Saturday August 26, 2006 | 6 comments
You’ve read on this site, as well as in the media, about the rapidly growing body of research showing that tea has myriad health benefits. It has become increasingly clear that within the scientific community, despite the awareness of the need for more large scale human studies, most researchers are convinced there is enough strong evidence to suggest that everyone should be drinking a lot more tea.
Here is a new study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition informing us that tea is even healthier than water. Dr. Carrie Ruxton, lead researcher from King’s College in London, states that tea is healthier than water because it contains not only some of the most powerful antioxidants in nature, but it is also rehydrating to the body. She dispels the myth that because tea contains some caffeine it is dehydrating. According to Dr. Ruxton, it would take much more caffiene than is found in any tea to cause any dehydration from a diuretic effect. Read more here and Drink up.
What a great bit of information. I try to drink 50-64 oz of water a day and don’t count any tea that I drink. Mostly I use white tea. I find it is smoother and less bitter than anything else. I’m grateful that I can count my cups of tea towards my fluid intake. Thank you. Linda Bardes, Minneapolis, MN
what do you think about the puer teas? how can know its 10 years or 15 years? (Raymond is from Beijing)
Ahhh, puer tea. A little known and very misunderstood tea here in the USA. It just happens to be one of my favorites.
You ask an excellent question, Raymond. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. When buying any kind of tea, there is only one good way to feel confident that you are getting what you wanted. You have to buy your tea from a purveyor that you trust. The person you buy your tea from should preferrably, in turn, have a direct relationship with the tea estate from which he gets his tea. Short of that, he too has to have a trusting relationship with the broker he buys his tea from. That’s about all you can do. Or, there is always carbon dating!
I enjoy drinking water, but i find such delight in a soothing, aromatic cup of tea. There is no other beverage that fulfills the senses, as does a cup of tea whether it warms you up or cools you down. I equate tea as a super food since it provides comfort, health benefits, and emotional well-being.
I love iced tea ! It’s good to know that certain teas have a rehydrating effect as well as the antioxidants. Thanks for the great info.
Rich Van Iderstine
Detroit, MI
Rich- I’m glad you enjoy drinking iced tea (as does 85% of the rest of the U.S. population), but I would encourage you to venture forth into the wonderful realm of premium loose leaf HOT tea. There really is no comparison. The taste profiles between hot and iced tea are like the difference between drinking a great pinot noir or syrah at proper room temperature or drinking it iced (oh, and don’t forget to add the sugar or high fructose corn syrup). Move up to the “exceptional” tea experience.