Tea is great to drink, whether hot or cold. For those who can't bear the bitter taste, you can add a little honey or just a bit of sugar, and you can have a truly refreshing drink on a hot summer day.
The best part about drinking tea is that it is healthy! Check out the 9 health benefits of drinking green tea below, and you can feel even better when you grab your glass or cup of tea.
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1. Caffeine is good. Although caffeine is often made out to be bad, caffeine is actually good for the brain. Green tea contains caffeine and L-theanine, according to Healthline, that work together to help improve the brains "mood, vigilance, reaction time and memory."
2. Acts as a breath mint. Green tea contains catechins that kill the bacteria responsible for gum disease, cavities and bad breath. The University of Michigan (U of M) points out that a side effect is that it inhibits halitosis.
3. May inhibit cancer. The jury is out on whether green tea actually prevents cancer. A study released by the Mayo Clinic found that an extract from green tea appeared to help kill some leukemia cells. Studies are still working on how green tea works and whether it is a viable tool in the fight against cancer according to WebMD.
4. Reduces heart disease. Blood clots, which are the primary culprit in cardiovascular disease, are inhibited by green tea according to WebMD.
5. Stabilizes blood sugars. If you suffer from diabetes, green tea has been shown to help level off blood sugars, according to U of M. Healthline adds that it also increases insulin sensitivity.
6. Reduces high blood pressure. Another benefit of green tea, says U of M, is that it helps reduce high blood pressure.
7. Fights Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. If Alzheimer's or Parkinson's run in the family, Healthline says that green tea has shown evidence that it may reduce the risks of developing these diseases.
8. Burns fat. Burning fat is not the same as losing weight. Healthline states that green tea boosts your metabolic rate, not your metabolism. This does help with the burning of fat, but losing weight is not all about burning fat. WebMD recommends drinking diet green tea in place of regular soda, thereby replacing calories. This will help lose weight.
9. Helps you relax. WebMD points out that just the ritual of making a cup of tea can be therapeutic and relaxing. That should not be underestimated in value. Ridding yourself of stress is extremely valuable!
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If you enjoy drinking tea, you have even more reasons to curl up, grab a cup, and start drinking. With the health benefits that come from tea, imbibe with a guilt-free conscience!
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