After water, tea is the most popular drink and also one of the healthiest. Its medicinal properties have been documented since the 3rd century, and its health and well-being benefits are well known.
This is due to polyphenols, or flavonoids, chemical compounds with antioxidant properties that make the tea the healthiest after water.
Several animal studies suggest potential tea health benefits due to its high content of polyphenols, although research with humans has been less conclusive. Among the benefits that have been proven is the relationship between tea consumption and a reduced risk of premature death, heart disease, strokes, and type 2 diabetes.
Differences between green and red tea
Black tea is the most popular in the world, but other varieties have gained popularity and followers, such as green tea and red tea. These two modes have become especially popular among people who want to eat a healthy diet or lose weight.
Green tea, or matcha, is a type of tea produced from Camellia sinensis that has not undergone oxidation during processing, unlike black tea. For its part, red tea, also called pu-erh tea, follows a much longer fermentation process, which gives it its reddish color and a characteristic earthy flavor. Both variety and the other stand out for the great presence of polyphenols, which bring them healthy properties.
Several scientific studies have shown that these chemical compounds act as antioxidants, so they allow us to control cholesterol or alter cell membrane traffic.
Tea to lose weight
Green tea is generally considered to be richer in polyphenols than red tea. Green tea is also considered to have a greater effect on metabolism thanks to its catechins. It is a type of oxidant that, combined with caffeine, would help us accelerate metabolism and therefore burn fat.
However, the reality is that the presence of these chemical components does not specifically influence weight loss. Research so far on the effects of green tea and fat reduction has not yielded conclusive results. The authors of a study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism warned that, although green tea improved oxidation of induced fats after a 30-minute walk, the metabolic effects of matcha should not be overstated.
Another study published in the Cochrane Review revealed that green tea appears to induce a small weight loss, although it cannot be considered significant in overweight or obese adults.
In the case of red tea, it is considered to help lower cholesterol and better digest foods because it also helps to better metabolize fat, although again, no study has yielded conclusive results.