Tea... Good, Bad or otherwise

StopherJJMFP

Okay, so I know water is best. I've tried unsuccessfully to drink the required amount of water a day. Some days I could do it, others I'd fail miserably and fall back into a soda or energy drink.

I have almost all but cut soda out of my diet(minus the occasional splurge here or there but compared to the 2+ a day).

So my question is, does anyone know of any negatives to tea? I'm talking unsweetened iced tea, nothing fancy just water with tea bags to give it a little boost.

With tea, I can drink 64oz.+ a day. Is there too much of a good thing?

Just curious for peoples thoughts and experiences.

MuddyEquestrian

I'm a big tea drinker and have had zero negative affects. Well okay, sometimes you can have too much caffeine but that can easily be avoided. I always have a water bottle with a few tea bags in it. I say do what works for you!

berlynnwall

I have never seen a negative to drinking tea. It has antioxidants and if it helps you get enough fluids, go for it. The only possible negative I can think of is that for some people the caffeine might interfere with their sleep.

Here is an article from Harvard Med School:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/health-benefits-linked-to-drinking-tea

jgnatca

Caffeine, but less than coffee. Tea also has flavonoids, an antioxidant effect; bonus.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/tea-types-and-their-health-benefits

You can experiment further with herbal teas which will have little or no caffeine.

zyxst

If tea gets you to stay hydrated, drink it. For me, I can't drink it without sugar.

blbst36

Caffeine is definitely a problem when drinking that much tea. You might want to look into other types of teas to avoid that. There are many different flavors of tea that have no caffeine. I urge you to look into loose tea instead of tea bags - to me, they have a much better flavor.

A word of caution - Tea does not always have less caffeine than coffee. I have had a few that have MORE caffeine than coffee. It all depends on what type you drink.

I love tea

StopherJJMFP

You guys rock! This is why I love this site!

Thankfully(or not depending on the day) caffeine has little to no effect on me at all. I don't know if caffeine is actually bad for you? I guess in too large of quantities maybe?

I've heard of antioxidants, but what are flavonoids?

I've tried warm teas, and others but iced tea is about the only thing that seems to be able to replace soda for me in terms of satisfying flavor.

StopherJJMFP

So is caffeine bad? As I said I average about 64 oz. of tea a day, just regular iced tea.

I've never heard of loose tea? What is that?

ac8908ac

I have been drinking a cinnamon tea that has no caffeine in it. It is amazing and is all natural. Red raspberry leaf tea is also good.

blbst36

StopherJJMFP wrote: »

So is caffeine bad? As I said I average about 64 oz. of tea a day, just regular iced tea.

I've never heard of loose tea? What is that?

I should've specified - that much caffeine is too much for me

Loose tea is tea that you buy in bulk - not in the bags at the store. Much better flavor IMHO and, depending on what kind you get, more economical. A box of Family Tea Bags won't last me very long, but a pound of loose Earl Grey will last quite a while. I shop at Teavana which can be expensive. I just haven't found any local places that sell it.

I will warn you that you may have to get used to things in your tea - it's just the leaves, but skeeves some people out. You will need at least one tea strainer - you don't just dump the tea in water. It's worth it to me, but may not be to you

Canuckgirl77

I love tea, but I drink it with milk and sugar. When I used to have problems getting water into my body, I started using Mio flavouring. It adds just a slightest bit of flavour but it helps to get you used to the idea of drinking more. I started with just one drop and then decreased it to half and eventually stopped all together. you might want to try something like that - there are loads of different brands to choose from.

StopherJJMFP

I'll most definitely have to look into that! Is loose leaf something you can drink cold? For some reason hot tea just doesn't do it for me. I'm much more of a cold liquid drinker(other than warm apple cider on a cold day).

Right now I stop at as gas station by my work every morning which thankfully actually have regular iced tea(not fountain). So again the cold aspect comes into play at work, I have a 64oz. Cup(one of those obscenely large mugs from the gas station) that I fill up and it lasts me most of the day.

jgnatca

THAT iced tea will be full of sugar! Beware!

StopherJJMFP

I've tried the flavored water thing before and that works for awhile.

I think my biggest issue with water is supply vs. demand. I refuse to drink the water here(tap or fountain, both taste terrible). So I bought a brita water bottle, that's nice and can refill with the tap but gets boring after awhile. I wish I could put a normal brita pitcher in the fridge here without the worry of someone stealing it or contaminating it.

