Have you had your cup o' tea today?

So okay, most people know that drinking tea has numerous health benefits.  I acquired a taste for tea during my teenager years and have been obsessed with collecting, tasting, and discussing tea ever since.  But what are the magical properties of tea?  Sure, we know it is healthy but HOW much so?

According to Miracle News Today, "Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins. In test tubes, catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties. Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder."

How wonderful is this?  The best part is the variety of different teas to try all over the world.  In India there is Chai, the East has green, jasmine, and different root and flower teas, in Britain there are stronger brewed english teas that can be served with milk or lemon slices.  There are so many varieties, rituals, and brewing methods depending on the time of day and culture.

So next time you are thirsty and water is not good enough, try some nice brewed tea.  My favorite way is using a tea kettle and then brewing loose leaf for 3-5 minutes.  That way all the nutrients will be soaked into the water with a delectable taste of flavor.

There can be a few disadvantages of tea.  For instance, tea laden with heavy cream and sugar probably will not provide much benefit.  Also, tea may impede the absorption of iron.  Miracle News Today remarks that, "adding lemon or milk or drinking tea between meals will counteract this problem."

Here is the news article for more information and my citings.