea so beneficial. Adding honey to tea helps to improve performance. The areas of the brain responsible for attention work more efficiently after tea with honey than after pure tea.
Can I drink peppermint tea for abdominal pain?
To relieve stomach discomfort, mint is not the best choice. Mint only makes heartburn worse. For nausea and motion sickness, it is better to use ginger tea. Anyway, ginger is considered an excellent remedy for bloating, gas and cramps. You can not even add it to tea, but simply chew it.
For stomach pains, it is best to drink chamomile tea, which can be found in almost any pharmacy. It is anti-inflammatory and gently relaxes the upper digestive tract. In most cases, it is chamomile tea that saves from cramps.
Is tea a floral herbal "tea"?
True tea is only the infusion of the plant "Camellia sinensis" ("Camellia sinensis"). There are black, green, white and oolong tea (Chinese semi-fermented tea) and all types of it are obtained from this plant. Those varieties of "tea" that are obtained from flowers, herbs and even tree bark should be classified as herbal infusions.
Thus, it is not entirely correct to call tea herbal infusions. Although, we admit, in stores you can often find boxes with inscriptions that literally prove that tea is inside. From flowers, herbs and tree bark. Perhaps this is only done to attract the attention of buyers.
Does tea go bad?
Tea can be on the shelf for up to six months. After that, he begins to lose antioxidants. In 2009, the Journal of Food Science, a journal of nutritional science, published the results of a study in which scientists found that the content of catechins decreases markedly over time. Six months later, their level dropped by 32%. To keep the antioxidants in your tea for as long as possible, the infusion should be stored in a sealed container in a dark and cool place.
Is tea healthier than coffee?
Tea is actually considered a healthier drink due to its antioxidants. However, here you need to understand that any product, even the most useful, is good in moderation. It is known that coffee, when consumed correctly, has many beneficial properties that have a beneficial effect on human health. For example, caffeine has positive effects on a range of cognitive abilities in older adults.
At the same time, if a woman or her partner drinks two or more cups of coffee a day before conception, then this increases the risk of miscarriages in the first weeks of pregnancy.
Or maybe you know any myth about tea that you want to tell about? What have you heard more often - about the benefits of tea or about its dangers?
Alexander Bogdanov