While it is true that coffee is the most popular beverage in the United States, tea is number one worldwide. Like mentioned by the Epoch Times newspaper:

"Around the world, tea is the most common beverage after water. Its popularity increased in the 1800s because the boiling water needed to prepare it killed waterborne pathogens such as cholera and typhoid and thus made it safer to drink.

Regardless of variety, black and green teas (as well as oolong and white teas) come from the same plant, a shrub called Camellia sinensis. It's the processing and degree of oxidation that creates the different types of tea. While black tea is highly oxidized, green tea is almost not. This minimal oxidation can help retain maximum antioxidants, although all types of tea have beneficial effects.

Source of antioxidants

The tea is rich in natural compounds called polyphenols that can make up to 30 percent of the dry weight of green tea leaves. In the group of polyphenols, there are various flavonoids, including catechins. One of the most potent catechins is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has a positive impact on a number of diseases. While green tea is rich in catechins, black tea is a source of tannins which also have antioxidant properties.

Promoting brain health

In a 2015 study presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases, those who drank green tea one to six times a week had fewer mental problems than those who did not.

Green tea also contains theanine, an amino acid that crosses the blood-brain barrier and has psychotropic properties. Theanine increases levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin, dopamine and alpha wave activity, can reduce mental and physical stress and bring a sense of relaxation. Theanine may also help prevent age-related memory decline and acts on areas of the brain involved in attention and complex problem solving.

Stimulate weight loss

Long-term consumption of green tea has been proven to be beneficial for fat burning. A meta-analysis has shown that a mixture of catechin and caffeine lowers fat levels more than a placebo or caffeine alone. People consuming catechin-rich green tea also lost almost 1kg300 more than those who don't and are much more likely to maintain that loss.

Drinking coffee or tea before meals can also help with weight loss, as it increases your water intake. Drinking 500 ml of water 30 minutes before a meal reduces the feeling of hunger and allows you to eat less.

Reduce the risk of diabetes

Drinking tea may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. One study found that people who drank several cups of green tea a week had a 33 percent lower risk of developing this diabetes than those who consumed lesss one cup per week. A meta-analysis also found that drinking three (or more) cups of tea per day is associated with a lower risk of developing the condition.

Improve heart health

Green tea improves both blood circulation and the ability of arteries to soften. Research suggests that a few cups of green tea each day may help prevent heart disease. One study also shows that EGCG may be useful in preventing arteriosclerosis, cerebral thrombosis, heart attack and stroke - in part because of its ability to soften arteries and improve blood flow. In addition, according to the Epoch Times.:

"A Cochrane review collected 11 randomized controlled trials spread over at least three months that aimed to prevent heart disease in healthy adults or people at high risk. The results showed that both green and black tea significantly reduced blood pressure, black tea lowered LDL, and green tea lowered overall cholesterol levels."

Make your tea even healthier

To stimulate the benefits of green teaAdd a dash of lemon juice to your cup. Previous research has shown that vitamin C significantly increases the amount of catechin your body can absorb. While the addition of lemon is beneficial, milk is not. This is because the proteins in milk can bind to the antioxidants and neutralize them, reducing the benefits of the drink.

Note that tea is known to be very effective at absorbing lead from the soil, which is then found in the plant's leaves. Plants imported from countries with excessive industrial pollution, such as China (where nearly 90 percent of the world's green tea is produced), may therefore contain significant amounts of lead. Green and black teas are also naturally rich in fluoride, even if they are organically grown without pesticides. This is due to the fact that plants absorb fluoride from the soil. Be careful, therefore, in choosing your tea. It should preferably be organic to avoid pesticides, and grown in an unpolluted environment, because, as mentioned above, tea is known to accumulate fluoride, heavy metals and other toxins in the soil. A healthy environment is essential for the production of pure, high quality tea.