Articles on Tea and Health

Chamomile Tea and Sleep

An overview of the research on chamomile tea and its benefits for sleep, including quality, side-effects, and history of traditional use.

Calories in Tea - With and Without Milk or Sugar

Tea is nearly calorie free, but adding sugar or milk can add significant calories to a cup of tea. This page explores how many calories milk and sugar add.

White Tea and Caffeine - Myths and Reality

Tea companies have promoted myths that white tea is lower in caffeine than other types of tea; this article provides accurate info.

Caffeine Content of Tea

How much caffeine is in black, green, or white tea? Learn what determines the caffeine content of different teas, which teas are high and low in caffeine.

Bottled Tea

RateTea does not list bottled teas, but we do refer people to companies selling unsweetened bottled iced tea.

Acidity of Tea

Tea is mildly acidic, much less so than many common drinks; this article explores the question of how acidic tea is and what effects this has on the body.

Additives in Tea

Common additives in tea and herbal blends and their safety, including natural and artificial flavors, caffeine, extracts and supplements, etc.

Health Benefits of Tea

A brief overview of the health benefits of tea, and exploration of whether certain teas are better for you than others.

Tea and Sleep

There is evidence that tea has sleep benefits, especially when compared to coffee. Herbal teas have diverse effects on sleep.

Tea, Bone Density, and Osteoporosis

Drinking tea has no negative effect on bone density and may protect against osteoporosis through a variety of mechanisms.

Tea and Acid Reflux

In spite of some doctors' recommendations to avoid tea, there is no evidence that tea causes or aggravates acid reflux.

Aluminum in Tea and Its Health Effects

Tea has high aluminum levels, but in spite of this, there is no evidence that moderate tea consumption poses any health risks associated with aluminum.

Tea and Iron Absorption

Tea is known to inhibit iron absorption, but this effect is not a matter of concern for normal, healthy adults.

Tannins in Tea

Tannins are a class of compounds occurring in black tea and responsible for bitterness, astringency, dark color, and antioxidant activity of these teas.

Tea and Weight Loss

Scientific evidence for tea as an aid to weight loss, with discussion of companies that market tea as a weight-loss product.

Vitamin C Content of Tea

Green teas tend to contain small amounts of vitamin C, whereas black teas tend to contain none. Processing and storage can reduce Vitamin C content.

Astringency in Tea

Astringency refers to a dry or puckery sensation on the palate; some astringency imparts body and a refreshing quality to tea, but too much is unpleasant.

Caffeine and Dehydration

Caffeine in tea and coffee is often claimed to be a diuretic, leading to dehydration, but research does not back up this view.

Tea and Pregnancy

This article summarizes the potential risks and benefits associated with drinking tea or herbal tea during pregnancy.

Caffeine Addiction, Dependency, and Withdrawal

Caffeine is mildly addictive and causes a physical dependency; caffeine withdrawal can be inconvenient and unpleasant, but tends to only last a few days.