Although a few years ago tea had a hard time competing with coffee in Spain, today more and more people are switching to tea, or at least enjoying the qualities and flavor of both. But besides tasting good, tea has preventive and curative powers with some ailments and diseases. This is because of its components.

Beneficial properties
Tea is brewed with leaves of Camellia sinens, a plant originally from the Far East and southeast Asia. It first quality, or at least characteristic, is that it serves as a stimulant, just like coffee, although it is not as strong and lasts longer. This property stems from the presence of theine, a substance that makes tea a good antidote against fatigue. So it is good in the morning or after a meal because it wakes you up and makes you more active. But those who have a touchy stomach or slow digestive systems should be aware that it can affect this process by altering the secretion of gastric juices. For these people it is better to drink tea long before or after meals.

Another advantage of tea is that it is diuretic. It contains methylxanthines, which help eliminate liquids and thus keep the body clean and without bothersome retention. Retention of liquids can cause swelling, which although it is not directly related to excess weight, increases the feeling of being overweight. And tea is also good for fighting this problem because it contains zero calories. So at times when you want to have a snack, tea is a perfect substitute. It calms that craving for food. In these cases it is best to drink it slowly and in small sips to enhance the sensation of being full. Obviously, tea is not calorie-free if you drink it with sugar. But it increases the number of calories the body burns and keeps fats from being completely assimilated by the stomach.�

But tea is also reach in flavonoids, components that regulate levels of cholesterol and prevent formation of thrombus, meaning better health for the circulatory system and the heart. Flavonoids are also involved in absorption and metabolism of vitamin C, and share with it a very important virtue: they are anti-oxidants, which means they help neutralize free radicals and prevent cell aging. Tea also contains polyphenols, specifically catechins, which act in the same way as flavonoids. It is important to understand that aging and cell deterioration is not just related to wrinkles on the face, but also mutations that can give rise to tumors. Thus we can say that tea has anti-carcinogenic qualities.

There is yet another chapter in the benefits of tea: it benefits the respiratory system. It helps the bronchi dilate and work better.

Kinds of tea
There are many varities of tea. Perhaps the best known are red and green. The latter are is made without letting the tea leaves ferment, while red tea is a mix of green tea and black or fermented tea. They all have similar health benefits. Black tea is especially rich in fluorine, a mineral that is also present in other kinds of tea although in lower concentrations, and which helps prevent dental cavities.

A good cup of tea - one that tastes good and is done properly - is prepared with water that is hot but not boiling. Let the tea brew for at least five minutes so that all the beneficial substances it contains seep into the water. As with almost all food and beverages, the key is moderation. You can drink tea regularly but without overdoing it and as part of a balanced diet.