Steeped in Wellness: The Health Benefits of Tea
The following article was written by Heinen’s Chief Dietitian, Melanie Jatsek RD, LD.
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Three things in life are guaranteed: the sun rising in the morning, Christmas falling on December 25th, and a loved one offering to bring you a cup of tea when you’re sick.
I won’t argue that a cup of herbal tea does wonders for me when I’m under the weather, but tea is so much more than a soothing elixir for a sore throat!
For starters, besides water, tea is the most frequently consumed beverage worldwide. This means there are lots of opportunities to take advantage of the many health benefits tea has to offer.
The Health Benefits of Tea
Tea is a tasty functional beverage that can be enjoyed morning, noon, and night. Thanks to powerful plant compounds called polyphenols, you can feel good sipping on a mug of your favorite tea.
Polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that boast these benefits:
- Antimicrobial: inhibits growth of pathogenic microorganisms
- Anticarcinogenic: prevents the development of cancer
- Antihypertensive: effective against high blood pressure
- Neuroprotective: protects nerve cells from injury or degeneration
- Lowers cholesterol
- Thermogenic: boosts metabolism and burns fat
Research also suggests that tea and its polyphenols can help prevent diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and obesity. We recommend drinking unsweetened varieties whenever possible.
Four Fx™-Approved Teas for Everyday Enjoyment
Tea is made from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. The four most popular types of tea are classified by their degree of oxidation.
While we typically think of oxidation as a bad thing, in the case of tea it takes on a different meaning. Oxidation is an enzymatic reaction that causes a tea leaf to turn brown when the cell walls are broken, changing the characteristic taste and color of the tea, but not the benefits.
The four main types of tea are green, white, oolong, and black.
Green Tea (Unoxidized)
To make green tea, fresh tea leaves are briefly cooked using either steam or dry heat without undergoing any oxidation. This process fixes the green colors and fresh flavors and gives it more of an earthy taste compared to other teas.
Catechins are the major polyphenolic compounds in green tea. They include the predominant and most studied catechin epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG for short).
Green tea has 40-60 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup. Compare that to 95-200 milligrams of caffeine in a cup of coffee.
Matcha tea is finely ground green tea powder made from whole tea leaves, including the stem and veins. Because of this, the amounts of polyphenols and caffeine are higher in matcha compared to general green tea.
The presence of the amino acid L-theanine in matcha makes it unique in that it promotes a balanced mood, feelings of well-being, and increases your ability to focus without nervousness or agitation. This makes matcha an ideal coffee alternative.
Fx-approved green and matcha teas available at Heinen’s include:
- Navitas Matcha Tea
- Republic of Tea U-Matcha Single Sips Tea
- Traditional Medicinals Green Tea with Ginger
- Equal Exchange Green Tea
White Tea (Slightly Oxidized)
Made from a young tea bud and minimally oxidized, white tea is a delicate tea that retains a high amount of polyphenols to fight inflammation in the body.
White tea has a pale color and fragrant flavor, with a caffeine content ranging from 5-55 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup.
Fx-approved white tea available at Heinen’s includes:
- Harney & Sons Mutan White Loose Tea
Oolong Tea (Partially Oxidized)
Oolong tea leaves are wilted in the sun and slightly bruised to create partial oxidation, resulting in a floral, fruity, and robust flavor profile.
The polyphenols responsible for oolong tea’s health benefits include theaflavins, thearubigins, and EGCG. Oolong tea also contains L-theanine and so has positive effects on relaxation and cognitive performance.
Expect to get between 30-70 milligrams of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup of oolong tea.
Fx-approved oolong tea available at Heinen’s includes:
- Harney & Sons Formosa Loose Oolong Tea
- Twinings Pure Oolong Tea
Black Tea (Fully Oxidized)
Black tea is created when tea leaves are fully crushed to enhance oxidation, giving it bold, earthy, malty and even smoky notes when enjoyed in unflavored varieties.
Types of black tea include Darjeeling and Ceylon, along with black tea blends like English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and Chai.
Theaflavins and thearubigins are the main polyphenols in black tea, and each 8-ounce cup delivers 40-70 milligrams of caffeine.
Fx-approved black tea varieties available at Heinen’s includes:
- Harney & Sons Queen Catherine Loose Black Tea
- Equal Exchange Chai Tea
- Tazo English Breakfast Tea
- Rishi Earl Grey Tea
Key Takeaway
This article is just the tip of the tea iceberg! Get curious about the countless varieties of tea available at your local Heinen’s, including caffeine-free herbal teas like Yogi Elderberry Lemon Balm, Urbal Tea Brain Booster, Traditional Medicinals Peppermint, and Newman’s Own Turmeric Ginger, to name only a few!
