Tea is the most popular beverage in the world. Green, black and oolong tea are all made by steeping the leaves of the Camellia sinensis shrub in hot water. Regular tea contains significant amounts of caffeine, as well as many health-protecting antioxidants. However, decaffeinated tea, as well as herbal tisanes such as mint, chamomile or hibiscus, provide health benefits without the unnecessary stimulant effects of caffeine.
Antioxidants
Green, black and oolong tea come from different preparations of the leaves of the tea shrub. Of these, green tea contains the highest quantities of polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that may help prevent cancer and the effects of aging, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. When green tea is decaffeinated by chemical processes using ethyl acetate to strip the caffeine, the tea loses 70 percent of its antioxidants, reports Dr. Andrew Weil, founder of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and the Weil Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting health-promoting lifestyles. However, when green tea is decaffeinated by natural water process, it retains over 95 percent of its antioxidant components, providing all the same health benefits without the caffeine jitters.
Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Green and black tea have both been demonstrated to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, thereby possibly reducing the risk of heart disease and heart attack, according to the UMMC. The antioxidants in tea may help prevent artherosclerosis, and may help block the absorption of cholesterol. Water-processed decaffeinated tea retains most of the polyphenols that bestow these health benefits. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declined to permit tea producers to label their products with information claiming that tea lowers the risk of heart disease, concluding that more credible evidence is required. Consult your physician as to whether decaffeinated tea is an appropriate part of your dietary regimen to help prevent heart disease.
Calm
Sipping a warm cup of tea can be calming and impart a relaxed sense of focus, bringing a welcome respite from the workday. Many herbal tisanes bolster this effect, providing health benefits without the stimulating properties of caffeinated beverages. Chamomile tea has been consumed for thousands of years to calm frayed nerves, ease muscle spasms, reduce anxiety and promote sleep, according to the UMMC. Peppermint tea has antiviral and antibacterial properties, aids in digestion, and has long been used to relieve tension headaches and anxiety related to depression. The UMMC advises that peppermint tea appears to be safe even in large quantities, so preparing a large quantity of it iced or hot can help you stay hydrated through the day while imparting its many health benefits.
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