What Can Tea Do for You? Discover Some of Its Major Health Benefits

What can raise your metabolism, fight cavities, and protect you from diseases? Tea! Taken as a hot drink or in supplement form, tea can actually do all of these things, plus it's soothing and tastes great! So, what does tea contain that makes it so beneficial?

Antioxidants
Black, green, and oolong teas come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. This plant is extremely high in polyphenols, a type of Antioxidant. Antioxidants are powerful nutrients which help to remove toxic free radicals from the body by neutralizing and metabolizing them. What does this mean for us? It means that drinking more black, green, and oolong tea will help cleanse out bodies of toxins, resulting in a better immune system, and a healthier body.

Fluoride
Green and black teas contain fluoride, which is a key ingredient in the promotion of healthy teeth and cavity suppression. Green teas contain twice as much fluoride as black teas, but both teas can be very beneficial in keeping cavities at bay, and retaining a healthy smile.

Metabolism-boosting chemicals
Green tea has made a media buzz recently because it has been proven to have metabolism-boosting properties. Green tea contains caffeine, which naturally kicks up metabolism, but green tea extract, by itself, has also been found to raise metabolism, so drinking a hot cup of tea can provide a double boost!

Ready to work some tea into your diet? The whole nation seems to be picking up on the benefits of tea, and it's becoming easier and easier to find. Companies like Snapple and Starbucks have begun carrying large varieties of tea beverages to fit every taste, and are advertising tea's numerous benefits. Many vitamin and supplement companies are also beginning to stock tea capsules and tea extracts, so it's easy to add tea to your daily regimen, even if you don't want to drink it.

Tea is simple to prepare, and you can easily pick up individual teabags or loose leaves at your local grocery or drugstore. While many people enjoy tea by itself, adding honey, cinnamon, and flavored syrups to your tea can make for an amazing start to your day. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy tea:

Make a Latte
Adding steamed milk to your tea is a delicious way to start your day, and is an easy way to get some tea into your diet, even if you don't like to drink it straight. Adding sweetener or a shot of flavored syrup to your latte is a great way to add variety to an everyday beverage.

Add some flavor
Drizzle a spoonful of your favorite flavored syrup into your tea for an exciting new drink! Try lemon syrup, vanilla syrup, or almond syrup, experimenting with the quantities until you find the perfect balance for you. You can purchase flavored syrups at the grocery store, and many brands even carry sugar free syrups, in case you want to keep it a low-calorie treat.

Put it on ice
Pour your favorite brewed tea over a tumbler of ice cubes for a refreshing afternoon treat. Drop in a lemon wedge for a twist of flavor, and sweeten as desired. While iced tea has always been an afternoon staple, green and black teas have special properties, so make sure you're using a tea that will maximize the benefits of your chosen beverage.

I hope this article shed some light on the many benefits of tea, and has inspired you to look more closely at the amazing potential of this simple beverage. Brew yourself a cup, and see what tea can do for you!