The benefits of tea include being an antioxidant, repairing damaged cells, smoothing the skin, slimming the body, preventing cancer, preventing heart disease, reducing cholesterol in the blood, and improving blood circulation. So, do not be surprised if this drink is touted as a drink rich in benefits.
Differences in Groups and Tea
Differences in groups and tea naming are carried out based on the way the tea is processed before and after it is picked from the tree, namely:
1. Black Tea
This tea is processed through a full fermentation process. Often also known as red tea.
2. Oolong Tea
This tea is processed through a half-fermentation process. It is a favorite drink in China and India.
3. Green Tea
This tea is not processed through a fermentation process. After the tea leaves are picked, they are processed immediately. Has the best properties. The results showed that green tea was able to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Starting to be popular in Asia, namely China and Japan.
This tea is not processed through an oxidation process. When on a tree, tea leaves are also protected from sunlight so as not to produce chlorophyll or leaf green matter. Because less is produced, it costs more.
Benefits of Green Tea for Health
Tea is one of the favorite drinks of all ages. One type of tea that is currently very popular is green tea. Not only refreshing green tea turns out to contain many benefits for health and beauty including:
1. Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke
Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death in the world. A study shows that the consumption of green tea can reduce total cholesterol and bad cholesterol (LDL). In addition, green tea also contains phenolic acids, which can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
2. Inhibit the Growth of Cancer Cells
Polyphenols are one of the antioxidants contained in green tea. This compound can inhibit the growth of various types of cancer cells, such as skin cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, and breast cancer.
However, further and thorough research is still needed to ensure the effectiveness of green tea in preventing cancer.
3. Can Protect the Brain from Aging
The health benefits of green tea also include protecting the brain from aging. Not only can green tea improve brain function in the short term, but it can also protect the brain as you age.
4. Make the Body More Relaxed
Sipping tea helps you feel more relaxed. A natural chemical called theanine found in green tea can have a calming effect. So, the benefits of green tea for health can make the body more relaxed.
5. Makes Sleep Better
Not only when you are stressed, but if you have trouble sleeping, drinking green tea before bed can provide benefits. Theanine content in green tea has an antistress effect on both animals and humans. This can help you sleep better as well as help improve poor sleep quality.
Although green tea contains caffeine, the levels of this substance in tea are low enough that its effect on increasing alertness is not great.
6. Eliminate Bad Breath
The benefits of green tea on this one you may not know, which can overcome bad breath. Green tea contains tannins which have antibacterial properties, so they can prevent the formation of bacteria in the mouth. That means this type of tea can suppress the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath. In addition to dealing with odors, green tea can also prevent dental caries and the formation of plaque on the teeth. Therefore, many people use green tea as a traditional mouthwash.
7. Helps Control Blood Sugar and Prevent Diabetes
Thanks to the catechin compounds it contains, green tea is thought to be able to control blood sugar in diabetics. Because of its ability to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, green tea can also prevent damage caused by fatty foods.
Beneficial Substances in a Cup of Tea
Therefore, apart from being a soft drink, tea can also be used as a therapy for health. If we drink a cup of tea, then we at least know what are the best substances in the cup of tea we drink. What substances are contained in tea that makes it known as a drink rich in benefits? Here are some of the main beneficial substances found in a cup of tea.
Polyphenol
The polyphenols in tea are catechins and flavanols. This compound functions as an antioxidant to capture free radicals in the body and is also effective in preventing the development of cancer cells in the body. Free radicals exist in our bodies because of the polluted air environment and also from the food we eat.
Vitamin E
One cup of tea contains about 100-200 IU of vitamin E, which is a daily requirement for the human body. This amount serves to maintain heart health and make the skin smooth.
Vitamin C
This vitamin functions as an immunity or resistance for the human body. In addition, vitamin C also functions as an antioxidant that is needed for the human body’s resistance to disease.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A in tea in the form of beta-carotene is a vitamin that the body needs to meet.
Type of Tea
The substances contained in tea are very easily oxidized. When tea leaves are exposed to sunlight, the oxidation process occurs. The types of tea that are generally known in the community are green tea, Oolong tea (eg Javanese Oolung/Ulung tea), black tea, and white tea. Green tea has the best content because, in the manufacturing process, this type of tea is not dried in the sun but uses a special drying technique. While other types of tea are processed by fermentation.
Substances in Tea that are Not Good
In addition to the benefits of tea, there are also substances contained in tea that are not good for the body. That substance is caffeine. Caffeine in tea (tea) can cause the process of absorption of food to be hampered. The safe limit for consuming caffeine in a day is 750 mg/day or the equivalent of 5 cups of tea measuring 200 ml.
Should be Avoided when Drinking Tea
There are also things you should pay attention to when you drink tea so that useful substances in the body are not lost, including:
- Do not drink tea with or after eating because the substances contained in food can be stolen by tea stimulants.
- Do not drink tea on an empty stomach because it can increase the production of stomach acid.
- Avoid drinking tea mixed with sugar because it causes the substances it contains to be reduced.
- Do not drink tea that has been overnight because many of its substances are oxidized and stale so it has a bad impact on the body.
- Avoid drinking tea during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Because caffeine and stimulant substances in tea can stimulate uterine contractions. In addition, for breastfeeding mothers, it will interfere with the production of the mother’s milk-producing glands or breast milk.
How to Brew Tea
What is not inferior in the manufacturing process is how to brew tea. To avoid mistakes when brewing tea, you must pay attention to how to brew tea whether it is correct or not. Because this mistake can cause the tea to not provide benefits for people who drink it. To brew tea, use boiling water at a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius, do not use water with a temperature higher than 80 degrees because it can make us lose the benefits of tea.
In addition, tea can be mixed with milk. Tea mixed with milk or often known as milk tea can reduce the stimulant effect of tea because milk calcium will bind to stimulant substances in tea.
Another way is to add lemon which we often know as Lemon Tea. Lemon will protect digestion because the citric acid in lemon prevents the formation of crusts on the intestinal wall.
All over the world, there are many different ways people drink tea. In England, members of the British Empire have a habit of drinking a cup of tea every afternoon. In other parts of the world, the habit of drinking tea is also practiced. It all depends on you and the customs of your culture. But don’t forget to pay attention to some of the instructions mentioned above when drinking tea. Enjoy a cup of tea!
