Almost on a weekly basis, we read a new study from a highly-accredited institute describing how a certain tea has a particular health benefit and why it is good to consume it. We realize that all this information can be overwhelming and hard to remember.  So we’ve compiled a list of all these health benefits of tea that have been documented over the years, broken down into the tea components that provide the health benefits.

Catechins

• Lowers blood triglyceride, blood cholesterol
• Prevents arteriosclerosis
• Reduces incidence of cancer
• Reduces oxidation by active oxygen
• Strengthens blood vessel wall, regulates their permeability
• Inhibits increase of blood sugar
• Inhibits increase of blood pressure
• Reduces tumors
• Reduces mutations
• Helps in the treatment of radiation sickness
• Prevents dental caries by keeping of the causative bacteria (Streptococcus, Bacillus lacteous)
• Kills influenza virus
• Beneficial in the treatment of dysentery
• Prevents halitosis

Caffeine

• Stimulates wakefulness, CNS stimulant
• Gives relief from fatigue, neuralgia and headaches
• Acts as diuretic

Flavonoids

• Strengthens blood vessel and blood capillary walls
• Reduces oxidation by active oxygen
• Acts as anti-inflammatory agent
• Increases the level or catecholamines
• Stimulates folic acid biosynthesis
• Normalizes thyroid hyperfunction

Fluoride

• Prevents dental caries

Quercetin

• Acts as Spasmolytic
• Helps in the treatment of acute diarrhoea

Vitamin B Complex (Riboflavin, Biotin,Niacin Pantothenate, Inositol)

• Aids carbohydrate and fat metabolism
• Helps in inter- and intracellular Ca++ transport
• Helps in moisturization of the skin

Vitamin E

• Acts as antioxidant and regulates aging

Salicylates

• Acts as an analgesic
• Acts as an antipyretic
• Polysaccharides
• Lowers blood sugar

Methylxanthine

• Acts as diuretic

Theaflavin, Thearubigin

• Antagonizes the activity of bradykinin
• Inhibits arginine and ornithine decarboxylase

Theophylline

• Modulates immune response
• Helps in the treatment of asthma
• Salutary effects on cardiac function

Essential Amino Acids (Leucine,Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine)

• Helps in metabolism
• Maintains nitrogen equilibrium

Theanine

• Gives tea its delicious taste
• Helps in ammonia and urea metabolism
• Helps in water clearance by renal tissues

Linolenic acid

• Reduces platelet aggregation

Tea pigments

• Decreases plasma fibrinogen

Linalool, Geraniol, Hexenal

• Gives tea its fresh, green aroma

Seleno-cysteine

• Supports normal thyroid function (helps in the conversion of T4 to physiologically effective T3.)

GABA

•  Lowers blood pressure

For more information on the health benefits of tea, even very specific green tea health benefits, be sure to check out our other useful tea articles on this website.