Do you get the jitters from drinking too much coffee? Switch to tea, as tea contains less caffeine. Additionally, studies conducted within the past decade show that some teas are beneficial to your overall health, including fighting cancers, warding off or recovering from heart problems, building bones and increasing metabolism.

The following list of 25 reasons why you should drink more tea is divided into categories. The links contained within each category are alphabetized to show our readers that we do not favor one reason to drink tea over another. A warning, though – try to avoid using sugar or sweeteners in your tea, as these additives may alter any progress toward your better health.

Cancer

1. Breast Cancer: After studying 3454 women with breast cancer and 3474 healthy controls between ages 20 and 74, scientists discovered that a modest reduction in breast cancer was observed for regular green tea drinkers.
2. Esophageal Cancer: Although a study in China showed that green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer by nearly sixty percent, be aware that very hot tea may cause the very same cancer. Drink your tea tepid or warm. This is the world’s most common type of esophageal cancer.
3. Liver Cancer: Green tea consumption has varying results on cancers, according to Dr. Katja Boehm of the Unconventional and Complementary Methods in Oncology Study Group in Nuremberg, Germany. According to one study, it appeared that green tea could prevent liver cancer.
4. Ovarian Cancer: A Swedish study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in December 2005, showed that, on average, each additional cup of tea consumed by women ages 40 to 76 for more than fifteen years was associated with an eighteen percent decrease in the risk for ovarian cancer development.
5. Prostate Cancer: Men with prostate cancer who consumed the active compounds in green tea demonstrated a significant reduction in serum markers predictive of prostate cancer progression, according to results of a study published in Cancer Prevention Research , a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
6. Reduce Existing Cancers: A study conducted by Rutgers University showed that tea may actually halt cancer growth when used in combination with certain chemotherapeutic agents. Tea contains EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), a powerful anti-oxidant that helps build healthy tissues.
7. Stomach Cancer: A study conducted in China on people who had stomach cancer showed that green tea may disrupt gastric carcinogenesis at both the intermediate and late stages.

Heart Disease

8. Blood Pressure: According to research presented at the meeting of the American Heart Association, an ingredient in herbal tea may lower blood pressure. In a study of 65 people who were pre-hypertensive or mildly hypertensive, those who drank three eight-ounce cups of tea containing hibiscus each day saw their systolic blood pressure drop by 7.2 mm Hg, compared to 1.3 mm Hg among those who took a placebo.
9. Blood Vessel Health: A study suggests that black tea reverses endothelial vasomotor dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease, which reduces the risk for heart attack and stroke in these patients. The study was published in the 10 July 2001 issue of Circulation.
10. Cholesterol: Drinking tea can lower low-density lipprotein, or the LDL “bad” cholesterol. The study was conducted by research chemist Joseph T. Judd with the agency’s Diet and Human Performance Laboratory, one of seven laboratories at ARS’ Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center on a small group of volunteers.
11. Heart Attack Risk: The authors of a meta-analysis conducted in 2002, based on ten prospective cohort studies and seven case-control studies, concluded that an increase in daily tea consumption of three cups decreased the risk of heart attack by eleven percent.
12. Recovery: In addition to blood vessel health, a study has shown that EGCG found in tea can reduce cell death following a heart attack or stroke. Cell death following these traumatic events leads to tissue death and organ failure, protecting the heart and brain. Tea also hastens the recovery of these cells.

Teeth and Bones

13. Halitosis: Teas that help to fight cavities and gum disease (see below) also help to keep your breath fresher. Even though tea contains disease-fighting anti-oxidants, it can still stain your teeth. After each cup, be sure to rinse.
14. Inhibits Growth of Periodontal Pathogens: In a Japanese study, green tea was shown as a modest factor in the prevention of periodontal disease.
15. Osteoporosis: Women, drink tea with a bit of milk and you may protect yourself against osteoporosis. The study, conducted in England, showed that older women who drank tea had higher bone mineral density measurements than those who did not drink tea. However, it has been shown that milk may counteract any benefits to vascular function offered by tea.
16. Prevent Tooth Loss: Drink unsweetened green and black tea rather than soft drinks or orange juice to reduce the long-term risk of tooth erosion. While long-term tea usage also may decrease the pH at tooth surfaces, it is much better for your health than sodas.
17. Promote Bone Creation: Researchers discovered that some ingredients in tea may inhibit bone resorption and boost metabolic creation of bone. This study would be complimentary to the previous study that showed decrease in bone loss. But, it is not the amount of tea you drink that is important – it’s the length of time you drink tea.
18. Reduce Cavities: Green and black tea help to fight cavities, reduce plaque build-up and help control bacteria. Participants in the study rinsed with tea for 30 seconds, five times, waiting three minutes between each rinse.

Other Health Benefits

19. Immune System Boost: A component in tea was found in laboratory experiments to prime the immune system to attack invading bacteria, viruses and fungi, according to a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences released in 2003. A second experiment, using human volunteers, showed that immune system blood cells from tea drinkers responded five times faster to germs than did the blood cells of coffee drinkers.
20. Inrease Metabolism: Oolong tea has been shown to increase metabolic rates and fat oxidation in men. The tea was prepared by adding equal amounts of brewed tea and distilled deionized water.
21. Reduce Dementia Risk: According to a recent study, people who enjoy two to three cups of black tea daily are half as likely to have early signs of the dementia as those who rarely drink it. Tea may also be able to prevent the build-up of dangerous brain deposits called plaques that are found in Alzheimer’s disease.
22. Reduce Stomach Fat: Although there were no differences in body fat mass between tea drinkers and non-tea drinkers in this study, it was shown that the catechin contained in tea did reduce the subcutaneous abdominal far area in the tea-drinking group. This study was done among people who used exercise as a means to loose weight.
23. Skin Care: Tea extracts were shown to work as an effective treatment for patients who suffered from damaged skin following radiation treatment for cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties of tea act at the cellular level to reduce inflammation. Green tea extracts proved more beneficial than black tea extracts in some patients. This method may also work for acne or other skin inflammations, but check with your doctor first.
24. Stop Bleeding: If you’ve had a tooth extraction lately, your dentist may have suggested using a moistened tea bag to stop the bleeding. Tea contains tannic acid, which can aid in blood clot formation. Try using a poultice of black tea bags on a minor cut or wound as well to stop the bleeding.
25. Ward Off Arthritis: Green tea contains anti-inflammatory properties that may help those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The inflammatory chemicals that the green tea component has been shown to block are some of the same chemicals blocked by cutting-edge biologic drugs taken for some several autoimmune diseases.

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