Drinking tea is the perfect way to warm you up this winter
As the winter nights draw in and the thermals come out it’s tempting to turn to a mug of steaming tea or coffee to keep cozy, but is your hot drink of choice really good for your health?
Tetley Redbush Consultant Nutritionist, Jane Griffin looks at the pros and cons of our favourite winter warmers:
Hot Chocolate: The ultimate comfort drink which can have a positive affect on your mood due to the phenylethylamine present in chocolate, but did you know the average cup contains 112 calories? That would take 30 minutes to walk off.
Green Tea: On the plus side, green tea can help curve your appetite and kill the bacteria that cause dental plaque, but its high caffeine content can cause dehydration and insomnia.
Coffee: For many of us, coffee is the favorite way to jump start the day as its high caffeine content promotes alertness. But does the energy boost that caffeine provides really outweigh the negative side affects - difficulty sleeping, dehydration, dependence, stained teeth? And did you know that a large latte contains almost one third of the daily recommended fat intake for a woman?
Camomile Tea: Camomile tea has a calming effect which can be both a pro and a con – it’s great before bed and can promote a relaxing night’s sleep but is best avoided during the day if you need to stay alert and on the go.
Regular Tea: Contains antioxidants which can help to maintain a healthy lifestyle and is said to protect the body from the effects of pollution. However, regular tea contains caffeine and has a high tannin content which can stain your teeth.
Fruit Tea: Fruit teas can be a great alternative to regular tea, with light, fresh flavours and some containing vitamin C like Hibiscus tea, but they can taste almost ‘too healthy’ and don’t provide that comforting winter warmer feeling.
Tetley Redbush: Naturally caffeine free and as hydrating as water, Tetley Redbush contains zinc, which can help to boost your complexion, and is low in tannin so won’t stain your teeth. What’s more, Redbush contains antioxidants which can help to fight free radicals and research suggests that it can also promote a healthy heart. The versatility of Tetley Redbush means it can be enjoyed with milk, or without if you want to avoid the added calories. Redbush is completely caffeine free so it is the perfect drink to enjoy later in the day. But Tetley Redbush may not be able to help if you can’t function without your morning caffeine fix.
Jane Griffin says: “While a steaming cup of tea or coffee can help to make you feel warmer, it is actually the caffeine it contains that increases blood flow to the skin. As a result you may feel temporarily warm, but your body is actually losing heat in the same way that it does when you drink alcohol. Instead, I would recommend sticking to decaffeinated or herbal hot drinks this winter, such as Tetley Redbush, to help you stay warm and, most importantly, healthy.”
Tagged in Health Super Food