Black, Green, White, Red - Tea to Drink
It's
common knowledge nowadays that you are better off drinking Green tea than your
traditional Black. But there are more variations than just Green to choose
from. Although Green seems to be the winning one when it comes to healthy hot
beverages, but there are White and Red ones too. Most fitness sites agree that
Green tea has key contribution to weight loss. Obviously it's not a magic drink
but it supports your efforts when dieting and exercising in order to reach your
goals. So how do the other antioxidant teas compare to that?
First
of all Black, Green and White tea are all products from the same plant,
Camellia sinensis. The difference is in how they are processed. Whereas Red tea
comes from a completely different plant called Aspalathus linearis.
White
tea goes through minimal processing and it is not oxidized. Therefore it
retains the natural antioxidants, very low in caffeine, but it also means that
it is not as flavoursome and it's got a weak colour. It has a tang of sweetness
and tastes somewhat flowery. White tea is the most packed with antioxidants; it
contains tannins, fluoride and flavonids. It has strong anti-aging and
antibacterial properties.
Green
Tea is slightly oxidised, then pan-fried (the Chinese way) or steamed (the
Japanese way). This second step brings out additional flavours, developes the
caffeine, but also slightly lowers the antioxidant level of the tea. Its
characteristic flavours are earthy and grassy with a delicate sweet taste. It's
full of powerful antioxidants, amino acids, chlorophyll and vitamins (A, B
1-2-3, C, E) just to mention a view from a very impressive list of green tea's
valuable components. What makes it stand out from all the teas mentioned here
is that it's proven to reduce cholesterol and it relieves muscle pain from
overexertion.
Red
Tea, aka Rooibos is a recent discovery of mine. It takes a while to get
accustomed its sweet, woody/malty flavour. It is a traditional South African
tea. There is a green and red variation. The green one doesn't go through
oxidisation. The black one is oxidised like black tea but it's decaff and low
in tannins. It's full of antioxidants, helps digestions, some allergies,
headaches and it can calm your nerves, improves bone and teeth strength. It's rich
in minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, potassium, zinc and magnesium.
It
doesn't matter which one you choose, you will improve your health. Guaranteed.
Consuming these teas regularly will boost your immune system, help you in
weight loss, enhance skin quality, potentially prevent cancer, reduce risk of
dental problems, improve cardiovascular health and obviously they are all have
anti-aging benefits.
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