Functional tea has become all the buzz today thanks to the overwhelming scientific evidence documenting its benefits. This has seen more people, particularly in the West, migrate from other beverages to functional teas and especially functional green tea.

Asian countries have been using functional tea for centuries, yet it has only caught on in the West recently. But better late than never, right? Studies show the tea contains EGCG and other powerful polyphenols that deliver various health benefits. In essence, taking tea is no longer a standard routine to kick start your day with an energy burst. With the right functional tea, you can get long-lasting health benefits that cannot be acquired with any other beverage.

Although all teas come from the same Camellia sinensis plant, they do have different contents influencing their flavor as well as the effects they produce. The most common teas are green, black, oolong, and white tea. The difference between them stems from the unique processing the leaves go through after harvesting. For instance, green tea is not oxidized by much, and that's why it retains its appearance and a rich polyphenol profile. Black tea, on the other hand, goes through a thorough oxidation process turning it black. Oolong is usually somewhere in between.

Health Benefits of Functional Tea

1. Boosts Immune System

Functional tea has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial effects that improve the body's immune response. Green tea, in particular, is very popular for its potent antioxidant properties thanks to the high-concentration of epigallocatechin-3-gallate or EGCG. These catechins fight free radicals to protect body cells and tissues. The benefits of EGCG on immunity are documented in multiple studies.

Some functional immunity teas are blended with Vitamin C, Ginger, Curcuma, and other ingredients for a more substantial impact.

Check out our Functional Immunity tea here.

2. Supports the Digestive System

Functional tea soothes the digestive system and enhances its efficiency. It supports the excretion of toxins while preventing the growth of yeast and bacteria.

Functional tea also increases fluids which is essential for flushing toxins out of the body.

If the priority is boosting your digestive system, look for functional teas specifically designed for this purpose. Some of these teas have additional ingredients like lemongrass, which improves the results significantly.

Check out our Functional Digest tea here.

3. Increases Energy and Stamina

Functional tea and especially green tea, boosts energy and stamina in various ways. It promotes the breakdown of fats for fuel resulting in both weight loss and an increase in energy and stamina.

Green tea also contains caffeine, a known stimulant that spikes energy levels while delivering other benefits like heightened mental alertness.

One advantage functional green tea has over some of the other functional teas and coffee is that it has a low concentration of caffeine. That means it’s not overly aggressive as coffee and some black teas, so it can produce the benefits you want without any jitters, headaches, or stomach upset.

Check our our Functional Energy tea here.

4. Improves Heart Health

Functional tea reduces the risk of developing a heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. The tea reduces bad LDL cholesterol that has been linked to life-threatening cardiovascular diseases. The antioxidant properties of green tea also promote heart health.

According to this study, regular intake of green tea can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease death in women by 31%!

Some trials also report that green tea is better than coffee in slowing coronary artery calcium (plaques in the arteries).

5. Promotes Weight Loss

Functional tea increases the metabolic rate, speeding up the breakdown of calories and fatty acids. The tea is effective for this purpose so much that it is widely used in fat burners and other weight loss supplements. However, when used in a blend with other ingredients, the risk of side effects increases. That’s why most people prefer using functional green tea on its own for weight management.

In this study, 200 Japanese women and men with visceral fat-type obesity were either given green tea extract high in catechins or a placebo. The results showed the group of women and men taking green tea rich in catechins had reduced waist circumference, belly fat, and overall body fat percentage.

6. Improves Cognitive Performance

Functional tea is good for your brain. The EGCG protects brain cells against oxidative damage. Not only does this support optimal brain performance, but it also reduces the risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. It's especially beneficial when taken on a regular basis.

Moreover, functional green tea contains caffeine and L-theanine, which improve mental alertness, memory, reaction time, and mood. L-theanine can also produce anti-anxiety effects.

Functional tea can also lower the risk of diabetes and certain types of cancer like breast and prostate cancer. The clinical studies on the effects of the tea on these conditions are still in their early stages, but preliminary data is very promising.

Is Functional Tea Safe?

Yes, functional tea is very safe. As pointed out earlier, the tea has less caffeine than coffee. That means you can enjoy a cup or two of functional green or even black tea per day without any issues at all.

However, excessive usage of the tea results in high caffeine intake, which can be problematic. By excessive, we mean 5+ cups of functional green tea taken within a few hours, which is honestly too much and totally unnecessary.

Just add one or two cups of green tea to your daily healthy diet, and you will feel nothing but the amazing health benefits of this powerful beverage.

Check out our range of Functional teas here!