I enjoy about three cups of green tea in the afternoon, (after several cups of coffee in the morning.) I buy a good quality organic tea and throw a bag in a five cup tea pot. The brew can be enjoyed for several hours. Researchers say this is the best way to enjoy the tea's health benefits with an antioxidant punch.On the other hand, the bottled variety, which has enjoyed phenomenal growth over the last five years, has little to no health benefit. Also it packs a lot of calories thanks to all the added sugar.
“Out of 49 samples, half of the bottle teas contain less than 10 milligrams of polyphenols,” says one researcher.
A cup of home-brewed green or black tea has 50-150 milligrams of polyphenols. So you'd have to drink between 5 and 20 of those pint-size bottles of tea to get the same amount of antioxidants. That’s a lot of tea.
Bottled teas have increased 90 percent since 2004. And considering how much more bottled teas costs than tea bags, consumers aren’t getting a bargain when it comes to antioxidants.
"Polyphenols in tea start breaking down after the tea is brewed. So if a bottle has been sitting on the shelf for a while, there may be only a little — if any — antioxidants in the tea. Such small amounts won’t provide any of the health benefits."
To get the most out of your tea, the researcher suggests brewing a fresh batch in the morning and drinking the tea throughout the day. After 24 hours the tea should be chucked.
As for bottled teas, they may provide a satisfying taste and quench your thirst, but don’t expect them to do much for your health or waistline.