I've tried in vein to talk my company into a water cooler but they sadly refuse.

StopherJJMFP

jgnatca wrote: »

THAT iced tea will be full of sugar! Beware!

I only get the unsweetened iced tea, every once in awhile I'll to it off with a little bit of the sweetened kind if I'm feeling daring for the day but most of the time there is no sugar in it.

blbst36

StopherJJMFP wrote: »

I'll most definitely have to look into that! Is loose leaf something you can drink cold? For some reason hot tea just doesn't do it for me. I'm much more of a cold liquid drinker(other than warm apple cider on a cold day).

Right now I stop at as gas station by my work every morning which thankfully actually have regular iced tea(not fountain). So again the cold aspect comes into play at work, I have a 64oz. Cup(one of those obscenely large mugs from the gas station) that I fill up and it lasts me most of the day.

Absolutely. I drink a lot of tea. I will let it brew for a while and stick it in the fridge or pour it over ice. There are some that are even better cold than they are warm. In fact, unless I am cold, I am drinking my tea cold.

I found that the tea out most places just isn't strong enough for me anymore. I like it really strong, so I almost have to brew it myself.

I can't eat with water as my beverage because it is just gross to me. I have to have something with flavor with my meals, so tea it is. Unsweetened, too. I stay away from most drink mixes because there is usually an additive that accompanies fake sugars that will give me an asthma attack. Tea is the safest low calorie beverage for me to drink besides water.

jessicapk

If you're drinking that much, try green tea. It has amazing health benefits but not at the quantities that most people drink it (I have a cup a day and that's usually it). You might be ingesting enough to benefit from them. And, aside from caffeine and staining of your teeth, there are really no downsides.

TeaBea

StopherJJMFP wrote: »

So is caffeine bad? As I said I average about 64 oz. of tea a day, just regular iced tea.

I've never heard of loose tea? What is that?

I drink almost that much everyday, I used to drink more. Caffeine affects people differently. My problem with too much caffeine is heartburn. Other people (who already have blood pressure issues) may need to limit caffeine intake.

Loose tea is sold in a tin. You fill an infuser/strainer (a small mesh ball) with loose leaves and dunk that. This is nice to create your own blends.

jgnatca

Oh my goodness, a tea noob! You absolutely must join this club: http://wickedtea.com/

I can't imagine you are getting a full steep from cold water. If I were you I'd steep a full tea pot from boiling water and let it cool overnight.

You won't know if you are having too much caffeine unless you try going cold turkey for a day. If you have no disrupted sleep patterns now, likely the caffeine is not hurting you.

My link above talks a bit about flavonoids. They are a type of antioxidant.

StopherJJMFP

blbst36 wrote: »

StopherJJMFP wrote: »

I'll most definitely have to look into that! Is loose leaf something you can drink cold? For some reason hot tea just doesn't do it for me. I'm much more of a cold liquid drinker(other than warm apple cider on a cold day).

Right now I stop at as gas station by my work every morning which thankfully actually have regular iced tea(not fountain). So again the cold aspect comes into play at work, I have a 64oz. Cup(one of those obscenely large mugs from the gas station) that I fill up and it lasts me most of the day.

Absolutely. I drink a lot of tea. I will let it brew for a while and stick it in the fridge or pour it over ice. There are some that are even better cold than they are warm. In fact, unless I am cold, I am drinking my tea cold.

I found that the tea out most places just isn't strong enough for me anymore. I like it really strong, so I almost have to brew it myself.

I can't eat with water as my beverage because it is just gross to me. I have to have something with flavor with my meals, so tea it is. Unsweetened, too. I stay away from most drink mixes because there is usually an additive that accompanies fake sugars that will give me an asthma attack. Tea is the safest low calorie beverage for me to drink besides water.

Are any of the teas you drink cold brew?

StopherJJMFP

jessicapk wrote: »

If you're drinking that much, try green tea. It has amazing health benefits but not at the quantities that most people drink it (I have a cup a day and that's usually it). You might be ingesting enough to benefit from them. And, aside from caffeine and staining of your teeth, there are really no downsides.

Green Tea has a lot of calories in it though, doesn't it? I used to love Green Tea but now everything I find isn't low calorie and I refuse to do the "diet" Green Teas.

StopherJJMFP

TeaBea wrote: »

StopherJJMFP wrote: »

So is caffeine bad? As I said I average about 64 oz. of tea a day, just regular iced tea.

