An ardent tea-drinker will tell you than there is nothing more pleasurable and rejuvenating than a steaming cup of tea. It is interesting to know that after water, tea is the most popular beverage consumed in the world. While its flavor and aroma has created fans across the world, its health benefits have become the talk of the town.
According to Women's Health Specialist Catherine Hood, "Compared with non-drinkers, regular tea drinkers had a 21 per cent decreased risk of breast cancer. This beneficial finding is likely to be associated with the polyphenol content of tea." Tea is rich in polyphenols, including catechins and gallocatchins, which have a strong antioxidant activity and a potential anti-tumour effect. 39 studies involving 13,204 breast cancer cases and 87,248 controls were examined and analyzed. Among the total number of studies, 16 involved tea consumption with a total of 28,737 cases and 60,936 controls. Another study credits black tea with improving the function of the blood vessels and promoting heart health. "Several previous studies have found that black tea and its flavonoids have direct effects on the blood vessels improving vascular function," says health expert, Tim Bond. In conclusion, Dr Catherine Hood pointed out that drinking tea has potential health benefits especially for the heart and also recommends having about four or more cups of tea every day since it is as hydrating as water.With inputs from IANS and femalefirst.co.uk.