Happy Hump Day!!
Brrrrr it's cold and nasty here in Dallas! It's probably my fault, since I have been raving about the amazing weather we have been having. It's so nasty outside, I had to do my run yesterday and this morning on the treadmill. NO FUN!
When it's this cold outside, there is nothing better than a hot cup of tea. I have actually been going through somewhat of a tea phase lately. There are a million different types of tea that provide a million different benefits. When I walk down the tea aisle, sometimes I feel like I'm in a pharmacy. There are teas to boost immunity, tea to cure an upset stomach, tea to soothe a sore throat (I love this one), tea to give you energy and tea to relieve stress (big fan of this one as well). I am rotating between three different teas at the moment: Green Tea, Yogi DeTox (to promote healthy liver and kidney function), and Kava Stress Relief. All three are delicious, especially with a little almond milk.
Tea contains high levels of antioxidants, some of which are called polyphenols, flavonoids, and catechins, and all of which take on the “free radicals” in the body and prevent them from harming the healthy cells on board. A study by the American Medical Association followed more than 40,000 Japanese adults for a decade, and at the 7-year follow-up, those who had been drinking five or more cups of tea per day were 26% less likely to die of any cause compared with those who averaged less than a cup. In another Japanese study, researchers broke participants into two groups. Only one group was put on a catechin-rich green-tea diet. At the end of 12 weeks, the green-tea group had achieved significantly smaller body weights and waistlines than those in the control group. Researchers believe that catechins are effective at boosting metabolism. Other teas that are high in catechins are yerba mate, white tea, oolong tea, and rooibos (red) tea.
Are you sold yet? If not, check out these additional health benefits of hot tea:
- Studies show that tea drinkers have lower blood pressure.
- Tea may lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease.
- Black tea may lower "bad" cholesterol.
- Green Tea can help prevent or slow the progression of certain types of cancer including, prostate cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, and stomach cancer.
- Green tea and oolong tea can help reduce the risk of hypertension.
- Tea can boost your bodies immunity.
- A green tea component helps kill leukemia cells (Mayo Clinic, 2004).
- Consuming tea may help delay Alzheimer's disease.
- Green tea can actually boost your metabolism.
- Tea also contains less caffeine than coffee. So swap your cup of Joe for a cup of Green tea and you will cut down on caffeine while loading up on free radical fighting catechins!
Now that you know the facts, it's time to head to the kitchen and brew some tea. Another great thing about hot tea, is that it is not very expensive. A box of 16 tea bags will run you between $3-$7. That's about how much I pay for one grande skinny vanilla latte at Starbucks. You can even buy variety packs so you can test out different flavors.
Don't forget to check out the reader discounts and giveaway going on at the Shop FF&F page. To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on a post before Friday!
Food for thought:
Do you drink hot tea regularly?
What is your favorite type of hot tea?
Do you put anything in your tea?
In health,
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