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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Does decaffeinated tea have the same health benefits as regular tea?

    Related Topic
    Nutrition
    Tea is recommended in diets for healthy heart.
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  • 198

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    Ashleigh Jones

    Dietitian, Nutritionist

    The health benefits of tea are mostly related to its high antioxidant content. By just choosing decaf tea, you are actually not losing any antioxidants. The only thing you are losing is the caffeine, which is possibly a good thing if you’re sensitive to it. Don’t forget, while there are the decaffeinated black teas available there are also your herbal teas which tend to be naturally caffeine-free.

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    Mitta

    HealthShare Member

    Thank you.   Very reassuring to know that there's no loss of antioxidants if choosing decaffeinated tea.   I use decaf green tea. 

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    Arlene Normand

    Dietitian

    Arlene is a registered practising dietitian, with a private practice in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, and has built a strong business over the last … View Profile

    Tea is the most popular beverage in the world. Green, black and oolong tea are all made by steeping the leaves of the Camellia sinensis shrub in hot water. Regular tea contains significant amounts of caffeine, as well as many health-protecting antioxidants. However, decaffeinated tea, as well as herbal tisanes such as mint, chamomile or hibiscus, provide health benefits without the unnecessary stimulant effects of caffeine.
    Antioxidants
    Green, black and oolong tea come from different preparations of the leaves of the tea shrub. Of these, green tea contains the highest quantities of polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that may help prevent cancer and the effects of aging. When green tea is decaffeinated by chemical processes using ethyl acetate to strip the caffeine, the tea loses approximately 70 percent of its antioxidants. However, when green tea is decaffeinated by natural water process, it retains over 95 percent of its antioxidant components, providing all the same health benefits without the caffeine jitters.
    Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
    Green and black tea have both been demonstrated to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, thereby possibly reducing the risk of heart disease and heart attack. The antioxidants in tea may help prevent artherosclerosis, and may help block the absorption of cholesterol. Water-processed decaffeinated tea retains most of the polyphenols that bestow these health benefits.
    Calm
    Sipping a warm cup of tea can be calming and impart a relaxed sense of focus, bringing a welcome respite from the workday. Many herbal tisanes bolster this effect, providing health benefits without the stimulating properties of caffeinated beverages. Chamomile tea has been consumed for thousands of years to calm frayed nerves, ease muscle spasms, reduce anxiety and promote sleep. Peppermint tea has antiviral and antibacterial properties, aids in digestion, and has long been used to relieve tension headaches and anxiety related to depression.



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