I am writing a series of 101 small changes that we can make to make the quality of our life better and build and lead a more happier life that is in tune with our heart and mind. These are small changes that I have made and am working on right now, so I know they are possible for anyone to do.
If you have not read previous posts, check out a few posts on the changes from the past:
101 changes: Change 4 – Plant something
101 changes: Change 5 – Smile when you wake up
101 changes: Change 6:: Read a book – Benefits of reading
101 changes: Change 7 – Watch less Television and Be more productive
101 changes: Change 8 – Stretch your comfort zone
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Tea has been around for many centuries around world and loved in countries like China, India, England and other places. Tea drinking has been always connected with well-being, restoration, and regeneration of cells. Many people are just starting the see and feel the benefits of drinking tea. Drinking tea has been linked to fighting cavities to Parkinson’s disease. After all, we all got only one body and one life and health is true wealth.
In India, where I am from, it is a custom to drink tea for breakfast and one in afternoon after nap (Yes, adults take naps too, although India is changing fast to become more like western world). Many of us in America, are drinking coffee and soda with meals. While there is nothing wrong with it, tea drinking has many more benefits, let’s explore more.
Zenguy makes a best chai, if you like to know how to make best chai at home you can click here : How to make best chai tea at home post.
- Less Caffeine than Coffee: While I love my coffee occasionally, tea has far less caffeine in it. Coffee has usually two or three times more caffeine than tea. Little caffeine is okay and might be beneficial but too much caffeine can harm our heart and body organs. Drinking too much coffee can give you jittery feeling, headaches and sleeplessness compared to drinking tea.
- Tea has Antioxidant benefits: Many of us are aware of antioxidants can help us in slowing down the aging process, and regenerate and repair our body cells. Some studies shows that antioxidants can prevent cancer as well. Well, give me a cup right now!
- Can be great for dehydration: While I think water is always the best for dehydration, tea drinking comes close to it. Compare to sugary juices and soda, tea can be a great thirst quencher and can keep you hydrated as long as you do not load it with too much sugar.
- Tea can reduce your stomach cramps: Some property of tea can act as an anti-spasmodic agent and allowing it to aid in the relief of stomach cramps. I have seen it used to calm a colic infant in some culture.
- Tea can help with heart disease and cholesterol: More and more studies in recent times have shown that black tea and green tea can be helpful preventing blood clots to help you with heart disease and stroke reduction as well as cholesterol.
- Tea helps your teeth: Too many jokes of British drinking tea with bad teeth may make you think otherwise (I personally think in US, we are way obsessed over whiten teeth), but actually tea contains fluoride and tannin which helps teeth decay and reduces plaque in teeth.
- Tea is Calorie Free: If you see thin Japanese and Chinese people you can see why, because plain tea is calorie free. Many Indians do not come in this category (Myself included) as we Indians like our tea with Milk, Sugar and spices which adds some calories. If you drink plain black Jasmine and green tea, it is calorie free and can help you with weight maintenance.
- Tea can keep your skin Acne-Free: Antioxidants in tea seems to help people with acne problems and keep skin smooth. Tea is also much more natural compared to benzoyl peroxide to treat acne, which is harsher chemical. I did not know about this benefit until I did research to write this article.
- Tea can flight flu and Infections: Studies have shown that people who gargled with black tea extract twice a day, were much more immune to flu virus compared who did not. Tea contains chemicals called alkylamine antigens which act similarly to some tumor cells and bacteria, boosting the body’s immune response.
- Tea can help bad breath. A study at the University of Chicago has suggested that the polyphenols in tea can help to keep the bacteria that causes bad breath in check. Sounds good to me.
In addition to these benefits, many studies have shown many medicinal effect of drinking black or green tea. Some studies have shown tea reduces or helps with HIV, metabolic rate, lowering blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer, arthritis, diabetes and much more. You do not have to take my word for it, you can find it out for yourself.
Health effect of tea: Wikipedia You can read more about health benefits of tea drinking here.
A few Chai to try out:
- ORGANIC INDIA ORGANIC CHAI MASALA TULSI TEA. Tulsi black tea and chai spices make the perfect exotic chai that stimulates your senses and soothes your soul. Add milk or nondairy milk and a touch of sweetener for a delicious authentic India experience:.
- NUMI TEA 18 BAG ORGANIC GOLDEN CHAI BLACK TEA. This chai delight blends Assam tea with worldly spices. This rich infusion has a complex hearty flavor evoking a warm balance between the spices.
