Tea is the second most commonly drunk drink in the world besides water. Which of the many varieties of tea gives the drinker the greatest health benefits?

The Benefits of Tea

Frequent studies have proven the anti-carcinogenic properties of the antioxidant polyphenols found in tea. Other research has suggested that these polyphenols can actually lessen the risk of developing gastric and skin cancers. Another well documented study shows us consuming only 2 cups of tea per day reduces the risk of women developing ovarian cancer by as much as 46%. These polyphenols have also been proven to assist the body\'s natural anti blood clotting processes. A Japanese study revealed that regular consumption of green tea will actually lower death rate from heart diseases.

Why Black, Green, Oolong or White Tea?

White, green, black and oolong teas are all produced from an evergreen called Camellia sinensis. The leaves of this tree are rich in polyphenols. The more they are processed, the darker they become. Of all the teas, green and white are the least processed. These are simply steamed. According to the director of nutrition health, white tea is produced from the leaves in earliest spring. The leaves of the Camellia plant do not contain any chlorophyll which is why they are white. The darker teas are semidry crushed and then fermented. Regardless of each processing method they all contain polyphenols.

What are Herbal Teas and Red Rooibos Teas?

Herbal tea is unique in that it is not derived from Camellia plant leaves. It simply doesn\'t have the same benefits. The majority of herbal tea isn\'t real tea at all. They\'re made from flowers, spices, roots and parts of other plants. These are more commonly known as tisanes.

Popular South African Rooibos tea fits together with the herbal tea category. Dr. Balentine said they do not contain the same flavonoid compounds found in real tea and as such do not provide the same health benefits. His precise words were \"no scientific evidence is yet to prove the benefits of drinking rooibos tea\".

Despite the fact it doesn\'t contain any polyphenols it does provide us with other health benefits for example relaxation and calming effects.

Caffeine content

According to the United States Dietetic Association, a single cup of tea consists of around 40mg of caffeine. Which, I\'m sure you\'ll agree, is low when compared to the 85 mg you\'ll find in a fresh mug of coffee.

Is Decaf Tea Beneficial?

We aren\'t aware of the presence of polyphenol in a decaf cup of tea. It isn\'t yet known whether removing the caffeine from tea affects the polyphenols contained within it.

One of the important things to take from this is that tea is an amazing beverage that bestows many health benefits on regular drinkers. Be sure to brew your leaves or teabag for at 3 to 5 minutes to ensure the polyphenols are suitable dispersed into your mug.

Be wary of green tea in bottles such as Enviga that state they assist weight loss. There hasn\'t been any scientific proof to suggest the truth in the statements on these products.