17 Amazing Things That Happen To Your Body When You Drink Tea

Think of tea as water 2.0. In addition to its thirst-quenching properties, the brew is brimming with potent antioxidants that boast nearly magical powers for your body. So much so, that over 158 million Americans are sipping tea on any given day. Here's another impressive factoid: over 80 percent of American households stock up on the bags!

If you're inclined to jump on the habit, our science-backed 7-Day Flat-Belly Tea Cleanse can definitely help you get started on benefiting from these 20 Amazing Things That Happen To Your Body When You Drink Tea. And for more ways to blast fat by sipping on a glass, don't miss these 22 Best Teas for Weight Loss.

Looking to jumpstart your metabolism without hitting the weights? A study in the International Journal of Obesity found that catechins, such as EGCG found in green and white teas, can slightly rev your metabolism. No wonder why drinking the green brew is one of our The 55 Best Ways to Boost Your Metabolism.

Although adopting a Western diet that's high in sugar and fat is a recipe for metabolic disaster, an animal study published in The FASEB Journal suggests that EGCG can combat the ill effects of a high-fat and high-fructose diet, which include weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and memory impairment. Although we do not recommend ditching your healthy habits for a few mugs of the stuff, supplementing these 100 Healthiest Foods of 2017 with green tea will definitely do the trick.

According to a study in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, four cups of green tea a day resulted in a significant decrease in body weight and waist circumference. Not only that, ECGC is known to increase thermogenesis, the body's ability to burn fat.

The same Journal of Research in Medical Sciences study found that four cups of the green stuff daily was shown to reduce systolic blood pressure. Considering about 33 percent of American adults suffer from hypertension, you may want to brew yourself another glass and munch on these 20 Foods That Lower Blood Pressure.

Rooibos tea or red tea, which is native to South Africa, contains magnesium—a mineral that binds to GABA receptors and zaps away stress. In addition, Aspalathin, the most abundant flavonoid in rooibos, increases stress resistance and promotes longevity under stress according to a study in Phytomedicine.

"I love herbal teas like chamomile because they have wonderful relaxants that can be safely used every night to help you sink into sleep," Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, MD, the chief medical officer of Well & Being tells us. She suggests steeping a bag of tea for 5 minutes in your favorite milk to help you relax and start catching Zzz's.

Before digging into your takeout, try steeping a glass of green tea. The Hulk-hued brew releases cholecystokinin, or CCK, a hunger-reducing hormone to help curb your hanger and prevent overeating during dinnertime.

In your quest to achieve clear, luminous skin, guzzling tea is your best bet. An animal study found that the polyphenols in green tea can help prevent "solar UVB light-induced skin disorders including photoaging, melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers" when applied either topically or taken orally. What's more, the potent polyphenols in various teas contain anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat acne and eczema.

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Next time you struggle with that 3 p.m. slump, try swapping your regular cup of Joe for a mug of tea. "The caffeine in black tea sharpens mental focus and concentration, while also having a soothing and anti-inflammatory effect," says May Tom, MPH, RDN at Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in California.

Yellow tea contains trace minerals and vitamins such as B2, B12, and E, which maintain skin health and beauty by boosting collagen production, fighting inflammation, and fending off free radicals. Not only that, the Levomenol found in chamomile tea helps naturally moisturize the skin as well as diminish the signs of photodamage, reduce pruritus, and help with skin texture and elasticity, according to The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.

According to the Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, green tea's ability to interfere with the body's inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria can help promote oral health while warding off disease.

Need a quick remedy to get rid of the paunch? We especially love lemon tea for its diuretic, debloating properties. So how does the citrusy brew help? The Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan confirmed that D-Limonene, the main component of citrus rind oil that's found in the tea, can fend off water retention.

A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry discovered that certain polyphenols—like the EGCG catechins found in green tea—increases the activity of pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down proteins. The result? An improved digestion with fewer gas pains and bloat.

The National Institute of Health's (NIH) National Cancer Institute discovered that Japanese women who drank at least one cup of green tea daily had less cancer-causing urinary estrogen than women who didn't drink. What's more, EGCG was found to boast chemopreventive properties by preventing tumor cells from becoming cancerous.

Green tea is one of our best heart-healthy foods thanks to its ticker-protective benefits. According to the Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, green tea lowers cholesterol levels and thereby prevents stroke and heart disease. Post-heart attack, the brew can help prevent cell death as well as speeds up heart cell recovery.

The Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology report also found that green tea improves lipid and glucose metabolism, prevents blood sugar spikes, and balances metabolic rate.

According to the same report, EGCG "can directly kill bacteria and viruses, including the influenza virus." Before you start feeling under the weather this season, don't miss our exclusive report: 27 Doctors' Own Cures for a Cold.