According to legend, the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung – known as the great ‘divine healer’ – believed that drinking boiled water promoted health. As the emperor was boiling his water one day in 2737 B.C a gust of wind sent a few stray leaves from a nearby Camellia sinensis plant into the pot. The emperor sipped the brew and declared that it gave one ‘vigour of body, contentment of mind and determination of purpose’

The three benefits of drinking teas are as follows:

ANTI OXIDANTS

Tea has its star compound called catechins. These are related to the antioxidants in wine and, like other antioxidants, help prevent cell damage by harmful molecules called free radicals. Indeed, researchers at the Kansas have shown that the antioxidants in tea are stronger than those in even in the vegetables richest in antioxidants.

Tea also contains a potent antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate – EGCG. It appears to inhibit an enzyme that helps tumours to spread. Numerous reports have found that EGCG kills cultures of human cancer cells.

It is also found that those who drank black tea than any other beverages had significantly fewer cases of cancer of the digestive and urinary tracts

TOOTH DECAY

Tea is tooth-friendly because it is packed with polyphenols that fight off the bacteria that cause tooth decay. In addition, the fluoride in tea provides a helpful boost to tooth enamel. If you just drink tea or rinse tea after a night meal will significantly reduce development of plague, even though in the absence of brushing or flossing!.

WEIGHT LOSS

A promising study suggests that tea compunds may aid weight loss. Investigators at the University of Geneva in Switzerland discovered that healthy young men who took tow capsules of tea extract burned 80 more kilojoules each day. Moreover, researchers speculate that EGCG may trigger the oxidation of fat a thermo genesis, the process by which the body burns fat to produce heat.

Therefore sip in the right direction for better health.