Stay Healthy with Freshly Brewed Tea!

Are you a tea drinker?  I mean real, freshly brewed tea.  Well, if you are I am sure you have heard that tea can offer many nutritional benefits.  If you are not, give it a try.  Whether it is a hot, relaxing cup of hot tea or a cold refreshing glass of iced tea, this beverage can certainly do you good.

For starters, I am sure you have all heard that staying hydrated is vital.  Today, soda and high sugar drinks like fruit juice and powdered iced tea or lemonade mixes is the norm. These drinks will not keep you hydrated or healthy.  So make a small dietary change TODAY.  Switch over from these unhealthy beverages to a more natural, low calorie option.  Freshly brewed tea is calorie free and is the perfect treat for avoiding dehydration. As an added bonus, when tea is used to replace higher calorie beverages, it can help with weight control.  Recommendations vary as to how much fluid is recommended each day (some say 74 fluid ounces (about 9 cups) for women and 101 fluid ounces (about 12 ½ cups) of liquid each day for men.  Keeping your body hydrated is important for both your physical and mental health.  It aids in attentiveness, concentration and speed, which we all need for academic, work or sports performance.  If you are experiencing fatigue, a lack of concentration, headaches, muscle cramps and dry eyes you may be in the beginning stages of dehydration and should drink fluids, like tea or water immediately!

Tea is a great source of antioxidants and flavonoids.  These dietary compounds have been shown to improve health by fighting free radical damage and avoiding chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and stroke.  Tea is the leading source of flavonoids in the diet. Flavonoids in black and green tea help to maintain healthy blood vessel function.  To reap these benefits, it is recommended to drink at least 2 to 3 cups of black or green tea daily.  

Freshly Brewed Hot Tea:

The winter months are the perfect time to sneak in this hot beverage.   There are many different types of tea including Black tea, Green tea, White tea, Oolong tea (has a flavor between black and green tea), Japanese tea, herbal teas such as Chamomile, Cinnamon, and Ginseng tea, and specialty teas include Jasmine, Earl grey, Gourmet, Chai and Fruit tea.   The taste and quality of the different types of tea is determined by the way the tea was processed.  Some tea leaves are fermented while others are sun dried.  Natural ingredients that you can add to liven up your tea include: fresh lemon, peaches, oranges, raspberries, mint leaves, and mango.

Freshly Brewed Iced Tea:

If you prefer iced tea even in the cold months, try a glass of freshly brewed iced tea instead of cracking open that bottle found in the convenience store fridge. 

To make a refreshing glass of homemade iced tea, boil desired amount of water. Use 2 tea bags per cup of boiling water. When the water is boiled, pour boiled water over tea bags and let the tea steep for about 15 minutes.  Remove tea bags and pour the tea into a glass pitcher (that can hold hot liquids).  Cover and refrigerate until chilled.  Pour the chilled tea into a cup of ice and enjoy!

This winter explore the huge selection of teas available and let me know which type of tea is your favorite!

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