As a teenager, I hated the taste of coffee. I could never understand how my parents had to have a cup each and every morning. When I went away to college I did most of my studies at little independent coffee shops just off campus rather than in the cramped library. I still remember the day I ordered my first latte. Maybe coffee wasn’t so bad after all.
Although I started ordering a small coffee most days, it wasn’t until I moved to New York City that I transformed into a true coffee addict. Coffee became the only thing that seemed to get me through the long 12-16 hour days as a Wall Street financial analyst.
I ‘d pick up my first cup going to the office—usually a latte with three shots of espresso. My next was in the late morning when someone from the office would inevitable do a quick coffee run. Then as the caffeine wore off another run to the local coffee shop would take place mid-afternoon. There were even times that an early evening trip for one last coffee would occur. I couldn’t seem to get through the day without 6 to 10 shots of espresso.
It wasn’t until I started having trouble viewing my computer screen that I realized I had a problem. My eye doctor, after confirming I had 20/20 vision, suggested I back off the caffeine. Instead of backing off slowly, I went cold turkey. Although going cold turkey may not have been the smartest thing—I experienced severe headaches, nausea and had trouble sleeping—within a week I no longer had any blurred vision.
Although I have an occasional almond milk latte, I never went back to my old coffee addict habits. These days you’re more likely to see me with a hot cup of tea than coffee.
Tea gives just the right boost to my morning without making me jittery. The right tea can also be the perfect way to end my day and prepare me for a good night’s sleep.
Here are 5 reasons to drink more tea:
1) Tea is loaded with antioxidants and phytochemicals that are known to help fight free radicals, which may reduce the risk of certain cancers.
2) Tea drinking may help keep your arteries clog-free, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
3) Tea is not only good for your bones—green tea has been shown to improve bone mineral density—but it may also help strengthen your immune system.
4) Tea may help prevent wrinkles, making you look and feel better.
5) Tea may help promote weight loss and it may also ward off cravings and help you make better food choices.
So enjoy a cup of tea today!
Other fun tea facts:
- Tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis—the tea plant
- There are three main types of tea: Black, Oolong and Green
- Green tea has the most antioxidants of any tea
- Herbal teas are not considered “real” tea as they do not come from the tea plant but rather from flowers, stems, roots or parts of other plants
- Placing moist tea bags over your eyes can help reduce eye puffiness
- Americans drink nearly 1 ½ million pounds of tea a day
- An American, Thomas Sullivan, invented the tea bag which has become the most popular way to drink tea
