Drinking a daily cup of tea has a lot of health benefits! Tea originated in southwest China and was used as a form of medicine very early on. Drinking tea has changed my life in a positive way and I drink at least one cup everyday. I prefer drinking tea over coffee because of the taste and the side effects that coffee produces. I have a hard time committing to drinking the eight cups of water, so drinking tea (green tea is my favorite) serves as a middle ground. Below I argue why drinking tea is the better option and how your overall health will increase.

1. Tea is loaded with antioxidants

Antioxidants fight off naturally occurring oxidants in our bodies. They ultimately aid in preventing cell damage by fighting off a virus, certain cancers and heart disease. Cancer and heart disease runs in my family, so drinking a cup of tea every day decreases my chances of being ill with those diseases.

2. Tea has less caffeine than coffee

I love coffee, but not as much as I love tea. Coffee contains caffeine and even though it helps me wake up for classes, it has some serious health effects. Caffeine is highly addictive and people who consume a lot of caffeine experience side effects such as dehydration, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, upset stomach, fast irregular heartbeat and muscle tremors.

3. Green tea helps with weight loss

3. Green tea is known for boosting your metabolism! A faster metabolism allows you to eat more and burn more calories. Having a faster metabolism is healthy and we should all aim for that! Just be careful, some green teas are loaded with a lot of unnecessary sweeteners and sugars. Check out The Republic of Tea, and order yourself a can today!

4. Tea helps protect your bones

Tea contains a chemical called flavonoids that ward off brittle bones and aid in preventing osteoporosis altogether. In addition to preventing heart disease, cancers and strokes, drinking tea daily can also stop osteoporosis in men and women.

5. Tea boosts the immune system

Your immune system is a network of cells and tissues and organs. They ultimately work together to protect your body against diseases and viruses. Our white blood cells or leukocytes combat and destroy disease-causing organisms or substances. A boost in the immune system means a boost in the overall health and function of your body.

6. Tea reduces seasonal allergies

I try to drink tea every day, but in the summer, I must drink tea every day or battle my uncomfortable seasonal allergies. Tea attacks the cells in the bodies that cause you to sneeze, suffer from itchy watery eyes, and develop a stuffy nose. Drinking tea reduces your seasonal allergies and aid in protecting you from developing seasonal allergies.

Drinking tea is beneficial to your overall health and body function. Tea, unlike coffee, hydrates you and helps you relax. In my opinion the best times to drink tea is when you wake up, when you're reading a book or doing homework, and before you go to bed. When I drink tea during these times, I feel great and more at ease. In the morning it helps me get ready for the day ahead, it helps me concentrate on my homework, and it helps me fall asleep a lot faster. If you don't believe me then you should try drinking tea more often and you won't be disappointed!