Tea is it Good for You?

Tea has many benefits: it has a greater proportion of antioxidants than other drinks, less caffeine than coffee.

According to Dr.Mao in his article Tea: The Elixir of Life

Tea is full of powerful antioxidants that improve concentration, gently boost energy, and make people happier. The free radical-inhibiting property of tea is more potent than that of vitamin E, and tea is a proven preventive and treatment for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The polyphenols in tea, especially the catechins, are powerful antioxidants that help ward off diabetes and cancer.

To get the most health from your tea, brew it fresh from tea bags or loose leaves and herbs, as instant and bottled teas contain less active compounds. Let the tea steep for three to five minutes to extract the most beneficial compounds. Drink to your health!

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He also stated that its better to drink tea in the morning rather than coffee because although it can  provide a jolt, "coffee actually depletes your vital essence, "borrowing" energy that you didn't have in the first place".

He also said that Caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant. It causes you to experience stress, anxiety, a racing mind, and even insomnia, working against your attempts to relax the body and calm the mind.

Thus he recommended that a good substitute for coffee is herbal tea. On average, a cup of black tea contains about one third of the caffeine you would get from the same cup of coffee. Green tea contains about one sixth of that amount.

How to decaffeinate your tea?

1. Steep tea for 45 seconds, pour out the liquid but keep the tea leaves.
2. Add fresh boiling water and let it steep for 3-5 minutes or longer to allow the beneficial polyphenols to be extracted from the tea.

Dr.Mao also suggest that as a weight loss tool, tea is a wonderfully cleansing way to flush the system, replace fluids - and pump the body full of powerful antioxidants at the same time. Aside from the health benefits, tea is a zero-calorie beverage, making it your best choice for weight loss. Pass on the diet soda, loaded with sugar and bone-weakening bubbles, and go for tea.

It is best to drink tea unsweetened and without milk, which can minimize some of the health benefits. To sweeten the tea without the extra calories, forgo the sugar and try instead honey, stevia products, or a stick of cinnamon.


Herbal teas are made from various leaves, roots, bark, or flowers. Here are just a few recommended by Dr.Mao:

Ginger: Soothes the digestive system and keeps your energy fired up
Chamomile: Settles the stomach and is calming and soothing for the nervous system
Peppermint: Increases healthy gastric secretions, relaxes the intestines, and settles the stomach
Dandelion: Detoxifies and supports healthy liver functions
Valerian: A natural herbal substitute for sleeping pills
You can combine these herbs in any combination according to your taste and health preferences. Among my patients, an incredibly popular herbal tea is Internal Cleanse Tea, which is specially combined to detoxify, calm nerves, clear the mind, balance emotions, and ease digestion. This tea formula is available online at askdrmao.com.

I particularly like the Chrysanthemum tea..its very aromatic and has a pleasant aroma and can help you to go to sleep faster.

So, if you think you want to have a change in your daily beverage why not try some of the herbal tea?

Dr. Mao's article can be found at here