January 12 is National Hot Tea Day. In fact, January as a whole is National Tea Month, which makes sense, given how miserably cold the entire Northern Hemisphere gets this time of year.
Of course, tea isn’t just good because it’s warm. It’s also packed with amazing health benefits.
It’s believed that people started drinking tea in the Yunnan Province of China as early as the Shang Dynasty (1500 BC–1046 BC). Back then, it was treated mainly as a medicinal beverage. And though it’s enjoyed more for its flavour today, it still boasts all of the healing benefits it did all those centuries ago.
Here are some of the amazing health benefits of hot tea — just a few of the reasons you should brewing pots of the stuff during National Hot Tea Month and beyond.
Tea contains antioxidants
As Today.com puts it, antioxidants help fight off the human version of rust. As luck would have it, tea is full of antioxidants, which will keep you feeling young and healthy.
Tea might reduce your risk of heart problems
“There’s a lot of literature out there on tea and heart health,” Anna Ardine, clinical nutrition manager at Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, told Today.com. “This is a [tea] health effect for which there is the strongest evidence.”
Tea can give your immune system a boost
According to a number of studies, several kinds of tea — particularly tulsi tea— may give your immune system a nice boost and help your body fight off various bugs and maladies like the flu.
Herbal tea aids in digestion
According to LiveStrong, “both green tea and many herbal teas may help improve your digestion and limit any adverse digestive effects, such as gas and upset stomach.” So next time you’re suffering after a big meal, try a cup of tea instead of a bottle of Pepto Bismol.
Black tea can help protect your lungs
According to WebMD, “studies have shown that black tea may protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke.” The research on this benefit is admittedly a little scarce, but it certainly can’t hurt.
Tea is calorie free
How many drinks, other than water, can you drink without consuming any calories whatsoever? Not many, but tea is one of them. Provided you don’t add milk, cream, sugar, honey or anything else to your cup, you won’t be adding any extra calories to your diet. It’s the perfect calorie-free alternative to water.
