If an estimate is taken, tea can considered to be one of the most consumed beverages in the world. It is very famous around the world.
Tea was first discovered in China and then went on to spread in different parts of the world, where it became pretty popular.
We can find tea lovers all around us. Most of us just look out for excuses to increase our cups of tea.
But is drinking too much of tea good for the human health?
This article will guide you about how many cups of tea can you drink per day in order to avoid all the health risks.
Herbal Tea & Green Tea
Out of all, herbal and green tea are usually the most consumed ones. Let’s have a look at what herbal and green teas actually are?
Green Tea
It is the product of the unfermented leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Due to the high concentration of polyphenols, it is found to be effective in killing the free radicals and protects the body from any damage.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, consuming 2-3 cups of green tea on a daily basis can give you antioxidant benefits of the polyphenols.
Since, green tea contains natural caffeine, most people prefer to drink decaffeinated green tea.
In order to drink 6 to 8 cups of green tea, you may drink the decaffeinated green tea rather than the caffeinated one. However, the polyphenol content in decaffeinated green tea is lesser compared to that of the caffeinated green tea.
Traditionally, it used for treating gas, regulating the blood sugar level, improving the mental function and also for good digestion in Chinese medications. Green tea is also effective for treating high cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis.
Herbal Tea
This kind of tea is made from a mixture of herbs. Unlike green tea, herbal teas are caffeine free.
The most commonly used herbal tea is chamomile tea which is generally made up of flower blossoms. It is known for relieving stress and problems related to stomach. It can also cure certain infections.
Peppermint tea is also known for the same calming purposes. Ginger tea is yet another herbal tea which is known for curing symptoms of cold and flu.
How much tea is better?
Tea lovers often find themselves in the fuss about the number of cup of teas they can have per day.
Well, it should be clarified it is the amount of tea leaves that affects the health and not the cups of tea.
Rather than the quantity of cups, the amount of tealeaves is more important. It is so because the salutary substance quantity in tea like polyphenols and L-Theanine, is related to the quality of tealeaves.
However, based on the social and chemical level, it is often found that you can drink 4-6 cups of tea per day.
Nevertheless, the number of cups can vary from person to person due to the tolerance of human body towards the chemicals present in tea. It is also dependent upon the caffeine and fluoride intake of the body.
People who have low tolerance towards fluorides, should drink tea of loose tealeaves and not that of mixes and teabags.
Since green tea contains caffeine, drinking 2-3 cups of it can provide all the necessary antioxidants to the body. Being free of caffeine, you can efficiently drink 4-6 cups of herbal tea on a daily basis.
Research Studies
As per a journal published by University of Maryland Medical Centre, you should drink four cups of tea on a daily basis. It will provide the body with all the necessary compounds that promote the health. It further recommends that more than 4 cups of tea, can be harmful for your health.
Another study published in Harvard Medical School showed that tea has an effect in reducing the risks related to heart diseases. Various kinds of tea, especially green tea is also useful in curing cancer and many problems related to health.
A review conducted in 2013 about the several studies, showed that green tea has helped a lot in preventing or slowing down the risk of diseases. It is also used for treating cancer. It also regulates the high blood pressure and also lowers down the risk of heart failure.
The review further added that drinking tea also helps in preventing the plaque formation which is often linked to Alzheimer.
Yet another study has showed that drinking about 3 cups of tea per day can reduce the risk of developing any heart disease by 4.6%. As per a report of POPSUGAR, two to three cups of tea on a daily basis is usually recommended by Dr Zuo Feng Zhang, a cancer epidemiology researcher at UCLA.
Is Cecaffeinated Tea better than Caffeinated Tea?
We are often confused between what is better, decaffeinated tea or caffeinated tea?
People who are sensitive to caffeine are said to opt for decaffeinated tea, as it does not cause any damage to their health.
Don’t worry, the decaffeination process would not have any effect on removing the antioxidant from tea. A normal healthy person should stick for the regular tea and drink two to three cups.
How many caffeine consumption is fine?
400mg of caffeine is considered to be the normal limit for consumption on a per day basis. Both, coffee and tea contain caffeine.
A normal cup of tea contains 50mg of caffeine, hence for that, three to four cups of tea are recommended for a daily basis. Similarly due to the presence of 100mg caffeine in one cup of coffee, you should not drink more than 4 cups of coffee.
Which has more caffeine- Tea or coffee?
One cup of tea contains about 50mg of caffeine, whereas one regular cup of coffee contains about 100 mg of caffeine and filter coffee contains about 150 mg of caffeine.
Hence, it is pretty clear that coffee definitely contains more caffeine as compared tea.
Benefits of drinking tea:
Drinking tea has been linked to the following benefits:
- Drinking tea can lead to reduced weight and also prevents the fat gain.
- Tea also promotes the good cholesterol level in the body hence promoting heart health.
- It is also effective for reducing the risk of fatty liver which is related to obesity.
Disadvantages of drinking tea
Despite all the benefits, there are certain disadvantages too:
- Excess tea intake can lead to weight gain.
- It may cause the feeling of insomnia and drowsiness.
- Too much of tea intake can also lead to stomach disorders.
Be careful of your calorie intake:
You should be very careful about the calories while drinking tea since milk and sugar is also added.
One ounce serving of low fat milk contains about 13 calories. Also, 78-104 calories is added because of drinking 6 to 8 cups of tea.
As per a report published in Nutrition research in 2010, the antioxidant content of black tea is reduced due to addition of milk.
As per research of American Heart Association, on a daily basis, you consume about 6 to 9 teaspoons of sugar if you drink 6-8 cups of tea daily, as one cup contains 1 teaspoon sugar. Due to high sugar content, one may suffer from obesity due to weight gain.
Final Thoughts
Tea may have some side effects, but it has to be admitted that tea is one of the most loved beverages around the world.
The needs of tea may vary from person to person but a normal healthy person is often recommended 4 to 6 cups of tea.
Therefore, you already know how many cups of tea you should drink per day. Drinking tea is very beneficial, make sure to include it in your diet and enjoy the health benefits.