Tea has a soothing effect, whether you are sipping iced tea on your patio or curling up on the couch with cup of hot tea. While lagging behind other countries in tea consumption, the market continues to grow. The Tea Association of the U.S.A. Inc. estimates that imports rose more than 10 percent in 2010. The industry expects the specialty tea market to grow 5 percent to 8 percent in 2011. Part of the drive behind these economic gains may be the perceived health benefits of drinking tea. Scientific research has supported some of these claims.
Weight Control
Green tea has gained much attention due to its purported weight loss effects. With more than two-thirds of Americans overweight, tea may offer a way for individuals to manage their weight. A 2010 study by Maastricht University in the Netherlands found that green tea helped with weight control through thermogenesis and fat oxidation. Thermogenesis is the process of heat production through fat burn or oxidation. The combination of caffeine and tea catechins are believed to be responsible for these effects. Catechins are antioxidants found in tea.
Oxidative Stress
Another benefit from tea is its effects on cellular damage caused by oxidative stress. This action occurs when an imbalance of molecules results in the release of free radicals. These chemicals are highly reactive and cause damage to proteins and fats in the body, eventually causing cell death. A 2007 study by Jagiellonian University in Poland found that tea extracts reduced chemicals released during oxidative stress. While green, black and white teas all produced positive results, the effects were most dramatic with green tea.
Cancer Prevention
Research has revealed that green tea may have anti-cancer properties. A 2009 study by the National Institute of Food Science and Technology in Pakistan looked at the specific effects that green tea has on cancer development. Scientists found several mechanisms by which green tea prevents cancer. It blocks metastasis of cells, while stimulating DNA repair and immune response. The study identified specific types of cancer for which green tea may have health benefits, including skin and breast cancers.
Blood Pressure Control
Other types of teas may also provide health benefits. A 2009 study by Tufts University considered the effects of hibiscus tea consumption on blood pressure. The blood pressure of participants dropped 4.5 to 7.7 mmHg with daily consumption of hibiscus tea for six weeks. The effects were more significant in individuals with borderline or mild hypertension. In addition to its effects on blood pressure, hibiscus tea also has demonstrated cholesterol-lowering properties. Researchers concluded that hibiscus tea may be an effective dietary addition for people with high blood pressure.
References
- Tea Association of the U.S.A., Inc.; The State of the U.S. Tea Industry; Joseph P. Simrany; February 10, 2011
- "Physiology and Behavior"; Green Tea Catechins, Caffeine and Body-Weight Regulation; M. Westerterp-Plantenga; April 2010
- Iowa State University; Oxidative Stress; James A. Thomas; 1999
- "Acta Poloniae Pharmeceutica"; The Effect of Green, Black and White Tea on the Level of Alpha and Gamma Tocopherols in Free Radical-Induced Oxidative Damage of Human Red Blood Cells; M. Gawlik and A. Czajka; March-April 2007
- "Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition"; Green Tea: Nature's Defense Against Malignancies; M. Butt and M. Sultan; May 2009
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. Tea (Tisane) Lowers Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive and Mildly Hypertensive Adults; D. McKay, et al.; December2009
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