It’s summer and the temperatures are soaring! In the heat, you often want to drink something well chilled and non-alcoholic. That’s why iced tea is one of the favorite summer drinks around the world. According to statistics, tea is the most consumed drink in the world after water. More than half of the population drinks tea every day. In Germany things are a bit different. According to the latest 2019-2021 survey, hot tea comes after coffee and beer, with iced tea even further down the table. But that changes in the summer, doesn’t it? For this reason we want to give you interesting information about the health benefits of the tea drink and give you a recipe for iced tea on the way to the hot summer days. Stay tuned to learn more about the summer drink of choice for millions!
Do you like drinking ice tea in the summer?
Why is drinking tea or iced tea good for your health?
But not all tea is created equal! You can drink the aromatic drink hot or cold, it could be black, green, white or herbal tea, with its taste and aroma varying greatly. It is important, however, that tea has many advantages for body and soul from a health point of view.
Whether you’re a long-time tea drinker or looking to break your coffee addiction, we believe the following information about the significant health benefits of drinking tea will further motivate you to reach for a hot or iced tea on those summer days.
This is a refreshing drink that also puts you in a good mood!
Drinking tea or iced tea supports heart health
For years, research has shown that drinking tea or iced tea is linked to improved cardiovascular health: it has been linked to a reduced risk of high blood pressure, stroke and hardening of the arteries. Other studies have shown that tea can help maintain healthy blood flow and circulation by improving blood vessel function. Drinking tea or iced tea controls blood clotting and also improves cholesterol levels.
In the hot months you have to drink a lot.
The ice tea is the ideal drink in the heat, which also brings health benefits for body and soul.
There are many antioxidants in tea and iced tea
There are thousands of published studies on the antioxidants in tea. An example of this is the much-vaunted epigallocatechin gallate (commonly referred to as EGCG), found in tea as polyphenols. This plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of various types of cancer. A recent study found that women who drank two or more cups of green or black tea a day had a 46 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer compared to non-tea drinkers. Research also shows that tea helps reduce free radical damage, inhibit uncontrolled cell growth and boost our immune system. In addition, drinking tea or iced tea can reduce the risk of dementia. For example, according to extensive research conducted in Japan, consuming green tea can help prevent dementia in later life.
Did you already know that tea is also good for dementia?
Drinking tea makes us awake and alert
And not just because it’s caffeinated! Recent studies have linked two compounds in tea, L-theanine and caffeine, to cognitive health benefits. In particular, the amino acid L-theanine has been shown to directly affect areas of the brain that control attention and the ability to solve complex problems. Drinking tea is also likely to improve your mental clarity, mood, and work performance.
Maybe you need a fresh kick?
Can the tea or iced tea also protect the skin?
Drinking green tea is proven to be healthy because the drink contains many polyphenols. These antioxidants can protect our skin from UV rays. In addition to this important benefit, drinking tea leads to improved skin elasticity. According to a 12-week research study in which randomly selected women drank green tea daily, their skin looked better and fresher. Skin elasticity has been increased, roughness and flaking have been combated. This is partly because tea increases our blood flow and oxygenation to our skin.
Daily consumption of tea or iced tea can also improve the appearance of your skin.
Can you lose weight by drinking tea or iced tea? ?
Finally, you may be surprised, but tea consumption can shed some extra pounds. Especially if you watch out for the sugar content in the drink! In fact, studies have shown that tea drinkers tend to have a lower waist circumference and BMI. Early research suggests that both the polyphenols in black tea and those in green tea can affect the gut microbiome. Therefore, drinking tea also promotes weight loss and can bring back your desired bikini figure!
Iced tea without sugar quickly sheds excess kilos!
How can you make your own iced tea without sugar?
A homemade sugar-free iced tea is a real refreshment kick! It is undoubtedly one of the most popular summer drinks because it quenches thirst, improves mood and is much healthier than the ready-made version from the supermarket. The ready-made drinks contain a lot of sugar and are therefore considered unhealthy. Alternatively, you can sweeten the homemade iced tea with honey or agave syrup instead of sugar. Pure fruit juice can also ensure the pleasant sweetness in your iced tea. We bring you a super easy recipe that can be made in minutes.
Do you know how to prepare a healthy and refreshing summer drink yourself?
A foolproof recipe for sugar-free iced tea
- Bring a liter of fresh, cold, preferably filtered water to a boil in a teapot.
- Then remove from heat and add 8 tea bags. Traditionally, about 8 to 10 bags of black or green tea are used for a high-dose iced tea. However, you can also use a different variety or prefer a herbal tea, depending on your preference.
- After boiling, let the tea cool down. He does not have to draw long, 5 minutes maximum. The goal is for the drink to cool as quickly as possible. You can do this with ice cubes. Also add a dash of sparkling mineral water.
Iced tea with strawberries – quick preparation, excellent taste!
- Only sweeten the tea after it has cooled well, because before that it has not developed its right taste.
- Then you can add ice cubes, pieces of fruit and a squeeze of lemon juice depending on your mood. Here you have a lot of freedom to prepare a summer drink according to your own taste. The most popular variants are with peaches, strawberries, raspberries, apple mint tea and ginger tea!
You can experiment a lot with the preparation and decoration!
Choose the drink according to your personal taste!
The recipe for iced tea with peaches is the classic!
Something cool to drink!
Have a great summer and drink an iced tea every day!
Source:
Realsimple.com
