If you are among those who drink 3 or more cups of tea a day, you should know that this water intake is as good as water and may be even better.

In fact, current research proves that not only does tea rehydrate as well as water, but it can also protect you from many heart and circulatory problems, and is even an excellent prevention for cancers. Some researchers say that drinking one to eight cups of tea a day would greatly reduce the risk of chronic disease.

The natural antioxidants such as flavonoids and polyphenols contained in tea are extremely beneficial. Their main active component, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), acts in a beneficial way on all metabolic functions. All the antioxidants in teas fight free radicals, these highly reactive molecules that seize all the electrons they encounter. Oxidative damage to cell membranes and even DNA prevents cells from performing their roles properly and this is an open door to disease. Flavonoids and polyphenols lower cholesterol, triglyceride levels and blood pressure and relieve pain and inflammation.

Unprocessed green tea alone contains most of the EGCG of all tea varieties

Let's recall the preventive properties that are attributed to it, reduced risk of heart disease and cancer, improvement of the insulin response and regulation of blood sugar levels, reduction of pain and inflammation (rheumatic joints), reduction of the risk of dementia and glaucoma and improvement of digestion.

The recommended teas are green, black or tulsi, a drink made of Indian herbs. Tulsi is also exceptionally rich in antioxidants, it has the advantage of not being industrially processed and its hundreds of phytochemicals have adaptogenic and immunostimulant effects, which in addition to the properties mentioned above promote recovery after exercise, maintenance of good bones and joint integrity.

The conventional media, no doubt under pressure once again, claimed that tea could be a source of fluoride and that this chemical presented a health risk. A very simple way to avoid this substance is to ensure the quality of the tea you buy, which should normally carry the warning "free of fluoride".

Another indicator of quality is the color of the tea, it should be green rather than brown. The color would be the result of an already oxidized tea that does not have the same qualities.

Regarding the caffeine in your tea, you can be reassured that green tea contains about half as much caffeine as coffee, but black tea contains slightly more. However, the caffeine in green contains a protein called theanine which counteracts the known side effects of caffeine such as blood pressure, headaches and increased fatigue. With the exception of pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding, everyone can usefully drink tea to soothe and prevent illness.

If you absolutely must avoid caffeine, opt for tulsi, which does not contain it

As for the quantity of tea that one must drink to benefit from its protective virtues, it would be three cups daily. Depending on the quality of your tea, each cup will provide you with approximately 20-35 mg of EGCG.

Even if the base of the daily water intake must remain pure water of high quality, the fact of adding a quality organic tea really makes it possible to act in a beneficial way on health, but for that it is necessary not to add anything in your cup, neither milk, nor sugar whatever it is. Whether it's green tea or tulsi tea, in hot weather or otherwise, don't hesitate to hydrate yourself with these delicious and protective beverages that are just as pleasant hot as cold.