I've never heard of loose tea? What is that?

I drink almost that much everyday, I used to drink more. Caffeine affects people differently. My problem with too much caffeine is heartburn. Other people (who already have blood pressure issues) may need to limit caffeine intake.

Loose tea is sold in a tin. You fill an infuser/strainer (a small mesh ball) with loose leaves and dunk that. This is nice to create your own blends.

Do you know of any that can be cold brewed? I only have access to a microwave at work and it would be a hassle to get to it several times a day.

ebbie023

I'm a huge unsweetened iced tea drinker. For the most part, I just use lipton tea bags. I put 3 bags in a 2 qt. bottle with cold water and let it "brew" overnight in the fridge. If you like it stronger, add another tea bag or experiment with flavored tea bags. I like the 2 lipton + 1 peppermint combo, myself. Much less expensive than buying it every morning.

StopherJJMFP

ebbie023 wrote: »

I'm a huge unsweetened iced tea drinker. For the most part, I just use lipton tea bags. I put 3 bags in a 2 qt. bottle with cold water and let it "brew" overnight in the fridge. If you like it stronger, add another tea bag or experiment with flavored tea bags. I like the 2 lipton + 1 peppermint combo, myself. Much less expensive than buying it every morning.

Do you know if there is any truth to the cold brew vs. regular iced tea bags. Lipton sells "special" cold brew bags which cost more...

lewispwest

I started drinking tea recently after a throat infection but I can only usually have it sweet (2 sugars) but I've replaced that with 3 canderel sweeteners and it's the same.

TeaBea

StopherJJMFP wrote: »

jessicapk wrote: »

If you're drinking that much, try green tea. It has amazing health benefits but not at the quantities that most people drink it (I have a cup a day and that's usually it). You might be ingesting enough to benefit from them. And, aside from caffeine and staining of your teeth, there are really no downsides.

Green Tea has a lot of calories in it though, doesn't it? I used to love Green Tea but now everything I find isn't low calorie and I refuse to do the "diet" Green Teas.

Green tea is virtually calorie free also, unless you are adding something to it. With green tea you need to be careful of how hot your water is. Too hot water will make bitter green tea. You want the water "just about" boiling.

Lipton makes some nice flavored green tea bags. 2 individual tea bags (steep in some hot water)....then add ice & cold water.....to make 20 ounces.

1 "family size" tea bag + 2 individual tea bags makes 1/2 gallon. I buy flavored individual bags, so I have a bit of added flavor. Lipton Pyramid Bavarian Berry...yum.

Don't buy the "cold brew" bags. Those seem to be pulverized tea leaves. You will have lots of sediment in your glass. I really disliked the flavor. Look up Sun Tea....this takes awhile but you can get good flavor with a cold brew AND regular tea bags.

TeaBea

StopherJJMFP wrote: »

ebbie023 wrote: »

I'm a huge unsweetened iced tea drinker. For the most part, I just use lipton tea bags. I put 3 bags in a 2 qt. bottle with cold water and let it "brew" overnight in the fridge. If you like it stronger, add another tea bag or experiment with flavored tea bags. I like the 2 lipton + 1 peppermint combo, myself. Much less expensive than buying it every morning.

Do you know if there is any truth to the cold brew vs. regular iced tea bags. Lipton sells "special" cold brew bags which cost more...

I really disliked these ....see post above.

aggie2145

Bottled Green Tea is often sweetened and the calories come from the sweetener (honey, sugar, etc) not from the actual tea. Brewed green tea would have less than 5 calories, if any.

My favorite way to cold brew green tea is this recipe - http://www.oneingredientchef.com/cold-brewed-green-tea/ . (I'm not too interested in the "detoxifying" effects - it just tastes good.) I mix half a recipe subbing 2 green tea bags for the loose tea in a 32oz wide mouth water bottle each night. I drink about half the bottle and refill with water two to three times per day.

gaurdgoose

Tea is supposed to be good for weight loss. White tea, green tea, red tea, The important thing is to brew it your self and not to trust the bottled variety

StopherJJMFP

Thank you all so much! I'm looking at Tea in a completely different light now! Looks like I need to do some testing and more research. Have to prep myself for the next day lol.

azulvioleta6

Tea is great for you. I mostly drink tisanes though, because I also consume a lot of coffee.

Your liquid absolutely does not have to come from plain water. Go forth and sip!