Special Chai Mug: Enjoy your flavor tea bag with our double wall insulated Connoisseur Chai Mug. Highpolished stainless steel exterior has a contemporary look. Insulated lid keeps your favorite Chai hot or cold longer. Tea leaves strainer is designed for the Chai connoisseur. 18/8 stainless steel Double Wall Insulation Insulated Lid Tea Leaves Strainer
If you already a tea drinker then you already know how beneficial it is. If you have not tried it yet, get out of your comfort zone a little and taste tea today!
Also check out 10 ways to simplify your health and Health and Wealth Connection
Your turn: What type of tea do you usually drink? Do you like Chai-tea?
101 changes: Change 1- Reduce Drinking Soda
101 changes: Change 2: Getting to email Zen
101 changes: Change 3: Slow down- Slow blogging movement
101 changes: Change 4 – Plant something
101 changes: Change 5 – Smile when you wake up
101 changes: Change 6:: Read a book – Benefits of reading
101 changes: Change 7 – Watch less Television and Be more productive
101 changes: Change 8 – Stretch your comfort zone
101 changes: Change 9: Drink to your health- Benefits of Drinking Tea
101 changes: Change 10: Bring out the artist in You AKA be creative
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Hi Preeti,
I am a big tea drinker. I love green tea. I started drinking it about 8 years ago after I heard about all the health benefits. I must admit I still drink coffee though in the morning.
Thanks for all the great advice and information!
I can’t do without my two cups of tea each day– I need a cup first thing after waking up each morning or I can’t function 🙂
I knew tea has tons of antioxidants and is generally great for health, but I had no idea it fights bad breath and helps teeth! Thanks for an enlightening article.
I LOVE to drink tea in the winter time. This was a timely post, as we are nearing that time. I love my coffee, but tea is a comforting change for sure, and it sure helps that it’s calorie free! :)!
Hi Preeti,
Hope things going great at your end. Its been some time I haven’t spent time on your blog. was little busy at hectic work.
Good post and a great relaxing welcome for November with a cup of tea or coffee.
I Usually drink Coffee or tea whenever I am tensed or when I ever I want to celebrate!
I celebrate my happiness with a cup of coffee, looks crazy 🙂
Some people don’t know it, but it’s a great hangover 🙂
But yes, a great nice relaxation at the end.
• Did you know that coffee has no calories? It is naturally a no calorie drink.
• At one time “coffee” was a term for wine. The drink became so popular and many turned to drink actual coffee for the fact it kept you awake rather than put you out, they gave the name to what we know as “coffee” today.
• Even though it tastes like death sometimes, it can help you get through your day.
And finally “Drink Coffee, Do Stupid Things Faster With More Energy”
Truly
Taurian
Hi dear Preeti, I LOVE tea – and only loose-leaf tea from the finest stores. Amazon also carries the Rishi and Numi brands which – in that order – are good. I gave up coffee (espresso actually) 3 years ago, and gave up tea bags a long time ago – I find tea to be therapeutic, calming, companionship and zen. And I am not surprised you love it as much as I do. Thank you for this post!
You don’t have to convince me of the benefits of tea! I’m a real tea lover! There were some health benefits in this post I was not aware of, though. Great post as usual, Preeti. I would like to share my favorite source for buying tea http://www.tealuxe.com. I don’t have any affiliation with them, and I don’t get a commission or anything. Just wanted to share my favorite tea resource.
Hi Preeti,
Nice post on drinking tea. I didn’t know some of the benefits you mentioned. It is good to know. I personally drink tea maybe, once every month or two. I drink coffee once a year 🙂 What I usually drink is water, juice, and soda. I know that I should cut down on drinking soda, maybe one day I will. Thanks for sharing this info about drinking tea 🙂
Drinking tea with just a drop of milk and sugar works best for me. I think it does not dilute the taste as much and I just happen to like tea with a bit of milk. I can see where the calories add up if you put a lot of milk and sugar in your tea cup.
I adore tea as well, especially decaf green tea with a little honey in it. I love it hot or iced. The Yogi brand also has a detox tea that is so spicy and warming. There’s a grace to tea, an invitation to relax and enjoy the moment. My grandma was a big tea drinker and would give me my own little china cup with sweet hot tea when I was little. I don’t drink it as sweet now but I often think of those sweet moments we shared over a cup. 🙂
Hi Preeti,
This is an informative post on tea. I personally prefer to drink green tea on a regular basis. Indeed I have found that drinking green tea has a calming effect on me. I enjoy tea with milk, but I only drink that occasionally. The same goes for coffee. But with green tea, I drink it at least once a day. It is actually something I look forward to apart from eating yogurt. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this post!
Thank you Nally and Dan!
