A cup of clear tea can wash away the fatigue of a whole day and fill you with energy; tea can also protect your heart and prevent cancer. The greatest benefit of drinking tea is that it can reduce the risk of heart disease and also prevent cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Indeed, tea is a magical drink. There are many types of tea, such as black tea, green tea, white tea, or oolong tea, all of which have magical effects. In fact, these teas all come from the same type of tea tree, and it is the different degrees of fermentation during the processing that create so many types of tea. Green tea leaves are completely unfermented; that is, fresh leaves are first spread out to wither and then directly stir-fried in a hot wok at a temperature of one to two hundred degrees to maintain their green color. Black tea, on the contrary, is a fully fermented tea (with a fermentation degree of over 80%). The name of black tea comes from its red infusion. White tea is basically made by sun-drying. White tea has a very good appearance, aroma, and taste. Oolong tea is a semi-fermented tea that falls between black and green tea. All teas are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, which can prevent the activation of diseased cells in the body. The polyphenols in tea are 8 to 10 times more abundant than in fruits and vegetables.
Through experiments on humans, animals, and in petri dishes, researchers have found that the benefits of tea to the human body are far more than you can imagine. They also found that people who have the habit of drinking tea—two or more cups a day—have a much lower chance of developing heart disease and stroke, and their blood cholesterol is also lower. Even if they have heart disease, they recover faster. There is also evidence that tea can fight uterine and breast cancer.
Drinking tea can also help people reduce stress and relax. A British study found that people who drink black tea can cope with and release stress better than people who drink other beverages. People who drink tea regularly also have lower levels of cortisol and stress hormones in their bodies.
Catechins in tea are a type of disease-fighting flavonoid and antioxidant, which is why tea is good for your health. Here's a small tip: the longer you steep your tea, the more flavonoids it will contain.
To get the maximum benefit from drinking tea, researchers recommend drinking three cups of tea a day to reduce the risk of heart disease. Many people like to drink iced tea, but it contains fewer flavonoids. Even so, some is better than none; as long as it's tea, it will be beneficial to your health. If you can drink tea, don't drink soft drinks.
How to Make Sun Tea
Take a large, transparent glass that allows sunlight to pass through. Never use a plastic cup, as the high water temperature will give the tea a plastic taste.
Choose black tea: 1 tea bag can brew 1 cup of tea.
Find a spot in your yard or balcony for the pitcher. Let it fully absorb sunlight for at least three hours. After the tea has "soaked up the sun," you can remove the tea bags and enjoy. If it's a hot summer day, adding ice cubes will make it taste even better.