During the hot summer months, an ice cold glass of tea probably sounds a lot better than a cup of hot tea, but is it a good idea? Is iced tea good for you or should you only drink hot tea? We’ve got the inside scoop.

The truth is that drinking any type of tea is a better alternative than drinking coffee, sugary juice, or soft drinks. However drinking hot tea has quite a few advantages.

1. Weight Loss: In a complex study conducted by Penn State that looked at 6,472 adults, they found that women who drank hot tea lost weight, where as women who drank iced tea actually gained weight.
2. Antioxidants: Hot water infuses the tea leaves and draws out the flavonoids and other antioxidants. Leaving the hot tea to sit and then grow cold reduces the antioxidants and thus its health benefits.
3. Flavor: Hot tea tastes better. The human body is better able to enjoy strong aromas and flavors when tea is hot compared to cold.
4. Caffeine: Both hot tea and cold tea have the same amount of caffeine, so if you’re only looking for an energy boost, you can drink either.
5. Cholesterol: Drinking hot tea can lower your levels of unhealthy HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. The same benefits are not found when drinking iced tea.