Tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Different cultures drink it differently: some add milk or sugar, others prefer to drink it plain. However, there is one important aspect that remains the same across all cultures - tea should be drunk hot. In this article we will look at the reasons why this is so important.
In the century before last, Americans introduced the fashion for ice tea. The Southern States is hot and humid most of the year, making drinking hot tea a bit of a hassle. However, it is not because of the cool weather that the British drink hot tea with milk.
In addition to traditions, there are also scientific reasons for drinking tea hot. In particular, hot tea is healthier than cold tea due to its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are substances that protect the body from free radicals, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, strengthen bones, support the immune system and reduce the risk of some types of cancer. However, when preparing iced tea, the flavonoids found in tea leaves and responsible for its antioxidant properties are destroyed.
Additionally, drinking hot tea may help reduce the risk of a heart attack, as scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health Studies found that people who drank one or more cups of black hot tea per day reduced their risk of heart attack by 44%. Hot tea can also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which in turn reduces the risk of diabetes.
In addition, hot green tea prevents the occurrence of osteoporosis. Antioxidants maintain a stable level of mineral density in bone tissue, and osteoporosis appears just when deformation occurs in the bones and the protective shield develops “holes.”
It's also worth noting that hot green tea may increase resistance to cancer, especially colon and skin cancer. Research has shown that green tea at its hottest can help fight leukemia in the early stages by reducing the number of cancer cells.
Additionally, drinking hot tea can improve your mood. Our taste buds perceive hot tea better, send these signals to the brain, and the latter interprets them as an aromatic, pleasant and sweet taste, which improves our mood, just like eating sweets.
Some people may be afraid of burning their tongue when trying to drink boiling water with healing tea. However, you should not risk your health and it is better to dilute the cup with the right amount of water so that you can drink the tea faster. Maybe it won’t bring the same pleasure from the process itself, but it will bring health benefits.
In conclusion, drinking hot tea is not only traditional but also healthy. Hot tea is rich in antioxidants, which protect the body from various diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and some types of cancer. So if you want to reap all these benefits, make sure to drink your tea hot.