Next to water, tea prepared from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), is the most consumed beverage in the world. Tea is prepared from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and depending on how it is grown and harvested includes Green Tea, Black Tea, Oolong Tea, and White Tea. Herbal teas are any beverage made from infusing hot or boiling water with herbs, spices, or other plant material. Usually, these do not contain caffeine.

It should be appreciated that each of these drinks contain different phytochemicals that can have health promoting properties.  We know that there are many different vitamins in the foods we eat, just the same, there are many different phytochemicals in different teas and herbal teas.  Each of these look different and act different when they are in our bodies.  A great approach is to mix up your tea and herbal teas so your body can get different types of phytochemicals.

Here’s a few of our favorites:

Teas

Black Tea – Multiple benefits reported by scientists including reducing cholesterol, improved brain function, reduce the risk of heart attacks, reduce cancer risk, and other benefits. The main antioxidants are ‘theaflavins’ (i.e. pronounced ‘thee-ah-flave-ins’).

Green Tea – Many benefits have been reported in the literature including improved brain function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other incredible benefits. The main antioxidants are  green tea catechins (pronounced ‘kat-eh-kins’).

Herbal Teas

Chamomile, commonly used for sore stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, and as a gentle sleep aid. It is also used as a mild laxative and is anti-inflammatory and bactericidal

Hibiscus (often blended with rose hip), a popular tea alternative in the Middle East which is drunk hot or cold. Hibiscus tea is also consumed in Okinawa, and used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.

Honeybush grows in a nearby area of South Africa, but tastes slightly sweeter. Has a low tannin content, no caffeine and has potential health effects related to its anti-mutagenic and antioxidant properties.

Rooibos (Red Bush) is a reddish plant used to make an infusion and grown in South Africa. In the US it is sometimes called red tea. It has many of the antioxidant characteristics of green tea, but because it does not come from tea leaves, it has no caffeine.