Angela,
Green tea has many great benefits so you are doing right thing! I occasionally love my coffee too. I love South Indian Frothy Coffee! Have you ever tried it?
I did not used to drink tea but now being with Zenguy I love drinking chai every morning!
Vaishali,
🙂 I hear you, I am like that now. When my mom used to say she can not function without her morning tea, I used to laugh and Now I am in same position. I actually found out more about tea as I was writing this article so I am pleasantly surprised too!
Sharon,
Hot Tea, coffee or coco sounds wonderful in winter. I love my chai-tea throughout the year! As an Indian we all (okay many) love their chai.
Yes, I like that tea is calorie free, as I add little milk and sugar and cardamom in mine. 🙂
Taurian,
Yes, Tea and Coffee can be great way to meet up with a friend or celebrate something! While I love my occasional coffee, tea has far less caffeine which is better if someone drinks more than 2 cups in whole day.
Thanks for sharing the tidbits about coffee, I did not know it all. Last quote is an interesting but I hope it should say do good things faster….instead.
Farnoosh,
I thought you might like tea too! I have to try Rishi and Numi Brands, I have heard of them a lot.
I grew up partially in Seattle where whole Latte, espresso and Starbucks started, so I used to love Latte and espresso but now I drink those vary rarely. I love the way Zenguy makes Chai, I have not found anything better! I also feel the calming effects on me!
Betsy,
I am happy that you love tea also! Yes, I found some benefits during researching for this post, check out wikipedia link. Thank you for sharing the buying tea source, I will sure check it out.
Dia,
Yes, I was mighty surprised that tea can help with HIV, Digestion, Heart issues and more. I am happy to learn as I like drinking tea.
Water and 100% Juice are good but you should reduce soda, check out Reduce Soda post!. It’s friendly suggestion from a blog friend!
Michelle,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I like my tea with soymilk, sugar and spices (cardamom, cinnamon and ginger). My hubby makes a great chai-tea at home!
I am hoping that calories from milk and sugar is negligible, as long as we are not drinking 15 cups a day! 🙂
Emma,
I am happy to be in company of tea loving friends! I think honey is wonderful in a tea cup. I have given up honey since I am trying to be vegan for past 3 years (I am stuck at yogurt and cheese) 🙂
I love the story of you and your grandma! It is a precious and wonderful memories that keeps us family together even when we are afar! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Irving,
Thank you, I love my morning cup of tea and like you it helps me get ready for the day and has calming effects. I think once a day is good thing, I sometimes drink more than 2 cups a day! 🙂
I am waking up so often with my 1.5 year old, I feel like I can use my tea caffeine to keep me going. You love yogurt? That is nice, I do too. I like plain yogurt but I eat occasionally only now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
What a wonderful subject.
My absolute favorite drink in the world. Nothing can beat a nice cup of “Chai”. I love tea, and love to prepare it, the Indian way. With Fresh Ginger, Freshly ground Masala (Cardamom, Cloves, Dried Ginger, Cinamon). My personal change here is that I use Soy Milk instead of Regular Milk. I want to go Vegan eventually.
I definitely did not know half the benefits you mention in this article. I am so happy to know that my favorite drink has health benefits.
Also you mention that in the US people drink Soda and Coffee. And people think there is nothing wrong with Soda, I disagree. It gives you tons of empty calories. Our body burns calories from sugar (soda/diet Soda) first and then it burns calories from fat. This for sure will make our bodies store the calories from fat as we burn the sugary calories first. Well, unless one works out a lot, which I do not 🙂
ZenGirl, thanks for a wonderful post.
Great info Preeti. I learned some new things reading this. I’m always interested in new health tips and information that contribute to living vitally.
Yeah preeti,
you are right !
But I never drink tea or coffee. 🙁
But I like the change 5: Smile when you wake up!
Aadhi,
That is really good for you. I am glad you like the change 5. I do too.
Taurian,
🙂
Rob,
Being healthy is one way to enjoy the abundance of life and mind adventure! I like drinking tea and coffee, if health benefits comes with the better for me 🙂
Kamal,
I like the Chai made Indian way too, Zenguy makes it very well. Sounds like you do too! I have found that chai-tea in starbucks are not as good as home made chai for me.
You are right, soda gives empty calories and that is why I wrote in 101 changes: change 1 to reduce or give up soda alltogether. I have given up on soda since 2001 and I am quite happy without it. Thanks for stopping by.
I’m a huge tea drinker! My favorites are green tea, Oolong Tea, and Yerba Mate. I use each for different purposes. I drink green tea during the afternoon. I drink Yerba Nate during the night when I need to do overnighters, and I drink Oolong first thing in the morning.
