Organic Teabags: A Healthy and Eco-Friendly Choice

Teabags come in many forms to be convenient for us to use. But little did we know, it has some components that can affect our health. Some effects are harmful, and it is not easily recognized.

Teabags contain tiny pieces of plastic materials, not larger than five millimeters. These plastic materials are called microplastic elements.

The microplastic materials in teabags are categorized as primary microplastics. The primary is those found during laundering of synthetic clothes, tires, facial scrubs and in some personal care products. On the other hand, secondary microplastics can be found in larger plastic objects.

When it comes to teabags, the effects of microplastics are harmful. The toxic chemical substances can be dangerous when ingested. Therefore drinking tea in teabags made of microplastics should be avoided.

It is because, according to the study, drinking tea in microplastic teabags contributes to almost 11.6 billion particles with 3.1 billion nano plastics in each cup. So imagine if you have more than a cup?

But only a few are aware of this fact. The equivalent of microplastic in quarter teabags made can have 16 micrograms. It is given because you soak the whole tea bags in the cup. Therefore microplastics will be released from it.

Do tea lovers have a choice aside from teabags?

Knowing this fact, tea lovers are wondering why microplastics have been involved in teabags. Before, it is made of paper-like bags, but as technology innovates, teabags change.

Plastic polymer, also known as polypropylene, is added in the making of teabags. It is another way to seal up and keep the shape of teabags even soaked in hot liquid. For the marketing of tea products, this is one way to increase positive consumer feedback. But the polypropylene affects the endocrine system over time, which can lead to severe chronic conditions.

Other Means to Enjoy your Tea

Despite the harmful effects of microplastic found in teabags, the excellent benefits of tea are still in there. There are many ways to enjoy tea other than those in the teabag.

Loose Leaf Tea

At first you, it will be unusual for you to drink loose leaf tea. But you will find it more flavorful than tea being ground to fit into the usual teabag. How much it costs? Well, this is cheaper than that tea in the bag. It can also reuse for another serving without worrying about the flavor, aroma and the harmful effects of teabags.

But how will you enjoy drinking loose leaf tea?

Without tea bags, you can still enjoy tea by using different kitchenware to boil and prepare it for flavorful tea time.

One of which you can use is tea infuser. Make sure you will choose a stainless steel made infuser to avoid contamination. The infuser has straining capability to keep off the loose leaf with your tea.

You can also use a tea kettle with your tea infuser. If you will do this, it takes longer than the usual infuser. This process includes heating of water, which will go directly to your tea.

Loose leaf tea comes in many types, such as organic and herb teas. When you say organic tea, you are looking into non-GMO tea bags, in which the tea bags being used are unbleached. For herb teas, you will find some of its tea bags not using any metal staple or polypropylene. In this way, it will ensure the pure contents of herb teas.

Crystal Teas

When you have a limited time of brewing, there is a convenient way to enjoy tea. You can have tea crystals.

Drinking tea crystals is the most comfortable and safest way to enjoy your cup of tea. Forget the teabags because, in tea crystals, you will just need to dissolve in a container.

The tea crystals consist of pure organic tea, no additions of chemicals and other substances that can harm your health.

Tea lovers are slightly different from coffee lovers when asked about the benefits of drinking their favorite beverages. Focusing on tea, a cup of it contains polyphenols. It has powerful antioxidants, no preservatives, sugar or additives.

To be specific, polyphenols are beneficial to the heart and brain. When we have enough antioxidants, it can alleviate acne, bad breath, cold and stress. Over time, tea has also participated in the prevention of eye diseases.

A Cup of Advice

Indeed, drinking tea has many benefits for our health. But make sure that you will have it from organic and herb teas in loose leaf. Choosing tea in microplastic tea bags can ruin the goodness and health benefits that we can get from tea.

But avoid drinking tea before going to bed because, like coffee, tea has caffeine. And as we all know, caffeine has effects on our sleeping habits.

Therefore, a cup of tea is enough to make sure you can get all the health benefits of drinking tea, not in microplastics teabags.