Did you know? Tea Facts

Tea is the most widely consumed drink in the world, along with water. In America, nearly 80% of households have tea at home. This is the only drink that can be served both hot and cold, anytime, anywhere and for any reason. More than 159 million Americans drink tea daily.

Interesting facts about the USA:

• Americans consume more than 84 billion servings of tea a year, of which about 84% is black tea, 15% is green tea, and the rest is oolong tea, white and dark tea, and the percentage of green tea and ulus consumption is growing from year to year.
• There are more tea lovers in the south and northeast of the US than in other regions.
• About 75% of Americans prefer ice tea, but the percentage of hot tea consumption is growing from year to year.

Tea does not contain sodium, fats, carbonated drinks or sugar and has virtually no calories. Tea helps maintain proper fluid balance.Tea contains flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties that help neutralize free radicals that contribute to the development of chronic diseases.

New studies have shown that people who regularly consume 3 or more cups of black tea per day have a reduced risk of heart disease.Green tea lowers cholesterol, the risk of coronary heart disease, and platelet count (Dongfeng-Tongji studies).

More than 3,000 tea studies have evaluated the impact on the risk of developing various types of cancer. A study published in the Journal of Molecular Nutrition and Food Research found that green tea antioxidant helps kill cancer cells by destroying cell mitochondria.

One study found that women who drank the equivalent of 2.5 cups of tea per day had a 60% lower risk of colon cancer compared with women who drank less than 1.2 cups of tea per day. Reduced colon cancer risk compared to non-tea drinkers. In men who drank more than 1.5 cups of tea per day, the risk of developing colon cancer was 70% lower.

Drinking tea is also associated with a lower risk of skin cancer. One study found that participants who drank iced black tea with citrus peels had a 42% lower risk of developing skin cancer.

Scientists suggest that catechins found in green tea, in addition to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, can affect several genes involved in the cell cycle that can inhibit ovarian tumor growth and slow the progression of prostate cancer and cervical cancer.

Alzheimer’s Association research has identified several factors that can reduce the risk of age-related neurological diseases, and tea is one of them, since antioxidants in tea can protect brain cells from free radicals.

In addition, L-teanine in tea has a direct effect on areas of the brain that control attention and the ability to solve complex problems. A Ohsaki study found that drinking 5 cups of green tea per day versus 1 cup showed a lower risk of dementia. A study by Hu G and Bidel S showed that more than 3 cups per day reduces the risk of developing Parkinson's disease by 69%.

In addition, tea has a number of other beneficial properties for the brain - it reduces anxiety, improves memory, attention and brain function.

Studies by Mahmoud and Haines showed that drinking 3 cups of black tea per day showed a decrease in glycated hemoglobin, due to the reduction of special pro-inflammatory cytokines and its effect on oxidative stress, and in the long term has a positive effect on the treatment of diabetes. Studies in rats have shown that green tea polyphenols have a positive effect on lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. It has also been shown that increased consumption of flavanols (which are abundant in tea) reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and stroke (studies by Raman and Avendano)

Some studies have shown that drinking tea (without calorie supplementation) can help regulate weight. Tea flavonoids increase the metabolic rate and fat oxidation. Katerina tea also gives positive changes in metabolism, which contributes to weight loss and its maintenance. The Polish studies by Grosso and Stepaniak “Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial Factors In Eastern Europe found that people who drank more than 3 cups of tea per day had more low BMI and waist circumference.

A meta-analysis of Guo, Ku and other researchers analyzed the potential relationship between tea consumption and bone mineral completely. All studies showed an increase in bone density and a decrease in the risk of osteoporosis in tea drinkers compared to non-drinkers. Other studies have linked tea consumption to a 30% reduction in the risk of hip fractures in men and women older than 50 years. (Research by Shen, Chu, Wan

Studies have also been conducted on the potential effects of tea on immune function. Harvard University studies have shown that tea contains a component that can help the body ward off infections and strengthen the immune system. Clinical trials have shown that some of the immune cells of participants who drank 5 cups of black tea per day for 2-4 weeks, secreted 4 times more interferon than at the beginning of the study. The use of black tea provides the immune system with natural resistance to microbial infections and has a preventive effect on influenza and the common cold (Kamath and Wang Studies).

This post contains some facts from Tea Association of the USA.