Why tea is healthy for you!
More and more evidence is highlighting the role of antioxidants in protecting us against certain conditions such as heart disease, stroke and cancers.
Many of these conditions are thought to be triggered by free radicals – unstable molecules which cause cell damage – and antioxidants are believed to prevent this process.
In addition to the well-known antioxidants such as Vitamins C and E, there is growing research on the beneficial effects of antioxidants called polyphenols, found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and drinks such as red wine – and tea.
Health Facts and Nutrition Data
1. Approximately 40% of the nation's fluid intake today will be tea
2. Tea without milk has no calories. Using semi-skimmed milk adds around 13 calories per cup, but you also benefit from valuable minerals and calcium
3. Tea with milk provides 21% of daily calcium requirement in 4 cups
4. Tea contains some zinc and folic acid
5. Tea with milk contains Vitamin B6, Riboflavin B2 and Thiamin B1
6. Tea is a source of the minerals manganese, essential for bone growth and body development, and potassium, vital for maintaining body fluid levels
7. The average cup of tea contains less than half the level of caffeine than coffee. One cup contains only 50mg per 190ml cup
8. Tea is a natural source of fluoride and drinking four cups makes a significant contribution to your daily intake. Only 11% of UK water supply has fluoride added
9. Green and black teas are from the same plant, Camelia sinensis, and contain similar amounts of antioxidants and caffeine
10. Tea has one of the highest total flavonoid (a type of polyphenol) content of all plants, at 15% of the leaf (by dry weight)
11.One or two cups of tea have the same ‘radical scavenging capacity’ as five portions of fruit and vegetables.
12. Tea provides approximately 80% of the UK’s source of flavonoids.
The typical daily consumption of tea (three cups a day) has approximately the same antioxidant power as eating six apples.
We keep members to our Real Tea Club up to date with the latest tea and health information through our monthly periodical ‘Tea News’.