What a great reason to drink up! One of the biggest catalysts of weight loss is switching out sugary drinks for naturally calorie-free ones. What better way to enjoy complex flavors and health benefits than by reaching for an unsweetened iced tea instead of a coke?
An added bonus: green tea is an appetite suppressant. Talk about a double weight loss whammy. Because of the affects of polyphenols on the brain, as shown above, drinking tea is also a wonderful way to improve your memory. Green and black teas, specifically, inhibit certain enzymes that break down chemical messengers in your mind; this can lead to better recall.
While beverages like coffee and caffeinated soda pops can negatively affect your bone density, tea drinkers rejoice! Scientific studies have shown that drinking tea — especially green tea — can actually increase your bone density, making it a great way to prevent osteoporosis.
Iced green tea is a fresh, calorie-free option for the summer time. It also has many additional benefits when compared with iced black tea. Drinking black tea like the kind used in most unsweetened iced teas on the market can help to regulate your blood sugar. Particularly important for those with type 2 diabetes, black tea mimics common diabetes drugs by inhibiting an enzyme that converts starch to glucose. Stick to black tea here, as the blood sugar benefits are much higher than in green or oolong teas.
Yes, we all know we should drink more water. But we also know we should eat less sugar, sleep eight hours a night, and stay off social media. The massive amounts of antioxidants found in iced tea can also prevent cancer. Because of their effect on free radicals, they protect your cells from DNA damage. Another byproduct of those awesome antioxidants is the prevention of heart disease.
Drinking iced green tea can lower LDL cholesterol the bad boys as well as minimize the presence of triglycerides, a type of fat found in your blood. From manganese that keeps your brain and nervous systems running properly to Vitamin C that keeps sickness at bay, tea provides a treasure trove of vitamins and minerals.
Other teas also contain theanine , an amino acid that stimulates the same part of the brain used during meditation. Whether we get mindful with mint or relax with rose, having herbal tea over ice can help us keep our cool at work and at home. Luckily, unsweetened iced tea is a great source of hydration. One of the few natural sources of fluoride, tea also provides increased dental health.
In addition to building stronger teeth, both green and black tea compounds attack harmful bacteria in the mouth. This can prevent cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, and even bad breath. Drinking iced black or green tea without tooth-destroying sweeteners, of course will definitely make your mouth happy. Prevent summer sickness by stimulating your immune system , another benefit of iced tea.
All tea is good for the overall stabilization of the blood sugar due to the flavonoids and phyto-chemicals that are present. However, new studies are showing that hot tea may not due quite as a good of a job as iced tea at accomplishing this.
Those who suffer from diabetes or other blood sugar conditions may find that consuming too much hot food may cause insulin levels in the blood to break down, which could result in the body overcompensating by spiking blood sugar product, increasing blood sugar. While it is not certain as of yet, as more studies are needed, this does give an extra reason to enjoy iced tea during not only the summer months, but all year round. Now, one of the key points to think about with iced tea is that you are making a healthy decision by switching off of your favorite sweetened beverage.
However, If you choose to pour as much or more sugar into the glass then you will find in soda, then you are not receiving the health benefits of the tea. There are people that think that iced tea is bitter due to the tannic acid build up that may result from icing, which explains why people may choose to add sugar or other sweeteners.
However, there are ways to temper this effect to ensure that your healthy selection stays a healthy alternative. Making the tea and icing it immediately before serving it will allow the flavor of the tea to come out without allowing the tannic acids to make the tea bitter. Not only does this improve the taste, but it maintains the quality of the brewed tea.
If you really cannot acquire a taste for iced tea without an added sweetener, then you should be sure to use something natural and healthy. The best option for this is to use a raw honey; raw honey dissolves well in cold water and does make a very good sweetener for iced teas. Avoid processed sugars and syrups, as these are not much better than the sodas and other sweetened beverages that you are trying to give up! People love sugary drinks, but in terms of nutritional value, these beverages really fizzle out.
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