Is Chai Tea Latte Healthy?
Chai tea lattes offer a unique and delicious blend of spices complemented by tea, milk, and often sugar. They are extremely popular as a takeaway coffee option, but are they good for your health? Let’s take a look at the facts.
Nutritional Profile
Chai tea lattes vary in caloric content depending on how they are prepared and the types of milk and sweeteners used. Generally, a standard chai tea latte made with skim milk contains about 140 calories and 2.5 grams of fat.
The main ingredients of a chai tea latte include tea, milk and sweeteners, along with various additional spices including ginger, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom and nutmeg.
The primary benefit of these spices is that they are full of antioxidants, which can help protect against cell damage, boost the immune system and reduce inflammation.
Health Benefits
The health benefits of a chai tea latte may include:
- Improved Heart Health: Spices like ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom and nutmeg in a chai latte can help reduce bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol.
- Reduced Blood Sugar: Studies suggest some of the spices in chai lattes like cinnamon and ginger may help reduce blood sugar levels.
- Cancer Prevention: Ginger and turmeric, which are both found in chai lattes, are associated with lower levels of inflammation and may help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.
- Improved Digestion: Cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom can help improve digestion and reduce symptoms of bloating and indigestion.
- Enhanced Immunity: Cinnamons and ginger are rich in antioxidants, which help enhance immunity.
The Bottom Line
Chai tea lattes are a delicious and seemingly healthy beverage, with potential benefits such as improved heart health, reduced blood sugar, cancer prevention and enhanced immunity. As long as they are made with less sugar and healthier milk alternatives, they can be a great addition to a healthy diet.
