Give the Gift of Tea: Which Type Fights Fat?

In studies green tea and its extract have been shown to fight obesity.

Dec. 21, 2011— -- There are five main types of tea, but in studies, green tea and its extract have been shown to fight obesity.

Throughout the holidays, many people partake in drinking specialty holiday drinks. Often times these drinks are created for taste, not for health. When toasting to "good health" this holiday season, you should try incorporating a beverage that has actual health benefits, like tea.

Tea is one of the most popular drinks around the world, however not many people know all the health benefits that go along with consuming such a drink. Some even find it to be a great alternative to drinking coffee, due to its lower levels of caffeine. According to American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Katherine Tallmadge, tea can be good for your heart health and has cancer preventatives due to the compounds that are found in tea. In two different studies, Green Tea has been shown to not only fight fat but lower your LDL cholesterol. Those are two major benefits that come from drinking this type of tea.

Even though, people are familiar with some types of tea, here are the 5 main teas and some of their health benefits:

Black Tea: This is made with fermented tea leaves and may protects your lungs from damage caused by second-hand smoke, as well as reducing your risk of a stroke.

Green Tea: This is made with steamed tea leaves and due to green tea's antioxidants it may reduce the risk of many common cancers. Also, green tea may reduce the risk of neurological disorders.

Oolong Tea: This type of tea has been examined in many studies and has been showed to lower your bad cholesterol levels.

Pu-erh Tea: This is made from fermented and aged leaves and can reduce your LDL cholesterol.

White Tea: This type of tea is uncured and unfermented and has showed in studies to have the most potent anticancer properties.

Source:

http://www.thedailymind.com/health-at-work/tea-health-the-types-problems-and-health-benefits-of-tea/

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/tea-types-and-their-health-benefits

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea