National time for a cuppa day!

06 Feb 2012 02:55 PM

Time for a cuppa day – Tea and nutrition

Tea is one of our nation’s favourite drinks. On average British people drink approximately 3 cups of tea a day with about 70% of the UK population drinking tea on a regular basis.

Below are interesting facts about tea that you may not have been aware of:

• Tea contains half the amount of caffeine found in coffee
• Tea was created more than 5000 years ago in China
• Tea breaks are a tradition that have been with us for approx. 200 years
• Tea is a natural source of Fluoride that can help protect against tooth decay and gum disease
• The recommended amount of tea to drink per day for optimal benefits is 4 cups
• Tea has potential health benefits In cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention
• 80% of workers now claim they find out more about what’s going on at work over a cup of tea than in any other way.

Nutritional facts about tea

Drinking 4 cups of tea a day can provide you with:

• Approx. 17% of the recommended intake for calcium
• 5% of zinc
• 22% for Vitamin B2
• 5% for Folic acid
• 5% for vitamins B1 and B6.

Tea and hydration 

According to ‘The Tea Council’s Healthy Drinks survey’, a third of all adults in the UK are not meeting their daily fluid requirements.  Humans can only survive a few days without fluid as it is vital for many bodily functions such as Transportation for essential nutrients and oxygen and the regulation of body temperature.

By drinking on average three cups of tea a day, a positive contribution is being made to the body’s hydration status, by helping to promote health and well-being. Approximately 40% of the nation’s fluid intake will come from tea; as a cup of tea is 99.5% water, (About 70% of the UK population drink tea on a regular basis).

 A cup of tea and weight loss

New research suggests that one or two cups of green tea can help to lose inches around the waste!

The study stated ‘people that exercise moderately and consumed nutrients called catechins, found in green tea, were more likely to lose abdominal fat while exercising than those who didn’t take them’.

So for those of you that love a good cup of tea can continue to do so!