Drinking Iced Tea: Why Brewing It Yourself Is Healthier Than A Bottled Option
Drinking up tea is considered healthier than many other drinks that could contain chemical ingredients or sugars. Such chemicals harm the body. If tea can be chilled and served cold with a hint of different flavors like lemon, peach or cinnamon it makes for a really refreshing drink perfect to beat the heat!
However though iced tea usually has most of the good qualities like its antioxidants and minerals a packaged or bottled version may not be all that great for frequent consumption. While ingredients are not fresh, such packaged beverages may contain high amount of sugars or other ingredients that are as harmful as sodas or other syrupy drinks. So drink them if you like but remember that iced teas are always better in taste and health when brewed fresh by yourself or at a restaurant youre ordering it in.
Highly Sweet
Forget the flavonoids and polyphenols, ice tea has a high amount of sugar. An average-sized bottle could contain as high as 60-70 grams of sugar almost equivalent to more than 220 calories or higher depending on the individual drink. Having two to three bottles everyday would well add to the calories meter and make the fat bulges thicker. So you may be well very happy that youve abandoned your favorite soda drink for iced tea without realizing how little difference the switchover makes. Do tread with caution when going for bottled or canned unsweetened that promises low calories. These could be loaded with chemical additives.
Caffeine Content
Iced teas like their brewed counterparts have a good amount of caffeine. While caffeine is certainly lesser than in coffees but nevertheless it is there. It improves mental focus and having more than a drink or two amounts to an overall hike in caffeine content and in turn dehydrate the body instead of achieving what youre looking for when drinking a glass for hydration! For sure iced tea in right amount and in an unsweetened, unprocessed form is better than most packaged juices or sodas most ready made options dont offer this choice.
Choose Freshly Brewed Iced Teas
The manner in which iced teas are prepared can greatly alter its nutrient contents and whether the iced beverage would retain at all the good qualities. Chilling the brew doesnt lessen its poly phenol content. Many experts also feel that addition of ice could lead to an internal reaction making the poly phenols unavailable in their pure form to the body. Further on addition of sugar and preservatives could tone down the natural ingredients making it simply a sugary beverage to drink. Preparing iced tea by seeping in loose leaves or tea-bags into water for cooling down is always recommended.
However though iced tea usually has most of the good qualities like its antioxidants and minerals a packaged or bottled version may not be all that great for frequent consumption. While ingredients are not fresh, such packaged beverages may contain high amount of sugars or other ingredients that are as harmful as sodas or other syrupy drinks. So drink them if you like but remember that iced teas are always better in taste and health when brewed fresh by yourself or at a restaurant youre ordering it in.
Highly Sweet
Forget the flavonoids and polyphenols, ice tea has a high amount of sugar. An average-sized bottle could contain as high as 60-70 grams of sugar almost equivalent to more than 220 calories or higher depending on the individual drink. Having two to three bottles everyday would well add to the calories meter and make the fat bulges thicker. So you may be well very happy that youve abandoned your favorite soda drink for iced tea without realizing how little difference the switchover makes. Do tread with caution when going for bottled or canned unsweetened that promises low calories. These could be loaded with chemical additives.
Caffeine Content
Iced teas like their brewed counterparts have a good amount of caffeine. While caffeine is certainly lesser than in coffees but nevertheless it is there. It improves mental focus and having more than a drink or two amounts to an overall hike in caffeine content and in turn dehydrate the body instead of achieving what youre looking for when drinking a glass for hydration! For sure iced tea in right amount and in an unsweetened, unprocessed form is better than most packaged juices or sodas most ready made options dont offer this choice.
Choose Freshly Brewed Iced Teas
The manner in which iced teas are prepared can greatly alter its nutrient contents and whether the iced beverage would retain at all the good qualities. Chilling the brew doesnt lessen its poly phenol content. Many experts also feel that addition of ice could lead to an internal reaction making the poly phenols unavailable in their pure form to the body. Further on addition of sugar and preservatives could tone down the natural ingredients making it simply a sugary beverage to drink. Preparing iced tea by seeping in loose leaves or tea-bags into water for cooling down is always recommended.
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