Your Health & Tea.

Tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world. People drink it in the morning to wake up, before bed to wind down, or during the afternoon for a pick me up. But is tea really all that good for you? Are there any negative effects of drinking it, especially if you're sipping - it daily? (Spoiler alert: there may be. Especially if you are making your tea incorrectly. Next week we look at the most common mistakes tea drinkers make when making tea).

We talked with registered dietitian Amanda Sevilla, RDN, about drinking tea on a daily basis. She believes that drinking tea regularly is perfectly OK and that it actually has many useful benefits for our overall health.

"The oldest and longest-living populations in the world drink tea on a daily basis," Sevilla points out. "The Okinawans in Okinawa, Japan, drink green tea or matcha every single day".

You'll get more phytonutrients.

Tea is packed with nutrients that you don't get in many other beverages, especially coffee.

"Teas contain a variety of phytochemicals and phytonutrients since they are coming from different types of plants," says Sevilla. According to the National Library of Medicine, phytonutrients are common plant nutrients that produce certain biological activity and support human health in many different ways. Some ways that the phytonutrients found in teas can benefit our health is through antioxidants, fighting certain allergies, lowering the risk of some cancers, and supporting the anti-aging process.

You can regulate your metabolism.

There are certain teas that help you regulate your metabolism if it's been off balance for various reasons. A study published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences states that green tea specifically has a positive effect on regulating metabolism, which is also directly correlated with controlling glucose levels and weight management. The study found this to be true for diabetes patients as well.

Sevilla says that if you're wanting to drink tea for the purpose of rebalancing your metabolism, try drinking black, green, or oolong tea.

You can lower inflammation.

Tea is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. According to a study from the International Journal of Molecular Science, there is a hefty amount of research that can prove the positive anti-inflammatory benefits to drinking tea on a regular basis. This study in particular looks at green tea and black tea. What researchers discovered is that the properties found in green and black tea can have an enormous impact on lowering inflammation in red blood cells. They even found that people with lupus who consumed green tea on a daily basis for 12 weeks, reported less inflammation in their bodies.

You may need to use the bathroom more.

There are certain types of teas that actually cause you to urinate more frequently. Sevilla explains that dandelion tea, green tea, barley tea, and hibiscus tea all have natural diuretic properties. Diuretics are the nutrients that cause our body to get rid of salt and water in the form of urine. Tea with diuretic properties is often recommended for people with kidney issues, diabetes, or certain heart problems. Because of the strength of diuretics, Sevilla suggests avoiding these teas after 4 pm, unless you want to spend your night going to the bathroom!

It can help with weight control.

There has been plenty of research on the positive effects of daily green tea consumption on weight control. According to the International Journal of Molecular Science, a 12-week study on the daily consumption of green tea in women showed a significant decrease in weight and fat around the stomach area. The reason behind this is largely due to the increased energy levels people have reported with green tea, as well as metabolism control and help with lipid production.

Are there negative side effects of drinking tea regularly?

According to Sevilla, there are no obvious harmful effects of drinking tea regularly. (Well, as long as you're not drinking sugar laden iced teas three times a day!). She recommends no more than three cups a day, though. Sevilla says it's best to avoid drinking tea too late in the day. With drinking tea, it's important to keep an eye on your caffeine levels. Notably, all of Tea Now’s teas are caffeine free!

Sevilla also mentions that it's important to watch your hydration levels. She says that "tea can be a really great way for people who don't like to drink a lot of water to get some hydration, although, "if someone is using this as a way to get more hydration, use a tea that is not caffeinated or a diuretic."

Ready for your cup of Tea Now? No pun intended…..

Kerri Imrie has a Diploma in Business Management and is the founder of Tea Now.

Kerri is passionate about holistic health. Her goal is to empower people to take control of their health and show that the quality of our lives is directly linked to how we treat our bodies and minds. You can follow her @teanow.au

Kerri is not a qualified health practitioner. Always consult a health professional before deciding if a health product is right for you.