Why It's a Must Have: “Tea is packed with antioxidants and flavonoids that are associated with disease prevention and health promotion, including fighting cancer, increasing metabolism, boosting mental alertness, reducing inflammation, and reducing the risk of depression,” says Batayneh. “The Japanese, who are known to drink extraordinary amounts of tea, have shown tea’s health benefits of numerous studies: A 2006 study suggested that drinking tea decreases the risk of death from all causes; another study found that Japanese people who consumed two or more cups of tea a day were 50% less likely to develop cognitive impairments than those who drank less.” And it doesn’t matter what type you enjoy, each variety of tea offers specific health benefits, says Batayneh. “Black tea may inhibit fat absorption, and the EGCG in green tea may help prevent skin cancer, chamomile provides relief against allergies and hibiscus can lower blood pressure.”

Budget Bonus: Batayneh recommends buying loose leaf tea in bulk. “When you buy tea bags, you are paying primarily for packaging. In addition to paying less, you’ll get more out of your tea -- loose leaf tea is often higher quality.”