In the big match always running between tea and coffee, you can expect one there to be a clear winner. The truth is that Coffee and Tea are two great beverages that are very helpful in refreshing ourself.

First off, Tea is the made from the leaves of a plant named Camellia sinensis, and the other is made from a Coffee bean.

When it comes to better health benefits tea will always beat coffee, especially the white and green tea; but this doesn’t mean that coffee does not come with its great share of health benefits. Granted tea has much more antioxidants per cup when it’s compared to coffee and  It also contains less caffeine .

Some Health Benefits of Tea

• Helps you build a Stronger Immune System.
• Weight Loss, younger looking skin, lower cholesterol, and helps maintain your blood pressure.
• · Tea can help reduce the risk of heart disease and developing certain types of cancer.

Some Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee

• Coffee also helps you in fighting with certain types of cancer.
• It reduces the risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
• · Helps you prevent strokes and aids in the liver protection.
• Increases energy and your focus.

Tea versus Coffee – How Tea Wins?

A cup of black tea has half the amount of caffeine than a cup of coffee, and a larger amount of antioxidants such as plant polyphenols, flavonoids, catechins, and tannins. Coffee does not have some these properties present, yet does have its share of minerals.

Oolong tea, green tea, and white tea have less caffeine and they even contain more antioxidants. In fact, white tea has shown to contain the highest levels in it (beaten only by Olive Leaf Tea), and it is one of the best sources when it’s measured by volume for the antioxidants compared to other herbs(available). So if you’re drinking mainly for your health, tea will always beat coffee in the terms of antioxidants intake per cup.

&nbsp

Many of the world’s cultures have long known about the benefits of drinking tea. Some cultures though are just beginning to realize this. Are you are tea drinker? Do you know how you can be helped by drinking tea? If all you have known is just enjoying the flavor of a hot cup or cold glass on a summer day, read on to find out some of the benefits you will find from drinking tea.

Eight Important Reasons to Drink Tea

1. Tea contains the antioxidants which fight off the free radicals that cause damage in your body. All have these to a certain extent. However, white and green tea has more than black does. When free radicals are left to wreak havoc in your body they can cause many problems to happen including cancer.

2. A cup of tea has far less caffeine than coffee does. This means you can drink more in a day without over doing it than coffee. A cup of coffee has about 100mg of caffeine. Whereas the black tea has about 50mg or less of caffeine, green tea has about 30mg or less of caffeine, and oolong is 35mg or less of caffeine in a cup. You can even get decaffeinated if you want to completely eliminate caffeine.

3. Black tea can help reduce how much cortisol (a stress hormone) there is in the body. This helps you react to stressful situations more effectively.

4. Green and black teas have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the digestive system as well as other systems of the body. The scientists believe it is the polyphenols contained in it that are partially the reason.

5. Tea gives your immune system a boost so you can keep from getting various diseases or fight them off more easily. So if you have a sluggish immune system try some tea to see what happens.

6. Tea has anti-inflammatory qualities. You can place a cool tea bag on your eyes even to reduce puffiness that comes with a lack of sleep sometimes.

7. There have been studies done that prove that drinking tea each day lowers the risk from dying from a heart attack by a whopping 44 percent. This was by drinking 3 or more cups daily. This is because tea contains myricetin, kaempferol, and quercetin which are all flavanoids. In fact, drinking only 1 1/2 cups of tea daily has shown to lower the risk of having a heart attack by 40% compared to people that do not drink it.

8. Tea is a great digestive aid. After eating a meal, have a cup of tea to help your stomach digest your food more effectively. It can be used for relief of stomach cramps too.

These are just some of the benefits from drinking tea. It has been drunk for centuries in various parts of the world. If you are not a tea drinker right now, you should really become one so you can enjoy the advantages of consuming it.

To name all green tea ingredients would probably bore you out but don’t miss the next overview of the MOST important ingredients!

