From soothing stress to providing minerals,did you know that iced tea provides more than just a refreshing boost?
After water, tea is the most frequently consumed beverage in the world. Tea goes hand in hand with images of Asia, the United Kingdom, India and Russia. But how about here in the US? It might not seem like we have a booming tea culture, but the fact is that on any given day, more than half of the American population drinks tea and 85 percent of that tea is served on the rocks!
While heavily sweetened, iced tea can’t really be considered a healthy option while unsweetened iced tea is a super salubrious quaff. Regardless of the temperature it is served at, tea is full of good things. There has been much research done, and compelling conclusions that tea can reduce the risk of heart disease, and possibly even help prevent a number of others. In warmer weather, having your tea iced is a great way to reap the benefits all year.
Whether black, green, white or oolong – all of which come from the same plant, just processed differently – have great benefits for the body. Below are a few of them with the caveat that you aren’t drinking tea drenched in sugar but you are drinking MANGIA’s iced tea.:-)
1. Keeps you hydrated
The Harvard School of Public Health lists tea as one of the best sources of hydration, second only to water.
2. Boosts your antioxidants
Everything is all about the antioxidants that fight cell-damaging free radicals in the body. According to scientific research, tea has about 8 to 10 times the polyphenol antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables.
3. Offers a superior swap for sugary soda
A 12-ounce can of regular Coke contains 39 grams of total sugar, which is about 9 1/2 teaspoons of sugar and 140 calories. Twelve ounces of unsweetened iced tea has 0 teaspoons of sugar and 2 calories.
4. May help your teeth
Some research has shown that drinking tea may help prevent tooth loss; tea changes the pH in your mouth, which may prevent cavities. At the very least, it appears not to harm tooth enamel like some beverages do.
5. Could fight cancer
The Tea Association of the USA explains that more than 3,000 published research studies exist that value the role tea and tea compounds, such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), may play in cancers of various sites. The effects apply to a number of different cancers and are linked to varying degrees of significant success.
6. Provides a surprise source of manganese
OK so maybe you don’t go around wondering how you can get more manganese in your diet, but hey, it can’t hurt. An 8-ounce glass of brewed black iced tea provides 520 micrograms of manganese, which is 35 percent of the recommended daily intake for women and 23 percent for men. According to SF Gate, manganese promotes healthy wound healing, helps maintain the strength of your bones and supports your metabolism.
7. Chills the nerves
A British study found that people who drank tea were able to de-stress more quickly than those who didn’t. As well, during the study the tea drinkers – who drank black tea four times a day for six weeks – had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood after a stressful event, compared with a control group who drank a placebo.
8. Helps your heart
“There’s a lot of literature out there on tea and heart health,” says Anna Ardine, clinical nutrition manager at Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “This is a health effect for which there is the strongest evidence.”
In fact, a comprehensive review study found a nearly 20 percent reduction in the risk of heart attack and a 35 percent reduced risk of stroke among those who drank one to three cups of green tea daily. “Those who drank four or more cups of green tea daily had a 32 percent reduction in the risk of having a heart attack and lower levels of LDL cholesterol.”
Mangia’s iced tea is made by brewing tea traditionally and then adding ice or allowing it to cool. You can ask for any type of true tea – or herb tea. You can toss in citrus, fruits, herbs or spices when you steep it for additional flavor. Go crazy! Mix things up, how about us adding lemon, mint and ginger to your black tea? Peaches and lime to your white tea? Or raspberries and orange slices that would go beautifully with your Earl Gray? Have fun … and reap the many benefits along the way!
Love. Always. Mangia.
