While all tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, there are hundreds of types available today, each varying by region, harvest time, and processing method. Tea is the most popular beverage in the world (aside from water), and it offers a host of health benefits for seniors, including the ability to reduce stroke risk and lead to healthier cholesterol levels. Each variety of tea also offers its own unique health advantages. Here are some of the top health benefits provided by the most common types of teas.
Black Tea
Black tea is the most common type of tea, and it’s known for its mild, bitter flavor. It has 40 milligrams of caffeine per cup, which is the highest caffeine content among all tea varieties—nearly as high as coffee. Because of the way it’s processed, black tea has more antioxidants (thearubigins and theaflavins) than any other type of tea, and these antioxidants have been found to lower cholesterol levels. According to researchers, drinking at least three cups a day can lower stroke risk by 21 percent.
Drinking tea is just one way aging adults can boost their health. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional senior home care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Green Tea
Green tea has a delicate flavor, and it’s made from dried leaves that are treated with heat shortly after harvest to stop fermentation. It’s packed with catechin antioxidants, which have been found to fight everything from heart disease to cancer. Drinking even one cup a day can lower cardiovascular disease risk by 10 percent. Green tea also supports healthy brain function and fat burning.
If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of in-home care. Montgomery Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is similar to black tea, although it’s not fermented as long, which gives it a deeper flavor. It’s believed to help with weight loss by activating an enzyme that dissolves triglycerides, or dietary fat that’s stored in fat cells.
White Tea
White tea is the purest type of tea and undergoes the least processing. It has the lightest color and flavor, but it still packs a healthy punch. White tea has cancer-fighting properties and offers cardiovascular benefits, and recent research indicates it may increase glucose tolerance in diabetics.
Encourage your loved one to try drinking tea as part of an effort to adopt a healthy lifestyle. A professional caregiver can also help your loved one make positive lifestyle changes. If your elderly loved one needs Montgomery live-in care, turn to Home Care Assistance. We offer a program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to focus on eating nutritious foods, exercising on a regular basis, maintaining strong social ties, and other lifestyle factors known to increase longevity. To create a customized care plan for your loved one, call us at (334) 593-3988 today.