When visiting any Kenyan home, there is a 99% likelihood that you will be offered tea, no matter what time of day. Apart from breakfast, some people prefer to take tea with other meals like during lunch when they are eating their githeri and the sun is at its hottest. That is the culture of Kenya and we hardly ever stop to ask what this beverage really does to or for us. Well, a wonderful coincidence is that it does a whole lot of good to our health.
Tea is a good source of antioxidants which helps fight disease and also helps in boosting our bodies’ immunity.
Here comes one of the weird facts about tea. Drinking tea will lower the chances of getting lung cancer for smokers. This is of course your assurance of never contracting lung cancer but it sure gives some hope.
Tea has also been found to help cancer patients recover from radiation side effects. Tea for example protects from cellular degeneration and it also helps in skin repair.
Another amazing fact is that tea helps in the prevention of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s which is a progressive mental deterioration that causes problems with memory and behaviour. Another disease whose risk is lowered by tea drinking is Perkinson’s disease which is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects your motor skills. These diseases are more likely to show symptoms in middle age and older people. That tells you that the belief that tea is a beverage for older people needs to be rethought because you need to have taken your tea in earlier ages to escape the symptoms.
Black tea can also help in weight loss as it contains high levels of compounds that combat the absorption of fat. It also does not contain calories in its natural state and it is a good option to flavour your water instead of having it plain. On hot days, it is a good alternative to store-bought juices and sodas which have a lot of sugar and can contribute to weight gain, if not used up. Of late, there has been an explosion of herbal tea brands in the market. There are now so many options to choose from instead of can get fruity herbal teas that you can prepare and you and your children can take as iced tea.
Herbal teas are known for their medicinal values, such as soothing the digestive system – chamomile, ginger, and neem help in this. When you drink or wash your skin with green tea, you supply your skin with a natural sunscreen that will protect it from ultraviolet rays. High blood pressure and high cholesterol patients can also get some relief from drinking hibiscus tea.
While these might not be all the benefits of taking tea, don’t they just make you proud to come from a culture that adores tea? Whether you like to take it hot or cold, feel free to raise your cup or glass of tea and toast to your health as you sip.
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