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Hearing a lot about bubble tea? Know if it’s healthy for you or not

Bubble teas are flavourful, pearly drinks that have taken the world by storm. But let’s find out if it has any nutritional value or not.
Bubble tea benefits
Bubble tea may not be all that bad. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Manasvi Jain Published: 4 Oct 2022, 05:03 pm IST
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Are you also bubbly and curious about the in-trend bubble tea? It makes us wonder if Gen-Z has picked up on the right habit or not this time. Is bubble tea actually healthy? Let’s find out!

Bubble tea originating in Taiwan in the 1980s, and has been making the rounds globally. In recent years, it has become extremely popular in Western, European and Asian countries. The teenagers have, especially, fallen in love with this tea-based drink.

Bubble tea, also popularly known as boba tea, pearl tea or tapioca tea, is made with a base of milk or green tea and has tapioca balls added in it which justifies its names. Tapioca balls or sago pearls or more commonly known as sabudana in India. They are small, round and coloured granules which look like pearls. These are made by processing the starch extracted from the roots of cassava plant.

Tapioca balls are a gluten-free food and are highly recommended for people who are trying to lose weight. Though it is not very rich in any minerals or vitamins, it has high starch content which gives instant energy without adding many calories to our diet, if consumed in a limited quantity.

sabudana for energy in bubble tea
Topioca pearls in bubble tea is the secret to its energy boosting properties!

Even though bubble tea is a highly sugary and unhealthy drink, if you choose the right one it can have many health benefits. Having bubble tea with low sugar content and green tea as its base can be very nutritious.

Is bubble tea good for your health?

1. Bubble tea can provide strength to the body

A milk based bubble tea provides the goodness of milk and in no doubt is a good way to include milk in your everyday diet. “Apart from the antioxidants, there are various other components present in the milk that make it healthy. First of all, it gives much strength to the body, specifically, the milk’s calcium content. It makes the bones a lot tougher so that you can carry out your regular activities without easily damaging any bones,” says nutritionist Avni Kaul.

2. Good source of energy

Without any doubt, having a glass of milk gives us energy for our body system to function properly. “The carbohydrate content available in tapioca balls is the primary source of energy for the brain. It also acts as fuel for the heart muscles and central nervous system,” says Kaul. Together, one can avail the best of both worlds.

3. Good for the immune system

One of the important health benefits of bubble tea is that it can boost your immune system. “The drink has a base of green tea which provides a wide array of antioxidants that blocks any sort of oxidative stress accumulation,” explains the nutrition expert. Besides, there are fresh fruits like mango and strawberry, which are good for you and give you vitamin C.

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bubble tea made with green tea
Green tea enriches the bubble tea! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

4. Helps to prevent radical damage

Free radicals in our body could lead to cancer and various chronic diseases. Kaul says that “Green tea has epigallocatechin and polyphenols, which helps fight against free radicals.” Thus, it’s a good idea to add green tea to your bubble tea for your regular intake.

bubble tea
Are you reading this? Bubble tea can help us fight free radicals! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

So, one can sip the drink and lighten their mood. It is without a doubt one of the finest beverages to get you through the day!

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About the Author

Manasvi Jain is a professional writer with a keen interest in spreading awareness about various health and wellness issues through her articles. She writes well researched articles by connecting with various doctors and health experts. ...Read More

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