Tea

18.3 What's in green/black tea to make it a healthy drink? Tea is mostly water Drinking tea can help us to obtain an adequate intake of fluid. Drinking sufficient fluids protects against constipation and bladder infections. Tea contains small amounts of folate, thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B6. A deficiency in both folate and vitamin B6 can result in an increase in a substance known an homocysteine. A high concentration of homocysteine in the blood can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart and blood vessel disease). Tea is a good source of fluoride, manganese and potassium. Fluoride may play an important role in the health of bones and teeth. Manganese may protect against osteoporosis, diabetes, epilepsy and atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries). Potassium seems to protect against high blood pressure. Tea is a rich source of flavonoids (a group of phytochemicals that function as antioxidants). These phytochemicals may protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease. Skin cancer studies have shown that mice exposed to UV light develop fewer sunburn cells if they drink black tea. Two large studies have shown that as the consumption of flavonoids increases the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke decreases.

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