Let’s talk about tea – afternoon or otherwise. Afternoon tea is a great pick-me-up about 4:00 P.M., as long as healthy foods are served with it! Actually, after water, tea is the most-consumed beverage in the world. Research in the past few years has shown that tea leaves have powerful antioxidant and phytochemical properties. Tea also contains caffeine, but much less than coffee.
Green tea (unfermented), oolong tea (partially fermented), and black tea (fermented) have many health benefits. Herbal teas, which are derived from different plants, are also beneficial.
Green, oolong, and black tea contain flavonoids and phytochemical that are, in many cases, the same antioxidants that are found in fruits and vegetables. In fact, a cup of tea has greater than five times more antioxidant power of most fruits and vegetables. The addition of sweeteners or milk to tea, do not seem to lessen the health benefits of two- cups-a-day tea habit, which reduce the risk for cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Medicinal benefits
Herbal teas have been used throughout history for their medicinal benefits. Herbal medicine is the primary form of medicine for perhaps as much as 80% of the world’s population. Scientific interest in herbal medicine in the United States has lagged behind that in other countries.
In Germany, for example, one-third of graduating physicians have studied herbal medicine, and a comprehensive therapeutic guide to herbal medicines has long been published there. Studies have shown that individual herbal ingredients have specific physical effects, such as calming and relaxing or stimulating and warming – and that certain herbs can benefit specific conditions.
Valerian, for example, has been shown to have a relaxing effect and has used successfully to treat people with anxiety and insomnia. Ginger, which relieves nausea, is now widely used to relieve morning and travel sickness. For all you ever wanted to know about tea, go to www.twinnings.com.
Also, some great books about tea have been published:
- The New Tea Book: A Guide to Black, Green, Herbal and Chai Teas by Sara Perry Herbal Teas: 101 Nourishing Blends for Daily Health and Vitality by Kathleen Brown and Jeanine Pollak
- 20,000 Secrets of Tea: The Most Effective Ways to Benefit from Nature’s Healing Herbs by Victoria Zak
- Tea: Discovering, Exploring, Enjoying by Hattie Ellis.
As a helpful resource, I have lots of articles on healthy ingredients and recipes that you can implement into your daily life.
If you’d like to dig deeper into my journey of discovering God’s plan for health and wellness, check out my book, Made For Paradise: God’s Original Plan for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Rest.
