Welcome to Did you Know, a bite-sized new column where we aim to make wellness more digestible. Today, we’re spilling the tea on one of the healthiest bevvies to sip on: tea. Specifically, why and how drinking it can help us live longer.
WHAT: Drinking tea every day can increase both your life span and your health span (how much of your life you spend feeling healthy). While most of the research predominantly focuses on green tea drinkers, this recent study suggests that people who drink black tea also get in on the benefits.
Quick note: while herbal tea also has plenty of health benefits, this story focuses on teas made from the camellia sinensis plant, like black tea, green tea (including matcha), white tea, and oolong.
WHY: Tea is full of protective compounds, including:
Catechins
These powerful antioxidants protect our bodies from free radicals and oxidative stress, helping to reduce inflammation and prevent disease. EGCG is the most potent and researched catechin, and it is the most abundant in green teas, matcha included.
L-theanine
Tea is the only food source of this amino acid. It has been shown to help reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) and to help improve memory, attention, and focus. Research suggests that it also may have neuroprotective properties—meaning it may help protect our cognitive ability as we age.