We’ve been vigorously cleaning all products we consume since the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe, but have you ever considered that the bulk of tea is taken from the plant and dried without ever being washed, thus the first time the tea leaves are washed is in your cup? Even if you are not at risk of consuming a virus this way, the mixture of pesticides found on tea leaves may easily find their way into your body, and with the majority of the globe consuming at least one cup of tea every day, the accumulation of pesticides in our bodies can be rather worrying. It’s possible that this increased awareness has prompted an increase in the number of people who choose organic tea.
What Exactly Is Organic Tea?
Tea has been consumed for thousands of years, long before it was required to produce organically. It was before the environment was harmed by the development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The earliest tea was made from wild tea trees rather than cultivated tea plants. As a result, all tea was organic at first. In reality, in China, some ancient tea bushes can still be found growing wild. After a few hundred years, they still have a lot to offer, and they’re as close to organic production as you can get. They will never be classified as organic, though.
Organic tea is defined as tea grown in accordance with organic standards established by the USDA in the United States, IFOAM in Europe, or other organizations in their respective nations. Organic farming is founded on four principles:
- It must protect and improve the earth’s, animals’, plants’, and humans’ health.
- It should be based on real-world ecological systems.
- Should protect the health and well-being of current and future generations, as well as the environment.
Pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals must be free of pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals for three years prior to certification. In organic products, no artificial nanoparticles or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are permitted.
It is advantageous to consume practically all organic items. As a result, consumers have established a substantial demand for organic tea, and thus the organic tea market is likely to expand significantly in the future years, according to Reports and Data. Here are some more reasons why you should drink organic tea.
Organic Tea Hydration
The ‘eight glass’ norm of daily hydration is certainly familiar to you. Eight glasses of water per day are required for hydration and weight loss. It is difficult to stay hydrated if you are unable to consume a large amount of water. Coffee, soda, milk drinks, and fruit juice, for example, are not considered hydrating beverages. Organic tea, on the other hand, can help you stay hydrated. In addition to relieving your thirst, the drink will supply H2O to your organs.
Some individuals believe that because tea includes caffeine, it has a negative effect on hydration. In 2011, however, researchers conducted an experiment with 21 males. The study’s findings were released by Cambridge University Press. According to the study, black tea has the same moisturizing characteristics as water. To put it another way, there isn’t much of a difference between drinking water and drinking tea. If drinking too much water is difficult for you, try switching to organic tea to stay hydrated.
Tea drinkers should also be cautious about overdoing it. People with caffeine sensitivity should avoid extensively relying on tea for hydration because it contains caffeine. They can also opt for lemon, citrus, or herbal teas instead of black tea.
Increase of Antioxidants
Our bodies contain free radicals or chemicals that cause cellular damage or oxidative stress. These issues lead to premature aging, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and cancer. Antioxidants in organic tea help to combat these harmful chemicals.
The type of tea, on the other hand, is quite important. Black tea, for example, does not have a high antioxidant content. The explanation for this is that green leaves go through a fermentation process that causes them to turn copper/golden in hue. As the leaves dry and oxidize throughout the fermentation process, antioxidants are lost.
As a result, it is preferable to alternate black tea with green tea, which contains more antioxidants. Rose tea is even more delicious than green tea. Rose tea’s polyphenol concentration efficiently combats the impacts of toxic chemicals.
Polyphenols fight cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, among other things. A 2006 study on twelve rose cultivars confirmed the superiority of rose tea over green tea in terms of antioxidant content. Researchers concluded that using dried rose petals to make a caffeine-free, antioxidant-rich drink is beneficial.
Immunity Enhancement
Organic tea provides vitamins that aid in the development of a strong immune system. Vitamin H, often known as biotin, is one of them, and it assists metabolism. It also encourages hair growth and skin regeneration. Another component is vitamin D, which is good for your bones and teeth. This vitamin also aids in the treatment of depression and ailments like the flu.
In 2003, the National Academy of Sciences published a study that confirmed tea’s anti-infective properties. Tea gives your body the strength it needs to fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi. A group of human volunteers was used to offer evidence for a laboratory experiment.
Some of the individuals who took part in the study drank tea on a regular basis, while others drank coffee. Researchers obtained blood samples and injected bacteria into them toward the end of the period to see how they reacted. As a result, tea consumers’ blood cells were five times faster at fighting bacteria than coffee drinkers.
Relaxing Effects
Theanine is another component of organic tea. It relieves stress and relaxes the body. It’s an amino acid that quickly dissolves in water. When we are anxious, our bodies react by raising our heart rate and blood pressure to counteract the unpleasant sensation. Though it is the body’s natural response to stressful events, it can also contribute to cardiovascular problems.
Theanine, on the other hand, decreases the neurological system’s stress reaction. In a 2007 study, the relaxing effect of Theanine was also demonstrated. The study included a total of twelve persons. According to the researchers, those who took Theanine before a stress stimulator had a lower heart rate than those who got a placebo.
Rose tea is also high in theanine, making it an ideal drink for those looking to relax their bodies and have a better night’s sleep. In 2016, researchers conducted another study that found rose tea to have a calming effect.
Alternatively, if you are a coffee drinker who is experiencing negative impacts on your nervous system, you should switch to tea instead of coffee. Chicory root tea, which tastes like coffee but has stress-relieving properties, is recommended by nutritionists.
Keeping Blood Sugar in Check
For a variety of reasons, both organic green and black tea can help to reduce the risk of diabetes. Tea, as a prebiotic, helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Tea, in particular, is beneficial to people who have blood sugar difficulties because it delays the release of sugar. Furthermore, several types of tea, such as Cinnamon or Sage, help to regulate blood sugar levels.
Cinnamon tea, can help people lose weight by suppressing appetite. Sage tea, on the other hand, is essential for fasting blood sugar levels. Tea reduces the risk of diabetes by decreasing appetite and delaying the release of sugar from carbohydrates.
Bottom Line
While tea leaves provide our bodies with numerous vital vitamins and chemicals, they must be taken correctly in order to be effective. Tea’s health advantages are reduced when pesticides and fertilizers are used.
In addition, depending on the type of tea, the preparation differs. White, green, and black teas, as well as herbal teas like chamomile, mint, and rose, all have different requirements, such as timing and water temperature. The advantages of tea drinking can be harmed by selecting non-organic tea selections or incorrectly preparing them.
