Non-caffeinated teas have long been considered by health enthusiasts as a wholesome alternative to drinks loaded with harmful sweeteners like processed sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, aspartame or acesulfame. Processed in a variety of methods to remove most of the caffeine content, non-caffeinated teas indeed offer an array of health benefits. But while this is the case, non-caffeinated teas should only be consumed moderately for a number of reasons.
Read further and discover more about the pros and cons of non-caffeinated teas and why the Superhuman Food Pyramid recommends moderate consumption of this source of hydration to help in your quest to Become Superhuman.
Non-Caffeinated Tea’s Benefits:
Green tea is perhaps the most popular among non-caffeinated teas sold in the market. And this comes as no surprise as green tea has an array of healthful benefits. For one, it’s been proven to prevent fatty liver disease. Green tea also induces satiety and may protect against the development of type 2 diabetes.
Tea consumption, specifically green tea, promotes fat burning and so may be helpful in preventing and possibly even treating obesity. Green tea consumption is also associated with decreased risk of developing coronary artery disease. All these benefits thanks to green tea’s major polyphenol called epigallocatechin-3-gallate, which functions as a powerful antioxidant in the body.
Black tea, available in non-caffeinated preparations, is also very popular. Abundant in phytoestrogens, black tea may help in the prevention of lung cancer. Lastly, most unsweetened non-caffeinated teas contain only nominal amounts of calories and so moderate consumption may aid in weight loss as well as in weight management efforts.
Non-Caffeinated Tea’s Risks:
A variety of teas contain measurable amounts of phytoestrogens or plant estrogens. Phytoestrogens have long been a constituent of the human diet and these compounds have an array of beneficial effects to health. However, phytoestrogens may worsen hormone-dependent cancers such as breast cancer. It is for this reason individuals with said conditions must first consult with their doctors prior to consuming non-caffeinated teas.
Most non-caffeinated teas also come packaged in nifty tea bags for convenient storage and preparation. Conventional tea bag manufacturing utilizes the bleaching agent chlorine dioxide, which brings about byproducts such as dioxin that causes birth defects, cancer, and other debilitating illnesses. In fact, tea bags were tested and trace amounts of dioxin have been detected. It is crucial to note that there is no safe dose for this toxin. Once it is ingested, there is no way to remove it and so it will only continue to accumulate in the body. Dioxin also enters the placenta of pregnant women as well as enters the breast milk, thus is passed along to the child.
Being mindful of the non-caffeinated teas you obtain is crucial. If possible, go for loose leaf varieties and opt to use stainless steel tea infusers instead of bleached tea filter papers to prepare your drink. If you must purchase those packaged in tea bags, go for brands that utilize unbleached tea bags. Also, avoid going for those prepared using the processed chlorine free bleaching system since manufacturers that employ this method usually add recycled paper, which is only safe to assume as previously bleached with chlorine dioxide.
In the next post, I’ll tell you the pros and cons of coconut milk and why you should drink it moderately to help in your quest to Become Superhuman.
In the meantime, if you care to jump ahead, here is a complete listing of drinks to avoid as well as consume regularly and moderately on the Superhuman Food Pyramid:
Drink:
Moderate:
- Non-Caffeinated Teas
- Coconut Milk
- Raw, Grass-Fed Cow or Goat’s Milk
- Kefir
- Sports Drinks
- Smoothies (With Natural Ingredients)
- Arabica Coffee Regular and Decaf
- Caffeinated Tea (includes Green Tea)
- Anti-Oxidant Drinks or Powders
- Rice Milk
Avoid:
- Almond Milk
- Red Wine
- Energy Drinks
- Flavored Waters
- Soda
- Soy Milk
- Regular Cow’s Milk
- Instant Coffee
- Blended Coffee
- Lattes
- Mochas
- Beer
- Mixed Drinks
- Hard Alcohol
If you have questions, comments or feedback about the pros and cons of non-caffeinated teas, the Superhuman Food Pyramid, this website, or other aspects of Becoming Superhuman, then leave your thoughts below, as well as any tips you have on the pros and cons of non-caffeinated teas.
Author Bio: Ben Greenfield
His credentials include:
Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology
Personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
Sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN)
Advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta, the “Harvard” of bicycle fitting schools
Over 10 years experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports
Ben hosts the highly popular fitness, nutrition and wellness website at http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com, which features blogs, podcasts, and product reviews from Ben. He is a frequent contributor to Triathlete magazine and LAVA magazine, Endurance Planet (http://www.enduranceplanet.com), the outdoor sports magazine OutThere Monthly and has been featured in WebMD, the Spokesman-Review, Inlander magazine, In-Health magazine, Fit-Pro magazine, PTontheNet, Prevention magazine, Women’s Running magazine, and Inside Triathlon magazine.
As a public speaker on fitness, nutrition, and training, Ben hosts one of the top ranked fitness podcasts in iTunes, the Get-Fit Guy (http://www.GetFitGuy.com), and has been a keynote lecturer at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships Medical Conference, the Coeur D’ Alene Ironman Medical Conference, USAT Art & Science of Coaching Symposium, Can-Fit-Pro Conference, Pilgrim’s Wellness Center Education Series, Fleet Feet Sports Endurance Sports Clinic and REI Nutrition Clinic. He sits on the board of directors for Tri-Fusion triathlon team, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and is the official coach for the YoungTri. As a triathlon coach and competitor, Ben competes at Ironman and Half-Ironman World Championships, holds a ranking as of USAT’s top ranked age grouper triathletes, and competes in 15-20 triathlons each year, both nationally and internationally.
