TEA- Elixir or Potential Poison?
In India, tea is the most loved beverage. This most popular drink can flaunt more than 88% of India’s population as its consumers or more accurately lovers. The milk tea has swept every Indian crazy with its flavour, aroma and something let’s say magical. Chai is not just a drink; it has now become an emotion. From Masala chai (spice tea), elaichi chai (Cardamom tea), adrak chai (ginger tea) and jab dil kare tab chai (have tea whenever your heart says); Chai has now become a belief. This milk tea kick starts the day of many Indians. The drink is believed to cure all. Be it happiness, the moments of sukoon (sense of relief) or even sadness and depression; Chai is said to be the most suitable partner in the time. We Indians have to have sentiments for everything but it seems Chai is worth the hype. Fandom of this milk tea is increasing with a striking rate. We have witnessed the time when people really looked forward to the ‘to be bride’ for how good milk tea she can prepare. Thankfully, that selection procedure has become irrelevant but yes, the popularity of milk tea has never faced a fame fall. The love for milk tea was never missed as an idea by us. From numerous tea stalls on the roadside to fancy restaurants, the business of tea-selling is still a popular trade. Truly, chai has taken over many hearts and is the most beloved beverage of our country.
How far is this milk tea worth the love? Or is it really good for your health? The question one needs to be looked upon. I mean we don’t mean to offend the tea-lovers but yes pros and cons must be known so that we can take proper care of our health.
BENEFITS OF TEA
Tea has been a part of our morning and evening beverage habit. The love is not just due to its aroma or flavour; neither it is purely on sentimental grounds. In fact, tea has many health benefits that give more reasons to adore this beverage. So, tea lovers have a look at the health benefits of tea and just have them on your finger-tips to debate and convince your tea-hater friends.
1) A beverage infused with antioxidants- Antioxidants are the substances that eliminate potentially harmful oxidizing agents in our bodies. The active ingredient present as an antioxidant in tea is flavanoids which form a polymer called proanthocyanidins. The most known flavonoids in tea are catechins. These flavonoids and catechins prevent cell damage and promote healthy metabolism. This also helps delay ageing and keeps a check to the processes in your body.
2) Tea keeps you awake and active- Bed tea has now become part of our culture. This is because the caffeine of tea awakens us and makes the mind active and keeps it active throughout the day. Studies have proved that tea activates your mind and keeps the nervous communications at an optimum pace. This helps you work for longer hours without feeling sleepy and drowsy.
3) Tea alleviates your stress- In our country, people more likely have tea when they are sad; they think it will lessen their ache and sadness. And guess what? The sentiment is not just a belief but tea actually lowers stress levels by decreasing the number of stress hormones of our body. Tea contains theanine which is psychoactive in effect and has shown to reduce mental and physical stress. So, whenever you feel tired; grab a cup of tea.
4) You feel a calmer yet more active after a tea- Tea contains an active ingredient, caffeine which is known to be a powerful stimulant. The word stimulant itself makes it obvious that the component increases the activity of the central nervous system. Tea also contains theobromine and theophylline as stimulants that have an invigorating effect on the body. Do you need to work on something with a really good focus of zeal? Sip in tea and feel the magic.
5) Tea eases headache, nervous tension and irritability- Tea has relaxing effects on the body. The psychoactive compounds work well and have pleasurable effects on the mind. The cause of headache, irritability and nervous tension is the overload of work and hence over-exertion. Tea with its flavonoids and catechins help fight with this stress feeling and relax your body and mind.
6) Tea helps lower cholesterol- Studies have shown that combining low-fat diet and tea as a part of eating-drinking schedule can really help with bad cholesterol problems. It has been known that tea consumed over 12 weeks combined with a low-fat diet helps to drop bad cholesterol by around 16 %. so, if you have a family lineage of liver issues or if you are struggling with cholesterol and liver disorders; start with a cup of tea right now.
7) Tea prevents cardio-vascular problems- The ability of tea to fight with your bad cholesterol makes a true well-wisher of your heart. Combating bad cholesterol and poor circulation problems, tea possibly prevents atherosclerosis. Stress- relieving ability of tea adds up to the reason that tea takes care of your heart. It thus prevents cognitive heart failure, heart attacks and other related major cardio-vascular heart issues.
8) Tea cause an acute increase in blood pressure- Caffeine along with other psychoactive components that are excellent stimulants cause a short but temporary increase in blood pressure. This also increases the heart rate and elevates your metabolic rate. Sometimes, due to tiredness or weakness, your heart rate decreases a little and you may feel drowsiness and you may later fall unconscious. At such incidences, tea can really help you out. Never forget to have a cup of tea whenever you feel tired & or weak.
