Black tea or herbal tea, which is better for you? Tea, in general, has a wide range of benefits. It is a much healthier drink for you than sodas, sugary juices, or sugar- and cream-loaded coffee. Here are some general benefits of both black and herbal tea:

• Improves digestion
• Quenches thirst
• Removes flatulence
• Cools the body
• Acts as a diuretic
• Cleanses the body

Benefits of Black Tea

Black tea is different from herbal tea in that it is more oxidized. It generally lasts longer than herbal varieties and has a stronger flavor. Common black teas are Earl Grey, English Breakfast and Masala Chai. Although black teas contain caffeine, the caffeine content of a cup of tea is much less than a cup of coffee.

Studies have shown that drinking black tea long-term assists with reversing cardiovascular disease. Other findings indicate that black tea does not have these effects when it is mixed with milk or sweeteners. To get the true benefits of black tea, drink it plain.

Benefits of Herbal Tea

Herbal tea is made from a large number of herbs. One example is peppermint tea. It contains no caffeine. It contains menthol, which helps to relieve headaches, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. It is usually recommended when you have a cold. Peppermint tea also eases your stress and relaxes you.

Green tea, although caffeinated, is generally lumped in with herbal teas. Green tea has shown positive effects in people with heart disease and is thought of as a good tea for cancer prevention. It also oxidizes fat and has been studied for its incorporation into weight loss programs. Green tea has also been found to reduce eye stress and may be effective in preventing glaucoma.

Ginger tea is another example of a tea with healing benefits. It is often used to aid digestion, treat nausea and as a remedy for diarrhea. It is best when made fresh. You can boil water and then add cut or grated ginger. Allow 5 to 10 minutes for it to steep for best effects.

Essiac tea is made from a blend of herbs. Some believe that it has cancer prevention properties, however, scientific studies have not been conducted to prove these claims.

You have probably heard of yet another herbal tea called echinacea. It is thought to support the immune system and act as a protection against colds. More scientific studies need to be conducted to establish the effectiveness of this herb. Some people have shown allergic reactions to echinacea.

Black Tea vs. Herbal Tea

Black tea offers the benefit of reversing cardiovascular disease if you drink it plain and long term. Herbal teas each offer their individual benefits ranging from aiding digestion, to removing nausea, to treating diarrhea and more. The role of tea in cancer prevention and boosting the immune system needs to be studied further. When it comes to deciding between black tea and herbal tea, examine your individual needs. You may want to incorporate black tea into your diet regularly but moderately because of its caffeine content. Use herbal teas to cleanse your system and to deal with symptoms as they pop up.