I join the tea club. I’m a big fan (I take coffee occasionally, like “party time”). Some additional benefits that occur to me are: by requiring less (or none) cow milk, it is a more sustainable and environmental friendly beverage. And besides, it eliminates the logistic problem of taking and carrying the so many gallons of milk you need when you are into coffee.
An additional benefit is that it can be very helpful as a “bridge” to give up smoking – that’s what I did.
I didn’t realize that tea had quite so many health benefits.
Have recently started drinking green tea morning and night for its weight loss benefits. Can’t say I am sold on it yet – drinking it without any sweetening – and do miss my regular coffee.
After reading your post I can see that I will gain many other health benefits too so I will stick with it. I’m sure I’ll start to enjoy it more soon.
Wow, tea has many benefits… Nice article Preeti. This really is a small change that can increase a person’s quality of life…
Basically, I like to drink tea from time to time. However, I usually prefer coffee. 🙂
hello preeti
how are you?
now i am going to be honest here lol!!
Don’t like tea, chocolate drinks and can’t stand coffee lol!!!i’m quite comfortable with drinking so much juice(which is bad because i drink more juice than water but it’s been looked into)
i now know what i was missing. gosh i never knew it had so many benefits.
hmmh!! not sure if i should try it? what do you thnk preeti?
nice weekend
I think I should reduce drinking tea..Because I am addicted to it. I love the idea of slow blogging 🙂
Menterlog,
Yes, tea is good for health if we drink in limit. Yes I like slow blogging too. Next time, please comment with “real” or nick name. Thanks.
Ayo,
I like honesty and I am impressed that you do not drink tea, coffee or chocolate drinks, if you are drinking 100% juice that is super great! Anything of too much is not good so even, even tea drinking. I can not tell you to start or not, as it is a personal choice.
Whatever you decide, or don’t drink tea does not change you nice person that you are inside.
Marko,
Even some of tea benefits I found out while writing this article. It is indeed interesting. I drink my coffee occasionally and drink chai-tea once a day (sometimes more). I liked drinking lattes and cappuccino everyday once upon a time, now I do it only occasionally.
Hi Dawn,
I knew some benefits of green tea but found of many during writing of this post that tea has many health benefits. I have read many benefits of green tea so I think it is a good thing but like many good thing, we have to do it right, and follow up with right diet and exercise. Too much tea will not be good thing also.
You can add some sweetener or drink chai-tea, drinking black tea does not go well for many of us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and good luck.
Hi Nacho,
Is that your real name or nick name? very unique! Welcome to tea club, I did not know we had one 🙂 Now I do.
You’re right we can live more sustainable life the better it would be for us, animals and earth! I drink my chai-tea with soymilk, not necessarily best but bit better choice. I am glad to hear it helped you gave up smoking and maybe added years to your life too.
Henway,
Wow, you drink different tea for different times, sounds very interesting! I love green, black and Oolang and Darjeeling tea but I have not hear of Yerba nate so I will sure check it out. Well, I hope you do not have to do too many over nighter….rest will do good too. Henway is real or nick name?
Preeti: I am reading this post at the exact right time. I know I was supposed to come across this one 🙂 I have been working to convert from coffee to tea and probably needed a little more of a nudge in the right direction and this post definitely did that for me. In fact, I am drinking a nice herbal passion flavored tea right now that is totally caffeine free. Thanks for all the great tips and information on tea. I now have some other good ideas about great teas to try out.
Hi Preeti! I love tea. Besides water, it’s my second favorite drink. I drink it when it’s cold or warm. It’s great all year long. My favorite teas are green tea, chamomile, and peppermint. Thanks for the tips and all information. Loving blessings!
Andrea,
Same here, I like water and than I drink tea (maybe too much) and occasional coffee 🙂 I like Green, Chamomile (when I need calming) and peppermint, have you tried orange tea? I had it once and I loved it. Thanks for sharing your tea knowledge.
Sibyl,
I like the sound of herbal passion flavored non-caffeinated tea. Wow! I should like to try that. I love drinking Indian Chai, which is known here as a chai-tea to most people, it has cardamom, ginger and cinnamon, yummy! have you tried it?
Hi preeti i love tea.
I like tea with ginger.But some 1 say me that there is many disadvantages of drinking tea.If yu know some disadvantage so tell me.
Nishit,
I love ginger chai also. Green tea and other tea have many benefits but as I said in article, as long we do it in moderation. Too much tea can create health problem such as kidney stones. Too much of good thing is not always good thing. Thanks for bringing this up.
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