5 Reasons to Drink More Tea

How much tea do you drink? Along with coffee, tea consistently ranks as one of the world's most popular beverages. Millions of people throughout the world drink it on a regular basis. While most people drink tea for its delicious flavor, there are other reasons to include it in your diet. Below are five important reasons to drink more tea.

#1) Suppresses Inflammation

Tea contains flavonoids that suppress inflammation in the body. Why does this matter? Well, inflammation has been linked to a range of chronic diseases, including arthritis, diabetes and even cancer. It manifests as swelling in the body, thereby paving the way for these and other chronic diseases. You can fight inflammation naturally and effectively, however, by drinking more tea.

#2) Fights Free Radicals

In addition to suppressing inflammation, the flavonoids in tea have antioxidant properties. They seek out and attack harmful compounds in your body known as free radicals. It's believed that free radicals promote aging, so if you want to maintain a youthful appearance, you should drink more tea.

#3) Improves Blood Pressure

People who drink tea on a regular basis are less likely to suffer from hypertension than their counterparts who rarely or never drink tea. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says approximately one in three U.S. adults suffers from hypertension. Also known as high blood pressure, it's a serious medical condition that can take years off your life. You can improve your blood pressure, however, by drinking more tea.

#4) Lower Risk of Heart Disease

You might be surprised to learn that drinking tea on a regular basis can lower your risk of heart disease. Over 600,000 U.S. adults die from heart disease each year, making it the country's -- as well world's -- leading cause of death. Along with regular exercise, though, you can lower your risk of heart disease by drinking tea. Several studies have found that drinking tea regularly lowers the risk of heart disease as well as stroke, heart attack and related cardiovascular conditions.

#5) Weight Management

There's even some belief that tea lowers the risk of obesity. It's unknown how, but medical experts believe that drinking tea can help weight management. People who drink lots of tea regularly are less likely to become overweight or obese than people who rarely or never drink tea.