Something you should know about tea!

For most of us, it is difficult to start the day without a steaming cup of tea. As our nutri-poll suggested, more than 60 % of voters think of tea as a healthy beverage, and why not? When consumed in moderation, tea may prove as a healthy beverage. Tea, especially green tea, is a very good source of antioxidants; however, the amount of antioxidants depends upon the type of tea and preparation method. The highest concentration of flavonoids is found in brewed hot tea, less in instant preparations and still lower amounts in iced and ready-to-drink tea. Drinking tea may help in reducing the risk of heart disease and certain forms of cancer. Though, not conclusive, but limited research shows beneficial impact of tea on bone density, cognitive function and dental caries. So, let’s make our tea consumption healthier by following certain tips!

1.      Green is better than black!

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Tea is a good source of polyphenolic compounds commonly known as catechins. These compounds are strong antioxidants, which are responsible for many health benefits including reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Green tea is manufactured by drying fresh tea leaves. A typical cup of green tea beverage contains 30–42% catechins. Whereas production of black tea involves crushing tea leaves, which destroys some amount of catechins. Hence brewed black tea has only 3-10 % of catechins. Thus drinking green tea is a healthier option than drinking black tea.
 

2.      Drinking tea one hour before and after meals is not advisable.

Tannin present in tea is known to interfere in absorption of iron from vegetarian sources. Research has shown that black tea can reduce the absorption of iron by 79%-94% when consumed with vegetarian meal. Iron deficiency, i.e. anemia, is a very prevalent problem in India. Thus it is better to avoid drinking tea along with food that is rich in iron, or at least for one hour before and after meals, to ensure optimum iron absorption.
 

3.      Drinking more than 3 cups of tea in a day... Not good!

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A cup (150ml) of tea contains 30 to 65 mg of caffeine. When consumed in lower doses (i.e. 20-200 mg), caffeine makes you energetic, alert and gives a feeling of positivity. That is the exact reason we crave for a cup of strong tea on a dull day. However, if more than 200 mg of caffeine is consumed in a day, it may produce certain negative effects such as nervousness and anxiety. Thus, prefer decaffeinated tea if available in your grocery store.
 

       4.      Watch the sugar content!

Excessive tea consumption can contribute significant amount of calories. Generally we tend to drink tea with addition of milk and sugar. Addition of sugar can add significant calories to our diet. Drinking 5 cups of tea in a day can easily finish your daily sugar quota. However, you can have tea without adding sugar or along with non-nutritive sweeteners.
 

5.      Tea is better without milk!

Though not confirmed, it is observed that tea polyphenols bind with milk protein and hence, may interfere with protein absorption. Milk fat may affect the antioxidant properties of the tea. Also the addition of milk dilutes flavonoid content of tea per serving. It is better to have tea without addition of milk.