As the weather begins to cool, minds and menus wander closer to cozy choices, including steaming cups of freshly brewed tea.
The benefits of tea go far beyond warming you on a chilly day; researchers are linking tea to positive effects on just about every part of the body. In the past five years there have been more than 5,600 scientific studies on tea, according to the Tea Council of the USA. Research presented recently at the fifth Scientific Symposium on Teas & Human Health in Washington connected consumption of tea to smaller waistlines, sharper minds, stronger bones and healthier hearts.
“The many bioactive compounds in tea appear to impact virtually every cell in the body to help improve health outcomes, which is why the consensus emerging from this symposium is that drinking at least one cup of green, black, white or oolong tea a day can contribute significantly to the promotion of public health,” said Jeffrey Blumberg, a professor of nutrition science at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.
Tea terrific for the heart
The little leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant pack a powerful punch with big antioxidant activity that helps cut risk of heart disease and certain cancers. A study from Italy presented at the symposium showed that drinking as little as one cup of black tea per day helps control blood pressure and may help increase blood flow after a high-fat meal.
Tea break to concentrate
Studies on mental alertness show that drinking two to three cups of black tea helped subjects stay alert and focused on tasks. Choosing tea for your “coffee break” can help, but to really get in the swing of sipping the best, splurge on a lovely afternoon tea at area hotels, including The St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead and the Park 75 Lounge at The Four Seasons Hotel.
Tea and bone health
Whether you take your tea with milk or honey, research from Texas Tech shows that green tea pairs best with weight-bearing exercises such as tai chi to boost bone and muscle health in older Americans. Researchers say flavanol compounds in green tea reduce inflammation and fractures. So when sipping out of the antique tea cups at the Swan Coach House in Buckhead you can relax knowing you’re doing something to help keep you a little younger.
Tea to be tinier?
We’re not talking pre-sweetened bottles of tea or sugar-soaked Southern sweet tea here – but new research from Maastricht University in the Netherlands on compounds in green tea called catechins showed that they increased energy expenditure and fat burning a bit. Since most American consume 20 percent of their calories as beverages, what you drink can really make a difference in weight management.
“As tea is calorie-free, it’s an ideal choice to help consumers meet fluid requirements without adding calories to their diet, and the modest increase in energy expenditure and fat oxidation can also add to the role of tea as part of a healthy, calorie-controlled diet that promotes weight loss or maintenance,” said Rick Hursel, a researcher at Maastricht.
Tea has been a tradition since 1945 at Mary Mac’s Tea Room, where the menu lists iced tea as “The Table Wine of the South.” Whether iced or hot, remember that each heaping teaspoon of sugar or honey adds about 20 calories.
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