You've got a thing for the taste of tea, and you're not alone. In a 10-year span between 1983 and 1993, American tea sales spiked from $1 billion to more than $5 billion, according to the Tea Council of the USA.
And if you're not wild about the caffeine that comes with tea, you're not alone judging by the long line of caffeine-free tea products on the market. Drinking caffeine-free tea offers several benefits that are difficult to ignore.
Better Sleep
Drinking caffeine-free tea could help you sleep better. Sleeplessness and elevated heart rate are among the side effects of drinking caffeinated beverages. Each effect can lead to long nights and drowsy mornings.
Reduced Cancer Risk
The possible links between caffeine and the onset of cancer or recovery from the disease have long been discussed, with no irrefutable consensus reached. But a study at Denver's Eleanor Roosevelt Institute reported that caffeine intake stalled the recovery process in hamsters that had received radiation for cancer. If you're recovering from cancer, you might consider making the switch to caffeine-free tea for this reason.
More Antioxidants
Caffeine-free tea may carry more antioxidants, molecules that help prevent a natural process in which the body turns ingested substances into free radicals, which then can be harmful to cells in your body. The American Chemical Society conducted research that was reportedly the first scientific study to fully analyze the amounts of antioxidants contained in the average bottled tea drink. The study found that you'd need to gulp 20 bottles of bottled tea products in order to receive the same level of antioxidants you'd ingest from one typical cup of home-brewed tea. There are lots of caffeine-free, home-brewed tea products available, and if you're making the switch from caffeinated tea, it's also wise to consider one of these brands.
Non-Habit Forming
You may be physically addicted to the caffeine fix you receive from your tea intake. According to a study conducted by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, such dependence on the substance isn't a serious health risk in and of itself, but it can lead to mood disorders.
Caffeine-free tea not only prevents a habit from forming, but some brands include ginseng, which has long been used to supplement mood and counter fatigue.
References
- Tribute Tea News: Tea's popularity making slow but steady advances
- Washington Times: Tea brewed at home healthiest
- "Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine"; Caffeine Dependence: Fact or fiction; E.C. Strain; Aug. 1995
- "Scientific American"; Studies illuminate caffeine's link to cancer; Sarah Graham; Aug. 2002
Member Comments