Among the white tea advantage is its significantly greater amount of anti-oxidants. When white tea is created the youngest leaves are used as well as the buds of the tea plant. It is almost immediately picked and since it doesn’t go through much processing it As we all know green tea is famed for being packed full of antioxidants. The catch is that it has already lost some of its antioxidant properties in the processing of the leaves. In this case white tea is king because it has the greatest amount of antioxidants in each cup.

White tea like its greener relative is able to combat and prevent mutations as well. However, it has been found to have better mutation restrictive properties than green tea. This has helped fuel some research into how well white tea helps prevent cancer. Although research is still ongoing it has been found that white tea does a better job when it comes to inhibiting cancer cell growth.

White tea has also been found to help with fat cells. A study that was conducted in Germany has shown that white tea actually breaks down fat cells. The study which was conducted on human fat cells showed positive results in trying to eliminate fat. It even went a step further by actually inhibiting the growth of other fat cells. Although again, additional research has to be tested to see what causes the breakdown, the researchers believe that the caffeine as well as the anti-oxidants helped to break down the fat cells much more effectively than teas that were further processed.

White tea indeed has its detractors from a taste point of view but its scientific properties are truly paving ground, ensuring that even though white tea isn’t as strong or vibrant in colour and taste it certainly stands out in terms of health benefits.

Theanine is a boon to high cholesterol sufferers. What most people don’t understand about cholesterol is that it can be damaged by inflammation. What this means is that if you have lots of cholesterol in your body that has been damaged through the acts of inflammation you essentially have lots of toxins in your body. The chemical theanine has the capability to prevent this from happening. So instead of being damaged, your cholesterol stays intact.

The chemical has also been found to help out with anxiety. Given that we live in a world that is continuously getting more and more complex and as a result, more and more stressful, we would do well to find a means of controlling this stress and anxiety. Theanine helps to improve anxiety which in turn is a natural immune booster. When we worry less about the things around us we are healthier. We are also less prone to stress related diseases and less likely to get anxiety attacks. Although the research that has been conducted is still small in terms of sample size the effect of theanine has been extremely positive in the tests which have been conducted.

Theanine helps the brain in another way too. Not just an anti-anxiety chemical it also has been found to help the production of dopamine in the brain as well as serotonin. These chemicals are attributed to cognitive functioning which means they can help improve both learning as well as memory.

Theanine is only one component of tea but it is one of the most beneficial to humans. If you’ve been trying to figure out whether you should be drinking more tea, here’s your answer.

Tea drinking, which was brought by the English to India and consequently spread throughout the rest of the British colonies was a traditional British affair. Although tea was already available in abundance in India it was the British who increased the Indian love for the delicious mix and changed the view from it being a herbal medicine to an actual drink. Being a country rich in diverse spices, India eventually added its own twist to the mix by inventing what is now known as masala chai.

The components which give masala chai its spicy kick are plenty given the wide variety of spices found in India. In general the following spices are the most used in masala chai:

Ginger – This fiery root is used quite a lot in Indian cooking. The whole root itself isn’t used, rather a powdery mixture of ground ginger is what adds a hot kick to masala chai

Cardamom – Cardamom is used for a variety of things in Indian cooking including its inherent medicinal properties. This spice is probably the most used and is generally the spice that stands out most in Indian tea brews

Cinnamon – If you thought cinnamon was only good with coffee you’d be wrong. This spice gives an added sweetness to the tea and a lot more aroma. Although it is not a basic ingredient of masala chai it is still quite popular and an all around favourite with Indian tea drinkers

Cloves – Although spices vary by region cloves are quite distinct in most Indian cooking. Just like cardamom it has a sweet yet spicy taste and adds an extra depth or element to masala chai.

Other than the spicy components masala chai is also known for being sweet. This is why white sugar is used quite often, although other variations can be used. Whatever the spices used masala chai is considered a delicacy all over the world. For a spicy kick try out the concoction on your own.

As far as green tea goes, your greatest advantage is the fact that it is full to the brim with and anti-oxidant called EGCg. This antioxidant is what gives a kick to your immune system and helps you ward off diseases. At the same time green tea is also rich in theanine a chemical which is believed and currently being studied because of its apparent ability to help improve the effects of anxiety. It’s also what gives green tea is calming effect. The theanine in green tea is said to kick in after 20 to 30 minutes of consuming the tea. Green tea is also supposed to help improve the mind’s ability to concentrate because of the effect it has on the alpha waves of our brain, waves which are attributed to both relaxation as well as relaxed concentration.

Black tea is also good for you. Although it doesn’t contain the anti-oxidant EGCg it does however have a variety of other chemical components which are just as good for you as green tea. The reason for the absence of the anti-oxidant is caused by the processing of the tea leaves to turn it black. The reason for this is that the fermentation process changes the chemical components of EGCg into other chemicals. For us black tea drinkers you don’t have to worry. Black tea contains chemicals called flavanoids and these chemicals help to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke and help lower LDL.

Ultimately you can’t really call out one tea from the other as being better for your health. Instead your goal is to make sure that you choose the tea for its taste and ultimately what health benefit you want. Besides, no one said you only had to drink one type of tea.

The Healthy Components

Catechins – Among the chemicals in tea, these are the most beneficial. They provide the biggest bang for the cup when it comes to staying healthy and can help with a variety of diseases. Among the many known advantages to catechins are that they help reduce tumours. Since they help reduce tumours they are also known to be a helpful cancer resistance chemical. They are also a natural blood pressure suppressant and they also help add a block to an increase in blood sugar.

Flavanoids – Flavanoids are actually used in some herbal weight loss remedies but scientifically the health benefits they provide are also well known. These powerful chemicals are anti-inflammatory which means they can help relieve symptoms in certain inflammatory diseases. A good example of this is asthma or rheumatoid arthritis both painful inflammatory diseases. Since they are an anti-inflammatory they can also provide a certain amount of relief to certain conditions which cause inflammatory bowel problems.

Vitamin B complex – This is the reason why tea is thought to be a good fat burner. The vitamin B complex aids in the metabolism of fat and is also a big help in metabolising carbohydrates, thus helping in weight control. The vitamins are also excellent nutrients for skin because they help to keep it moisturized and therefore supple. This is also the reason why tea is often said to be good for your skin.

Although you would need to think about the caffeine intake as well, there are plenty of chemicals in tea which are naturally good for your system. These myriad of benefits have long been known to both herbalists and medical practitioners for years so sit back and enjoy a good cup.

Until then, keep your tea hot and your temperment cool!