You have probably heard that drinking tea is good for you, but how specifically can tea help you? Let's discuss some common types of tea and how they benefit your health.

People in England named a meal after it. People in China have ceremonies about it. People around the world drink it by the gallon. What’s so special about tea? Let’s look at the health benefits that this popular drink can bring you.

Tea Made With Hot Water

The basis of tea is usually water. Making tea with hot water can help you in many ways. One article on Healthline.com lists ten advantages. Six of these benefits can help almost everyone: Consuming heated water aids digestion by lubricating, soothing, and animating your digestive system. It relaxes your central nervous system and provides the water necessary to react well to stress, which in turn lowers stress levels. Besides hydrating your body, hot water also decreases the amount of toxins in your body as your endocrine and circulatory systems are activated. Hot water can also treat some specific issues, such as nasal congestion, insomnia, constipation, and an esophageal condition called achalasia.

Tea Made With Cold Water

Let’s look at cold water now because drinking it can also benefit you. Iced tea is especially refreshing on a warm summer day. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, tea is the best source of hydration after pure water! One note of caution: Drinking cold drinks can aggravate certain conditions, such as congestion, migraines, and achalasia. As long as you are not suffering from any of these issues, you will enjoy the numerous benefits of drinking cold tea. For example, after a workout, a cold beverage like tea prevents your body from overheating by bringing down your core temperature. Some people believe that you can actually burn a few extra calories as your body brings the water’s temperature down inside your digestive system.

Green, White, and Black Tea Benefits

What’s the difference between green, black, and white tea? All of these teas come from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. White tea is the least processed of the three. It comes from dried green tea leaves. Green tea is pan-fried or steamed to stop the leaves from oxidizing and to enhance the flavor of the brew. Black tea is allowed to oxidize, which results in its dark color. It has a strong flavor. Each different kind of tea has its own merits. First, let’s start with green tea.

Green tea contains polyphenols, a nutrient that is proven to lessen inflammation and fight cancer by halting cell damage from free radicals. Your brain uses adenosine, a neurotransmitter, as a depressant when you need to sleep. But when you want to be awake, drinking green tea works to block adenosine, which allows stimulating neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine to make you feel alert and happy. The amino acid L-theanine amps up your bodies GABA, another neurotransmitter. GABA functions to increase creativity and reduce depression and anxiety. Green tea also helps your body burn fat, kill bacteria, and lower the risk of dangerous diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

White and black tea have the same cancer, aging, and inflammation-fighting qualities as green tea. Studies show that drinking white tea can reduce the risk of osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s Diseases. Black tea helps lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and helps to prevent strokes.

Herbal Tea Benefits

Herbal teas are usually caffeine-free brews that come from a variety of plants or herbs rather than Camellia Sinensis. Herbal tea drinkers experience all the benefits of hydrating themselves with hot or cold water. Each of the many varieties of herbal teas may have health benefits and taste great! A nutritionist interviewed in a Health.com article listed chamomile, rooibos, peppermint, ginger, and hibiscus as the five of the most healthful herbal teas in the world.

Now that you know the health benefits of tea, is it any wonder that people all over the world drink it every day? Tea is undoubtedly a special drink. What’s your favorite variety?