Take Time for Tea

If you are one of the millions of Americans who regularly enjoys a tall glass or hot mug of tea, you just may be doing your body a favor.

Recent studies have suggested drinking tea may actually be good for you. That’s good news for many Americans, who drink the centuries-old beverage either hot or cold – or both – each day.

Though coffee has always been a tremendously popular drink in the U.S., many still prefer to sip tea. There is a wide variety of green and black teas available in most grocery stores and restaurants.

Hot tea flavors span the spectrum from Lemon-Lift and raspberry to old favorites like Earl Grey and English Breakfast Tea. While many enjoy their tea cold and sweet, others enjoy a hot, steaming cuppa, complete with milk and sugar.

"Tea can be a great alternative to sugary soft drinks," says Dr. Barbara Struempler, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System nutritionist. "If you drink your tea unsweetened or with a noncaloric artificial sweetener, you will avoid all those empty calories in sodas."

Tea was first grown more than 4,000 years ago in China and has been enjoyed by millions around the world for centuries. It is second only to water as the most widely consumed beverage in the world.

If recent evidence proves true, all that tea may actually be good for us.

Both black and green teas contain important antioxidants that may help prevent cancer and heart disease. Drinking tea may even help women strengthen their bones.

These antioxidants, called polyphenols, help the body protect itself against damage caused by free radicals. They may also prevent the LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) from promoting plaque buildup that clogs arteries.

These polyphenols are found in the traditional green and black teas, but not in the herbal varieties.

Some research has suggested that tea consumption may be more effective than some vitamins at reducing one’s risk of cancer. Other research has shown a link between smokers who drink tea and a lower risk of lung cancer.

Though the jury is still out on the full benefits of tea, when consumed in moderation it certainly can’t hurt you. There are even decaffeinated varieties for those, such as pregnant or nursing mothers, who need to limit their intake of caffeine.

"Easy does it on sweet tea, though," Struempler says. "A cup of sweetened tea could easily have 90 calories. Ounce for ounce, that is about the small number of calories in a soft drink, and all from sugar."

So go ahead and have that cold glass of unsweet tea with lunch or that hot cup of Lemon-Lift for an afternoon refresher. It tastes great and helps your body too.

SOURCE: Dr. Barbara Struempler, (bstruemp@aces.edu), Extension Nutritionist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-2217