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Tea is "a plant-based beverage," says Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., a Tufts University professor of nutrition. "You put those leaves in water and you heat them up and what you're doing is extracting these phytonutrients that are very similar to those that you find in fruits and vegetables.
Phytochemicals are natural substances found in fruits and vegetables that are believed to benefit health and reduce the risk of disease.
When you hear about the health benefits of tea, it's often those phytochemicals that get the credit. Tea has been linked to everything from lower risk for osteoporosis to lower incidence of halitosis (bad breath), but more research is needed for definitive proof.
Whatever additional benefits may be discovered, Blumberg says, tea already has plenty of positive points that make it a great choice as a drink. "Number One, it's a zero-calorie beverage. So, without naming any particular sodas out there, if you think, 'Hmm, should I have a can of soda or a cup of tea?' I can tell you from a very professional nutrition science point of view, pick the tea."
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