Health & Wellness for Athletes: Tea Drinking
In the early 90s, Americans bought little under $2 billion dollars of tea. By 2015, that number had surged to over $10 billion per year. While tea drinking has certainly become more popular, many people still have a bit of a stereotype towards it. For many people, the word ‘tea’ brings up images of old ladies and the ever-courteous people from England. Tea doesn’t always bring to mind powerful, healthy, and well-hydrated star athletes.
Why Tea is good for You
So why is that? As an athlete, you’ve probably heard someone say tea is great for you. But beyond this general consensus, you may actually not know that tea has so many performance-enhancing advantages that make it especially advantageous to athletes. Yes, drinking tea can make you play better.
Hydration
Dehydration impedes body function and creates performance difficulties like cramps and general body fatigue. In other words, if you are not hydrated, you’ll likely end up on the reserve bench (and paradoxically become the team’s water boy). But staying hydrated isn’t always easy. Drinking water can be challenging for young athletes, since they already have a thirst for a more flavored, easy to drink alternative. A 2011 analysis discovered that tea had similar hydrating properties as water.
Infection Prevention
Catechins which are a highly effective antioxidant abundant in many types of teas (especially Yellow Tea), have been shown to aid in preventing cancer, osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. Tea consumption has also been linked to improved dental health, lower cholesterol, and enhanced immune system function. The total health and disease prevention advantages linked to tea consumption are actually too many to list. If more athletes could swap out a sports drink and sodas to get some yellow tea from time to time, who knows the number of health benefits they’d find. It might help prevent cancer, improve cardiovascular health, prevent diabetes, and help them manage their weight better, give them more energy and focus, and improve their oral health.
The Yellow Tea Variant
So you are alike the rest of us and chances are, you have heard of Green tea and its many health benefits, but have you heard about Yellow Tea?
Yellow tea is an awesome tea variant that makes for a hearty drink with numerous benefits for your health, including anti-aging and disease prevention.
Yellow tea is typically produced in China (The Chinese call it huángchá). It is reputed as the rarest, and one of the healthiest tea variants available today. Yellow tea has a unique taste and aroma that sets it apart from other types of tea. You can enjoy this Asian delight at any time of the day, both at home and at your workplace.
Where does it come from?
Yellow tea is derived from the Camellia Sinensis plant. This tree is exclusively found in eastern Asia and parts of India. It is said that the method of preparation is a closely guarded secret in Asia, although it is produced in a similar way as green tea.
Who can take Yellow tea?
Yellow tea can be enjoyed as a delicious drink by anyone. Athletes who crave for sweetened drinks can also take a cold bottle of sweetened yellow tea after a game. The taste is special! The sweetness or bitterness of yellow tea depends on the temperature of the water used to brew it.
What are the health benefits of this variant?
- Anti-aging benefits: Research has proven that yellow tea contains antioxidants and nutrients that can slow down the body’s aging process and promote young, healthy-looking skin. Yellow tea promotes adequate blood circulation that boosts the production of skin collagen to keep the skin supple and firm, preventing wrinkles.
Amazing weight-loss properties: Do you want to shed a few pounds to fit into that lovely new dress? Try yellow tea! Many studies have shown that people who drink yellow tea frequently have a higher metabolism rate than average people, and this helps to avoid excessive weight gain and prevent obesity.
- Prevents Cancer: Taking Yellow tea frequently might help to prevent build-up of carcinogenic substances in the body and suppress or prevent the growth and spread of cancer. A 2002 study of ‘’Cancer causes and Control’’ studying about 34,000 women over a period of 12 years showed that people whose diets were rich in catechins (present in Yellow tea) had significantly less rectal cancer than those with catechin-lacking diets.
- Benefits for your Liver: The liver is a vital organ that helps to detoxify out internal body system by screening harmful substances out of our blood. Yellow tea has been studied extensively for the treatment and prevention of liver-related diseases like hepatitis and cancer due to its polyphenol catechin content.
- Drinking Yellow tea helps prevent Diabetes: Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin needed to break down the molecules of glucose in the body (Type 1 diabetes), or when the body is producing enough insulin, but unable to utilize it (Type 2 diabetes). It is a potentially fatal medical condition if left untreated or maintained. The most common type of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes.
A 2006 study by a team of Japanese scientists proved that people who consumed a good quantity of Yellow tea (6 cups daily) were 33% less likely to develop the condition than those who didn’t.
- Excellent for treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disorder: This is a type of disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract. It is the body’s natural response to introduction of harmful virus or bacteria to attack the foreign organisms and in the process, cause damage to the digestive tract. Age may cause it, although it can also be hereditary. Yellow tea can be used to treat this condition as it contains enough polyphenol with anti-inflammatory properties. Yellow tea is good for your bowels!
- Effective treatment of Atherosclerosis: Plagued by joint pains? Consider using Yellow tea to relieve symptoms and treat the disease over time. Research has shown that continued usage of Yellow tea can be beneficial for those people that suffer from atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease because of its polyphenol content.
- Helps lower Bad Cholesterol levels: Yellow tea has the ability of reduce the level of LDL (Bad Cholesterol) in the body and thus help to lengthen life spans of those who consume it regularly. Try Yellow tea today to keep your cholesterol level under check!
Last words
Studies have found that alternatives like sports drinks and sodas hydrate the body very quickly, but you need to consider what is in those alternatives – definitely a whole lot of sugar, additives, and caffeine! After reading about all these amazing health benefits of drinking Yellow tea, maybe you’re now willing to try it. Go ahead, for your health’s sake!
9INE POINT Health was created by 9INE POINT in '19 as a means to provide athlete-driven resources to "Protect Athletes' Minds, Body and Belly". As well as be a platform for healthcare providers and other specialists to display their knowledge.
