Sam Howells and Ben Jones have the answers to all your diet and nutrition questions. They are directors at diet, weightloss and holistic health provider BlueSkies and have over 20 years of experience in the health, fitness and nutrition industry- helping people make healthy food choices, manage their weight and become fitter and healthier.

Kim Asks:

Does chai tea have any health benefits?

The Nutritionists’ Answer:

Hi Kim, to put it simply – yes, chai tea does offer health benefits, a great deal of them!  The reasons why becomes clearer as we look into the ingredients of chai tea. Most of the constituent ingredients proffer their own health benefits, add them all together and you’ve got quite an amazing mix. 

The traditional ingredients of chai tea include:

• Black tea – studies have revealed the health benefits of black tea, many of which are attributed its high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants fight ‘free radicals’ – substances capable of damaging our cells – which are produced by our bodies but also enter them through exposure to cigarette smoke, pollution and radiation. More antioxidants mean that more free radicals can be ‘deactivated’. This is important as high levels of free radicals are known to be a factor in the development of illnesses associated with cell damage such as cancer, heart disease and cataracts. Research also shows that tea can help to lower ‘bad’ cholesterol, reduce blood pressure and suppress the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. 

• Cloves – ‘eugenol’ is the active compound in cloves and it may help to prevent digestive tract cancers and joint inflammation as it is a natural anti-inflammatory substance. Cloves are also a source of antioxidants. 

• Cinnamon – another natural health booster! Studies have shown that ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon per day can help to lower ‘bad’ cholesterol and it may help to regulate blood sugar levels. Cinnamon is also believed to have an anti-clotting effect on the blood and a study from Denmark showed that, when combined with honey (another ingredient in traditional Chai tea), it can reduce the pain caused by arthritis, although it’s important to remember that the small amount present in Chai tea may not be adequate to confer these benefits.

• Nutmeg – this spice is believed to be able to lower blood pressure, soothe upset stomachs, relieve stress and help remove toxins from the liver. Nutmeg can be toxic in large amounts but you would have to drink a lot of Chai tea to reach that level!

• Ginger – for thousands of years, ginger has been used in alternative medicine. It is thought to be beneficial for the digestive system and to help reduce nausea, motion sickness and morning sickness in pregnant women. Ginger is also believed to improve cardiovascular and artery health as well as helping to fight the common cold and flu. 

• Cardamom – this spice is thought to relieve indigestion and aid the digestion process as a whole as well as cleansing the kidneys and bladder.

• Pepper – another spice that is beneficial for the digestive system. In addition, pepper contains several powerful antioxidants which will fight free radicals within the body.

• Milk – a great source of calcium which is important for bone health. Whole milk contains a relatively high amount of saturated fats so choose lower fat semi-skimmed or skimmed milk if possible.

• Honey – the proven health benefits of honey are growing all the time and it contains small amounts of many vitamins and minerals. You can choose whether to add honey to your Chai tea to add sweetness. 

Chai tea also contains caffeine so you should limit your intake of it. Although caffeine is a stimulant, it is recommended that, as a general guide, you drink no more than 4 cups of caffeinated drinks per day. In addition, make sure that you get plenty of non-caffeinated fluids throughout the day to maintain your hydration level. 

On a slightly cynical note, these benefits are only present if the ‘chai tea’ you’re drinking actually contains all of these things; a coffee shop ‘chai tea latte’ made from flavoured syrup and hot milk will not necessarily have all of these ingredients.

Sam Howells, pictured. Sam is an accredited Sports Physiologist with a Masters in Sports Science. Sam says, ’My passion is to see as many people as possible leading healthy, active lives in ways that suit them - eating well and being active is not necessarily hard, doesn’t have to cost a fortune and doesn’t need to take up 90% of your time!’

Ben Jones, pictured. Ben is a personal trainer with a BSC in Physiology. Ben has a ‘practice what you preach’ attitude and follows a regular training programme - currently a mix of running, cycling and weight training.

Wouldn’t it be better to learn to eat healthily and enjoy delicious, lower calorie, nutritious food, rather than living on junk food, milkshakes, supplements or meal replacement bars? Find out how from our resident nutrition experts!

If you have a question about making your diet healthy and balanced, losing weight sensibly, the latest food and performance supplements, fad diets or whether your diet meets your body’s requirements, all you have to do is send them your question using the Comment on this Article box below. And remember – sign up to our monthly health and fitness newsletter to receive your expert answer direct in your in-box.

For more information on diet, nutrition, holistic health and the simple changes you can make to look and feel fantastic, visit www.blueskiesfitness.co.uk