Green, White, or Black: Which Tea is Most Beneficial?
By Stepy Kamei
Very little can stand in the way between an American and their morning cup of coffee. If you can relate, you may be unaware of the benefits that can come along with drinking tea on a regular basis. Since I grew up drinking tea practically every day, I definitely have a bit of a bias in that I always recommend tea over coffee. After all, with a cup of tea, you can still get a nice boost of caffeine without the jitters coffee can bring. I'm a fan of green tea, but there are many varieties of this popular drink, including black and white teas. As if the taste and soothing qualities of tea weren't enough reason to drink it, it's important to realize that most teas can provide you with a whole host of health benefits, making them a much more ideal drink than more common substitutes such as soda, juice, or even ... yes, coffee.
Green Tea
Green tea is one of the most popular teas in the sense that nutritionists highly recommend it. While pretty much most teas have a good amount of antioxidants, green tea is absolutely brimming with them as a result of their being minimally processed. This is great news for the appearance and overall health of your skin and blood cells. The catechins found in green tea have also been shown to improve dental hygiene by eliminating bad bacteria from the mouth, which can in turn improve heart health as well.
White Tea
These teas are a little less commonly known in Western society, but no less good for you. For starters, white teas, which are sometimes known as oolong teas, are loaded with Vitamin E, which is great for improving skin elasticity and radiance; in fact, you've probably used a face cream before that lists white tea as an ingredient for this very reason. These tea types can also work to reduce levels of the bad cholesterol in your bloodstream, which can help with everything from regulating blood pressure to encouraging weight loss.
Black Tea
This is probably the most popular type of tea Americans drink, and for great reason. It serves as a great substitute for coffee when you need a boost of caffeine but can't handle the jitters or anxiety that coffee can cause. Black tea has a more subtle effect, as it releases caffeine more slowly into the bloodstream, which also allows you to stay energized longer. Black tea also contains bone-strengthening compounds and, of course, plenty of antioxidants.