9) Tea is good for your gastrointestinal tract- Tea prevents intestinal inflammation. It has many polyphenols that have a good effect on your gut and intestine. When due to irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal inflammation occurs; the polyphenols of tea soothe your intestine and cure inflammation by treating the root cause. Tea has also shown a considerable amount of anti-spasmodic effect on your gut and relieves gut cramps. So, for the ladies out there, if you are so fed up of stomach cramps during your menstrual cycle, try a cup of tea this time.
10) Tea elevates your metabolic rate- Have you ever thought why you have that urge or need of tea whenever you are much tired or feel sleepy? It’s because somewhere your body responds positively towards caffeine and other stimulants of tea and this increases the activity of your brain that ultimately results in increased metabolic rate. It has been observed that taking tea on a regular basis helps burn calories.
11) Tea improves your immunity- We all love to take a cup of adrak tea (ginger tea) whenever we feel sick. This is because we know tea has a therapeutic effect when combined with herbs. When during cold, cough and fever, adrak tea work wonders. A study has shown that those who drink tea (especially Masala or ginger tea) on a regular basis do not suffer from flu frequently. The phytophenols, antioxidants, flavonoids and stimulants work together to enhance your immunity.
SIDE-EFFECTS OF TEA
The fandom of the milk tea has so increased that tea lovers don’t watch for the limit. There are tea lovers who are so obsessed with this beverage that they claim they can’t live without tea. Now, this shows extreme addiction towards tea. Tea lovers need to wait and keep a check on their tea obsession. Although 2-3 cups of tea are okay for your health more cups of tea on a regular basis and for an extended period of time is not good for your health and may potentially be harmful. What can be the side-effects and in which conditions must be seen. Let’s have a look at the possible side-effects of tea on our body and mind.
1) You may feel bloated- Too much of milk tea can cause bloating. You will feel that your gut is full or swollen. And probably gastric gas or flatulence can also occur due to excessive tea consumption. Milk of tea is much boiled and heated due to which the acidity of the drink increases to a great extent. This acidity harms your gut and its juices. The digestive activity gets disturbed.
2) Excessive tea causes dehydration- Although tea is fluid as it is a beverage; it contains caffeine. Caffeine has a diuretic effect on the body due to which it promotes perspiration, urination and other methods through which the body can omit the water. This indicates drinking excessive tea promotes dehydration and thus is not good for the body. Water is an essential part of our body. In fact, our digestion cannot take place without water. So, dehydration is something highly unwanted by your body. So, avoid excessive tea consumption especially limit your cups of tea during summer.
3) Excessive tea consumption inhibits less absorption of nutrition- Nutritional deficiency is one of the most harming side-effects of milk tea. It prevents the absorption of many nutrients of the body. You may intake nutritional food every day but the excessive tea you consume can prevent its absorption at all. That simply means your good diet food can be a complete waste if you consume excessive tea. As an example, too much caffeine prevents calcium absorption in the body. This may result in calcium deficiency and lead to weaker bones, lower bone density and other bone related issues. So, please avoid too much tea.
4) Too much of tea invites liver problems- In India, milk tea is prepared after much heating and boiling for a longer period for a particular taste. In this practice, quality of tea and its milk gets degraded, the proteins of milk get denatured and the phytochemicals of tea leaves also tend to lose their good properties. This kind of milk tea is really harmful for your gut and liver as much load is put on your liver. Also, the natural pH of your gastrointestinal tract is disturbed. This ultimately results in inviting liver and gut disorders. Avoid such milk tea.
BOTTOM LINE
You may love tea but you got to love your health more!
Everything is good when in the limit. When limitless, becomes unbearable. This applies for tea also. Do drink tea on an optimum level. Definitely, the aroma pleases you and sparkles your days and moments but you have to have a watch out. Don’t exceed the limits of milk tea consumption.
In fact, go for healthier substitutes for this beverage. Choose green tea or herbal tea over your very favourite milk tea. Green tea has health benefits many folds to the milk tea. In fact, black tea with lemon can work better and has lesser side-effects on health. Herbal tea increases your immunity and stimulates digestive juices of your gut. Green tea is the best beverage to go for. Among all tea kinds, green tea has the highest number of anti-oxidants.
Love tea; but not more than your health.
Tags: Benefits of Tea, Tea Benefits, Tea for Health, Bed Tea Benefits, Morning Tea Benefits
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