Tea is a natural, refreshing, drink which is good for you! All real teas, that is those made from the tea bush Camellia sinensis are good for you, green or black, caffeinated or decaffeinated.  Tea is a rich source of flavonoid antioxidants which help to maintain the body’s defence system aiding its fight against harmful substances caused by environmental factors such as pollution, the sun and smoking.  In fact tea is the richest source of flavonoid antioxidants in the UK diet.  Tea counts towards your daily fluid intake! Tea is also good for hydration.  Our whole body from our skin to our vital organs needs fluid to operate efficiently.  Lack of fluids can lead to dehydration which causes lethargy, headaches, constipation and possible kidney problems, yet most of us don’t drink enough fluid to keep us hydrated.  The British Dietetic Association advises that we should drink at least 8 glasses of fluid a day. Being over 99.5% water, it’s no wonder the Association lists a cup of tea as one of the fluids that can be drunk to achieve the recommended intake. A cup of tea can count towards the body’s daily fluid requirement when one cup is consumed per sitting. Tea can be good for the waistline! Not only is tea a rich source of flavonoid antioxidants and good for hydration, if taken without milk and sugar it is calorie free so is good for the waistline!   Tea has low caffeine levels! Some mistakenly believe that the levels of caffeine in tea act as a diuretic, canceling out its hydration benefits.  The fact is that caffeine levels in tea are so low that even drinking six cups a day will have little diuretic effect.  There’s around 50 mg of caffeine in each cup of tea – about the same as a bar of plain chocolate and only half of the amount of caffeine in a cup of filtered coffee.  Experts consider a ‘moderate’ daily amount of caffeine to be 300 mg, the equivalent of six cups of tea. The added bonus in your cup - theanine! Tea is also is a natural source of an amino acid called theanine. Early research suggests that theanine promotes the production of alpha brain waves which can help to create a state of deep relaxation and alertness, the same that you might achieve through meditation.  Leaving all the science aside, if you choose a tea that suits your taste buds and your pocket you can drink and enjoy safe in the knowledge that it really is doing you some good. For more information about tea and health please see the UK Tea Council's tea4health website