Some Basic Facts about Drinking Tea

Tea is one of the most common beverage drink around the globe. The usage of tea as a beverage was first recorded in China, with the earliest records of tea consumption with records dating back to the 10th century BC.

Tea plants are native to East and South Asia and probably originated around the point of confluence of the lands of northeast India, north Burma, southwest China, and Tibet.

Apart from water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. Various health benefits have been associated with regular tea drinking, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and protection against cognitive decline, dental caries and bone loss. Most of these benefits are attributed to tea flavonoids, which are plant polyphenols. This brochure will look in detail at the health benefits associated with leaf teas.

People of all ages can benefit from drinking tea. Here are some examples of how health research could translate into patient advice:

• Tea is an excellent and pleasurable source of hydration. According to a recent clinical study, consuming four cups of tea a day did not cause excessive urine output or dehydration and was as hydrating as drinking water

• Research shows that regular tea consumption is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and myocardial infarction. This may be due to the favourable impact of tea flavonoids on blood vessel function. Optimal effects are seen at 3 or more cups of tea per day
• Unsweetened tea is a healthy drink for people trying to reduce calories or limit their sugar intake. Emerging research suggests that catechin-enriched green tea may help to reduce body fat, particularly around the waist
• Tea is a moderate source of caffeine, containing around 50mg of caffeine per serving. Caffeine intakes of 38-400mg per day appear to deliver health benefits without adversely affecting sleep. This equates to one to eight cups of tea a day
• Studies show that a few cups of tea daily improve mood and help to sustain alertness and concentration
• However, it is advised that pregnant women limit their daily caffeine consumption to 200mg. This equates to 3-4 cups of tea per day
• New evidence suggests that drinking tea might be beneficial for bone health and dental health. This means that tea is a healthy choice of drink for young people. One to two cups a day is within suggested caffeine limits, depending upon the age of the child.

Aside from the tea health benefits, you can more enjoy drinking tea by making your own bongga flavors.

By using Lipton Yellow label Tea, I bought some McCormic flavor extracts like the lemon, orange, vanilla and almond.

Here’s how I do it.

• a bag of Lipton Yellow Label Tea
• 2-3 drops or a baby teaspoon full of any McCormic flavoring extracts
• 2 sachets of splenda or 2 teaspoon of white sugar
• and a cup of hot water.

On a cup of hot water, brew a lipton yellow label tea bag for 2-3 minutes, pour now your favorite flavoring extracts and sweeteners and mix.

This is how bongga I enjoy drinking Lipton Yellow Label Tea.

Photo credits: 4510waza, Hatters!, CIFOR and Dhammika Heenpella