By Janet LeeAssistant Features Editor
Lately, the weather seems to only get colder. With snow storm Juno taking over our campus, it makes this winter worse. However, here is something that will keep you warm this winter— tea. Rather than depending on coffee and lattes for caffeine, I urge you to hop on the tea bandwagon!
Tea consists of important antioxidants, making it a great substitution for coffee. Just like how you can drink coffee in different ways like lattes and frappuccinos, there are four different types of tea— black, green and oolong. Each different types of tea gives you great health benefits. According to BBC News, tea provides you with caffeine while hydrating your body. While coffee provides you with caffeine, it dehydrates your body. On the other hand, even though tea contains caffeine, because there is a big portion of water, it also hydrates your body. Not only does it hydrate your body, but it also protects you against heart disease and some types of cancer. Knowing this, here are three different types of teas you should try:
Black Tea: This is one of the most popular type of tea. Black tea contains the most amount of caffeine, therefore, it has a bitter flavor. It has high concentrations of antioxidants which will give you serious health benefits, like lowering your cholesterol.
Green Tea: Green tea is another very popular tea. Like black tea, green tea also contains antioxidants that helps prevent heart disease. Green tea is also very popular because it can help with weight loss because of an active ingredient, EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate). Green tea will not make you lose weight instantly, but as a substitution for sugary drinks, it will help balance your calories.
Oolong Tea: Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea. Just like Green tea, oolong tea also helps with weight loss. Oolong tea helps dissolve the fat that is stored in fat sells. It also helps with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
You can drink it in a couple different ways. You can just drink it regularly with just water, or even add a little sugar if it is too bitter. You can also add a little milk with sugar for extra sweetness. Because of the many benefits that comes with drinking tea, I urge you to try it. It is a perfect drink to drink after a long stressful day because it helps you calm down and relax. Tea is even better when you are sick. It soothes your throat and keeps you feeling warm. So, rather than relying on coffee for your caffeine fix, try swapping it with tea and experience the great benefits of tea yourself. You can just buy a packet of your favorite tea bags and enjoy it right in your room. If not, you can always head over to the Student Center cafe or Cafe on the Quad for your tea fix!