1. Polyphenols

Polyphenols are the most important antioxidants which can be divided into four main groups: phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes (found in red wine) and lignans (found in flaxseed). These very educational names might not ring a bell but what if I told you the first group can be subdivided into tannins, responsible for the characteristic taste of tea?

And what if I told you flavonoids are the ones making this type of tea as SPECIAL as it is?

Yep, these good old flavonoids can be subdivided into flavonols, flavanols and other “flavas” but also into catechins where EGCG is the one responsible for making us feel a little bit healthier and happier! Catechins make up the largest part of polyphenols; up to 30% of the dry leaf weight.

2. Caffeine

Caffeine makes up approximately 3%. On average, when we look at the caffeine content of green tea we see it contains 9-50 mg of caffeine per cup depending on the strength of the brew and whether it’s the first serving or not.

In comparison, black tea contains 40-70 mg of caffeine per cup, about half of a freshly brewed cup of coffee (90 mg) and instant coffee has about 60 mg of caffeine. This ingredient makes you alert while counteracting any feelings of fatigue. Ideal for getting things done but it also raises blood pressure and stimulates the kidneys. Heck, thisstimulant can even help in your fight to lose weight!

3. Other antioxidants

Another compound of green tea are the group of vitamins, such as:

Vitamin A – increasing immunity
Vitamin B complex: B1, B2, B3 and B12 – helping to digest carbohydrates
Vitamin C – reducing stress, increasing the immune system and blood vessel walls
Vitamin E – preventing infertility, and
Vitamins F, K, P and U.
Most of these vitamins are left intact during the processing of the leaves because this type of tea is hardly processed. Besides vitamins zinc (increasing immunity), selenium (improving the heart condition), magnesia (increasing immunity) and glycosides (preventing blood sugar increase) can be found in green tea.

4. Minerals

Another ingredient is fluoride, a mineral. If you ever sat in the dentist’s chair, you must be familiar with fluoride; it prevents cavities through hardening tooth enamel. Other minerals are aluminum and manganese; together they are responsible for 6-8% of green tea.

In general, the level of each compound depends on the processing of the tea leaves.

Tea is the dried plant Camelia sinensis. True tea includes black, green, white and oolong teas. Drinking two or more cups of tea a day can provide many health benefits. What is in tea that makes it so special?

EGCG

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant, has shown remarkable health-promoting properties in laboratory studies. Included are anti-viral actions, which offer more cold protection than either vitamin C or Echinacea. It is thought that the chemicals in tea stimulate gamma-delta T-cells that boost the bodies own natural immunity against both bacteria and viruses. Tooth decay or gingivitis causing bacteria are also killed.

EGCG is very effective at destroying free radicals, which cause cell-mutations that can lead to cancer. It even fights existing cancer by preventing the tumors from developing their own blood supply.

Flavonoids

Flavonoids, more antioxidants, lower LDL cholesterol levels benefiting the heart and circulatory system. These powerful antioxidants protect against hypertension by suppressing the production of a hormone, angiotensin II, which can contribute to high blood pressure. Further protection against heart attacks and strokes comes from actions that inhibit the abnormal formation of blood clots. In addition, anti-oxidants show effectiveness in lowering blood sugar and protecting against diabetes.

A diet rich in anti-oxidants can to slow the aging process by attacking free radicals before they have the opportunity to damage cells. Anti-inflammatory properties of these anti-oxidants also protect against arthritis. A diet rich in anti-oxidants can to slow the aging process by attacking free radicals before they have the opportunity to damage cells. Anti-inflammatory properties of these anti-oxidants also protect against arthritis.

Minerals

Drinking tea provides important minerals such as zinc and folic acid. An eight-ounce cup of tea provides 25% RDA of manganese, a mineral essential for bone growth and body development. Drinking tea hydrates the body and, as a good source of potassium, helps maintain healthy body fluid levels. Fluoride strengthens teeth and bones and can help protect against osteoporosis.

So the next time you need a break, make it a tea break with a warm, soothing cup of anti-oxidants and minerals!