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1. Can Tea Boost Your Health?
Which varieties could hold medical bene3its?

2. Although Americans and Europeans have enjoyed
tea for centuries, the drink has more recently caught
on for its possible medicinal qualities. (However,
legend has it that the discovery of tea—
and its use as an herbal remedy—happened as early
as 2737 B.C. in China.)
Now Western drinkers are discovering that teas can
hold health benefits. Recent research shows that tea
may help protect against heart disease, Alzheimer’s
and even some cancers.

3. Miracle cure claims aside, proponents of tea’s general
health properties promote its antioxidants, which
they say can protect your body from the effects of
pollution. Tea’s fluoride and tannins might protect
your teeth.
Researchers are also investigating if tea’s
phytochemicals could protect your bones, if tea could
bolster your immunity, and if tea could both hydrate
you and increase your metabolism, helping you lose
weight.
Here are the teas experts suggest turning to for
specific health concerns:

4. Oolong contains catechin (an antioxidant) that,
combined with its caffeine can raise your metabolism,
as well as polyphenols that help block fat-building
enzymes. Yerba mate, popular in South America,
contains the fat-fighting compound mateine, which
raises your energy but doesn’t produce a caffeine high
(or the resulting crash).
White tea contains EGCG, an antioxidant that
researchers say can help prevent new fat cells from
forming—as well as fights signs of aging.
Oolong, Yerba Mate and White tea

5. Anti-inflammatory ginger tea, which blocks
prostaglandins (chemical messengers that cause slight
swelling in the brain), can reduce inflammation in
about the same amount of time as an aspirin.
Ginger is also an effective nausea-reducer, used safely
by pregnant women to reduce morning sickness
symptoms.
Ginger tea

6. The clear winner in the overall health category, green
tea contains a high amount of EGCG, which increases
the hormone responsible for helping you feel full.
Green tea proponents also point to its ability to help
fight cancer and possibly even slow the progression of
dementia.
Green tea

7. The polyphenols in black tea help keep plaque from
sticking to your teeth and can freshen breath because of
its efficacy in killing bacteria in the mouth.
Studies show that polysaccharides in black tea can also
help inhibit glucose, helping to prevent diabetes.
Black tea

8. Finally, the caffeine question:
Yes, tea usually has caffeine, but generally less than
coffee. If you’re plagued by caffeine-induced crashes
and headaches or indigestion, you might be
interested to know that an 8-ounce cup of coffee can
contain up to 200 mg of caffeine, where white tea
contains only about 35 mg per cup.
Green, oolong and black teas fall somewhere in the
middle.