Tea: The Real Man’s Drink
Real man? What’s a real man anyway? Is it someone who loves football and drinks beer? Is it a mountain man who toughs the outdoors and brandishes a beard? Does he sport a suit or a sports coat, track pants or sweat pants? Let’s face it, a real man can mean anything. Men don’t need to fit into some ideological stereotype. No matter the man, it is the health of a man spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically that matters.
If men are to take care of their health, what are some ways we can go about doing that? Well, we are obviously biased in one regard, but let us look at what the science says about men’s health and how tea can help.
Health Hazards for Men
Research suggests that the top 5 health concerns for men, meaning the thing that kills us the most other than the dumb things we do, are heart disease, stroke, suicide, prostate cancer, and lung cancer. The biggest problems facing men alone are prostate cancer and low testosterone. Men also can lose their libido as do women, but it seems to be more of a sore spot for men. We tend to highly value our sexual prowess more so than women.
It is good to know about what kills us and what we tend to struggle with concerning our health. They are probably things we already knew; so, let’s get into what can help reduce our risks.
Drinking Tea to Improve Men’s Health
There are a variety of different teas out there including real tea which comes from the tea plant. These teas are your black, green, white, and oolong tea varieties. There are also herbal teas such as yerba mate, rooibos, hibiscus, and other herbal options. With all of these different options, knowing which one to choose can be daunting especially when you have never drunk tea or even considered it before.
First of all, it is important to remember that the best tea is the one you will actually enjoy and drink most often. However, also knowing the impact that various tea types can have on your health is important too. Let’s look at a few tea options and see how they may have a positive impact on the various health problems men face.
Green Tea
Green teas are popular for their health benefits and it’s no wonder. Green tea, especially Matcha green tea, is full of antioxidants that can help fight free radicals in the body. These free radicals create oxidative stress that can lead to prostate cancer and other health risks. Studies are also showing that a specific antioxidant in green tea known as polyphenols may act as neuroprotective agents to curb the effects of Parkinson’s disease which tends to affect men significantly more. They also help reduce stress hormones in the body lowering your risk of depression and dementia.
Black Tea
Green tea gets all the love when it comes to health benefits research, but black tea is by far the most popular tea worldwide. Men tend to love black tea for its bold and robust flavor. It too is full of antioxidants that have a huge impact on protecting the heart. In fact, one study suggests that black tea can significantly reduce your risk of stroke and the more consistent you are with drinking it, the better. That’s pretty good news considering stroke is one of the big killers of men. However, while drinking tea more often and consistently is good news for your heart, too much black tea can be bad news for your testicles. In very large amounts, black tea has polyphenols that can inhibit testosterone production. In contrast, if you consume black tea in smaller amounts, the same polyphenol that inhibits testosterone can actually increase it. Right? Nature is super weird.
Rooibos Tea
This herbal tea, also known as red bush tea, comes from the South African shrub with needle-shaped leaves. It is full of antioxidants as well (there seems to be a theme here). Drinking Rooibos can help reduce blood pressure, increase your body’s ability to circulate blood, and reduce the risks associated with diabetes. This improvement in blood circulation is not only good for the heart but it may also be good for your sex life. A good flow of blood to the brain also creates a healthy flow of hormone signals between the brain and the genitals. This is what makes rooibos tea quiet the libido booster. It may even increase male fertility for you men wishing to propagate your seed.
Hibiscus Tea
This prized herbal tea is made not from the beautiful petals of the hibiscus flower, but from the dark red calyx which encloses the bud of the flower. Hibiscus tea is popular for its tart cranberry-like flavor and also for promoting a healthy heart. Not only can hibiscus tea lower your blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease and stroke, but it may also slow the aging process, and also help prevent prostate cancer. On top of all of that, it may also boost your metabolism and contribute to a stronger immune system.
So, to all of you men out there who think that tea is only for dainty women who lift their pinky to sip, think again. Be a real man and take care of your health. Invite the boys over, have a tea party, and brew up some tea. Your buddies, your body, and your own family will thank you. It just might add a few more years to your life.
