Benefits of Tea

As you prepare for the holidays, you should be mindful of one of the biggest ailments suffered during this time of the year: the flu. We all know the feeling of dealing with a cold, so as you shop and plan for the holiday season, drink tea, which will boost your immune system and provide you an abundance of antioxidants, which will fight free radicals, which are molecules that contribute to aging and diseases.

Tea leaves are packed with polyphenols, an antioxidant that scientifically has scientifically been proven to boost immune function. Tea has also been connected with decreasing the chances of cancer and heart disease, due to many bio-active chemicals found naturally in tea, including amino acids, vitamins, caffeine, flavinoids, and polysaccharides.

"Drinking tea is a great way to hydrate and to get the necessary liquids your body needs to stay healthy. Tea makes water tastes better and provides some seriously potent antioxidants," said Keith Ayoob, professor and dietician at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York

Ayoob further added, "Drinking 3-6 cups of tea daily is associated with lower risk of heart disease and reduced risk of death from heart disease. The caffeine in tea raises metabolic and fat oxidation rates, which is also helpful in weight loss."