The benefits of tea are many. But – there are also falsehoods. In recent years, more and more companies and individuals have jumped on the ‘benefits of tea’ wagon, proclaiming all kinds of advantages can be gained from drinking tea. Are the claims true or not? And, when you Google for the various 'properties' of tea, you’ll find different ones claiming to do the same things: weight loss, anti-oxidant, anti-aging and so on.

So – what are the benefits to be gained simply by drinking tea?

The ingredients in tea/s that cause the benefits [to our health] are known as ‘flavonoids’. And these are simply powerful antioxidant composites. It’s the flavonoids that throw up one of the most ill-conceived fallacies regarding tea in relation to the following truth:

• Fact: tea is rich in antioxidants

However:

• Fallacy: Tea is the only natural food/substance to contain antioxidants

There are many foods and liquids that naturally contain antioxidants and it’s wrong to suppose that tea alone is natures’ saviour. It’s not. But that doesn’t diminish the benefits of tea as a singular or stand alone addition to our diet.

The flavonoids found in tea vary according to the production method. There is black tea, green tea, oolong tea, white tea and several variants of each category.

White tea is in fact the tea which contains the highest amount of catechins (one of the flavonoids found in tea) and this is because white tea is the least processed – therefore it naturally retains the most catechins

Tea is beneficial regarding rehydration. Another fallacy, in opposition to tea. It does not cause dehydration and is the second most common liquid drunk around the world.

Tea is, in fact, considered to be the better drink of the two: water does not contain antioxidants, whereas tea does. So, in place of water to rehydrate, drink tea.

Tea is packed full of antioxidants. Of that there are no doubts. And antioxidants have always been (and will remain) a massive plus in the biological fight against free radicals.

That does not mean that tea drinking is life saving; only that antioxidants will always be of benefit to our immune systems - however we ingest them.

Tea studies and scientific trials have indicated the following:

• There may be some truth regarding tea drinking and [some] cancer prevention

• Tea contains fluoride, therefore it may aide good oral health

• It may well boost our metabolic system (hence ‘weight loss teas’)

• Some benefits have been found in relation to IBS, symptoms and suffering

• Tea may well be beneficial in relation to bacterial infections, in particular white tea

• It may improve cardiovascular health

The above list is not complete as there are many studies ongoing, plus some that are completed but are countered by opposing scientific studies and scientists.

Is white tea the unsung hero of the tea family overall? It's certainly the least processed therefore retains the most antioxidants. Something to bear thinking about?

Lack of benefits? Some would say yes. Tea contains caffeine for one thing and for another, it also contains fluoride. Neither are great in high quantities. Too much caffeine can cause wakefulness and fluoride can be toxic – though you’d have to drink a whole lot of tea first!

That said, going back to white tea: it contains the least fluoride of all the different types, though the fluoride content of all tea is directly related to how much fluoride is in the soil in which the plants are grown.

Health wise, sensible, normal amounts of tea will not cause advers affects. Like with anything, moderation is the key.

Many of the claims regarding benefits of tea use the words 'may' and 'can'. You won't find anything that says 'will' - and if you do, it's likely that it's just a way of convincing you that the product you're looking at is better than a similar one. Don't pay over the premium for a tea product just because of clever marketing. Most teas start off from the same plant - it's the process from the plant to your cup that alters the type.

The upshot is this: tea is [overall] a great drink in itself. It is high in antioxidants and will refresh and rehydrate you. If, as a side effect, you feel better, then where's the harm? As long as you keep in mind what is known about tea, you won't go far wrong. And keep an eye on the studies going on. Google 'tea' and check out who's proved what. Or not. So many studies are going on and, as yet, no one has proved that tea is essentially bad for you.

Go on, brew up a cuppa. You know you want to!