When we need to relax or want perking up, we often reach for a cup of tea.

But did you realise the quintessential English cuppa is good for your heart, teeth, mood, diet and bones and may even help prevent certain cancers?

Your daily brew is full to the brim with health boosters and they don't just stop at your regular brand of black tea. Herbal teas can do everything from helping you sleep to easing stomach upsets or boosting your immune system.

These benefits are sure to leave you gasping - so go and put the kettle on.

Black, green and oolong tea
A recent study revealed oolong tea can lower the risk of heart disease. This also applies to the black and green types which come from the same plant as oolong, the camellia sinensis.

Black, green and oolong tea give you a kissable mouth. Tea is a natural source of fluoride which can strengthen tooth enamel and help prevent tooth decay by helping to cut down the build-up of plaque.

Tea may help your heart to function more effectively, remove impurities from the blood and may even help prevent cancers because it contains antioxidents called flavonoids.

It can help your diet because tea has no calories when it is without milk.

Black, green and oolong are good for your bones. With milk, tea will provide calcium, zinc, vitamin B2, folic acid and vitamins B1 and B6. It only contains 11 to 13 calories.

Tea is a good source of manganese which is essential for general physical development and potassium which helps maintain your body's fluid balance.

Tea relaxes your muscles, putting you in a good mood because it contains substances called alkaloids.

It has less caffeine than coffee and a third of the caffeine of percolated or espresso coffee. If you opt for decaffeinated tea, it will still have up to two per cent of caffeine in it.

Herbal teas
Caffeine-free teas can help with a range of problems:

Skin: In Africa, rooibos tea, which comes from an African plant translated as redbush, is clinically prescribed for skin complaints such as eczema and psoriasis and is applied externally.

Stomach: Rooibus tea can help stomach problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhoea. Drink peppermint tea after meals to help digest food and for nausea. Chamomile tea also helps digestive problems.

Colds: Peppermint tea is good for colds and flu, sinus trouble and catarrh. Rooibos tea can enhance the efficiency of Vitamin C if taken together. Echinacea tea boosts the immune system and is a good winter drink. Rosehip tea is high in vitamin C.

Sleep: Chamomile tea before bedtime will help you relax and get a good night's sleep.

Detoxifying: Rosehip tea helps remove toxins and waste products. Nettle tea is a detoxifier, eliminates uric acid, stimulates circulation and is rich in iron.

For more information, log on to the Tea Council web site at www.tea.co.uk, The Redbush Tea Company at www.redbushtea.co.uk or call into Culpeper in Meeting House Lane, Brighton, which sells a range of herbal teas, call 01273 327939.