Benefits to Drinking Iced Tea
Iced tea and herbal blends provide the same benefits as your warm cuppa; a sipping sensation of polyphenols, catechins, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals concentrations and caffeine in tea blends.
Improves immune system, bone health, decreases chronic, heart, diabetes disease.
Chronic Disease
The powerful flavonoids are directly linked to the prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases. Flavonoids act as antioxidants, they can seek out and neutralize free radicals that cause oxidative stress and tissue inflammation.
Immune System
The antioxidants and nutrients found in tea are known to stimulate the function of the immune system, defending against pathogens and infections. Iced tea fortified with ascorbic acid (vitamin C), further increases immune system strength.
Bone Health
Significant levels of manganese and fluoride in green and black iced teas help protect bone mineral density and prevent the onset of osteoporosis.
Heart Disease
Flavonoids present in iced tea are excellent antioxidants, preventing a number of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, by reducing the tissue inflammation in the arteries and blood vessels of the heart.
Diabetes Concerns
Unsweetened iced tea can actually help to regulate blood sugar levels, increasing the body’s insulin resistance.
Weight Loss Efforts
Iced tea is low in calories and unsweetened, which can help you in your weight loss efforts, [2] Iced tea can also help you feel full and refreshed, without adding to your daily calorie count.
Side Effects of Iced Tea
Iced tea does come with a few potential side effects, including irritability, headaches, kidney stones and possible diabetic complications. Most of these side effects are caused by drinking too much iced tea or adding sugar to the beverage. Unsweetened iced tea is highly recommended if you want to enjoy all the health benefits, and avoid some of these side effects.
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Caffeine – While caffeine provides an energetic boost and is one of the main reasons why people drink beverages like tea or coffee, it can have negative side effects when consumed at high levels, including caffeine withdrawal, trouble sleeping, irritability, stomach upset, headaches, acid reflux and inability to focus. [6] Drinking a moderate amount of this tea should help you avoid most of these issues.
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Kidney Concerns – Research has pointed to tea as a contributing factor to kidney stone development when drunk in large quantities. Tea contains compounds known as oxalates, which become oxalic acid in the body and can contribute to kidney stones and gallstones. If you have kidney stones of a history of that condition, consider speaking to your doctor before making this tea a regular part of your diet.
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Diabetes – If you are drinking unsweetened iced tea, then you can actually help to regulate blood sugar levels, which is a good thing for diabetic patients. [7] However, if you are adding sugar to every glass or pitcher of tea, you may be putting yourself at more risk of developing diabetes or exacerbating the symptoms, due to such a concentrated intake of sugar.