Have you got time for a cuppa?

Tea is the world's most popular nonalcoholic drink. Research is discovering that tea has health benefits as well as being soothing and warm. Tea contains hundreds of compounds - flavonoids (powerful antioxidant properties), catechins (a subclass of flavonoids) responsible for flavour and numerous health benefits. There are many types of tea, all dependent on how the leaves are processed. White, black, green, oolong. The highest level of catechins are found in green tea and the amount of polyphenols (antioxidants) help to slow down the process of oxidative damage to your body. Some of the health benefits are:

• promotion of weight loss

• helps to prevent stroke

• fights diabetes

• looks after heart health

• inhibits cancer

• fights infection

Some health risks include:

• the tannins in tea can disrupt iron absorption when sipped with an iron-rich meal

• tea has a diuretic effect and this can upset the body's fluid and chemical balance by washing potassium from the body

• Insomnia can develop as tea leaves contain twice as much caffeine as coffee beans, but when measured, tea has only half as much caffeine as coffee as it is consumed weaker than coffee

Tips... use cooled brewed black tea in place of wine in poultry braises, poach prunes and dried apricots in red rooibos tea, for best flavour and most nutrients buy whole tea leaves, look for unbleached natural fibre tea bags, store in an airtight container in a cool spot for up to a year.

I absolutely love my cup of tea xxx

Source: Foods that Harm, Foods that Heal