THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF TEA
Properties:
Tea is rich in polyphenols, tannin, and flavanols, often termed
catechins, fluoride, and vitamin C, P, K, and B. Although tea
contains caffeine, the amounts are far less than those in coffee and
produce a softer, beneficial effect. Studies suggest that as few as
four servings of tea a day may have a positive impact on your health.
Read on and continue sipping tea for your health and well-being.
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Antioxidant Powerhouse:
Researchers have found that green tea was the best antioxidant
scavenger of deadly free radicals. Free radicals are very powerful
oxidants, which cause intense cell damage. When exposed to oxygen
cell tissues are vulnerable to free radical attachment, causing an
effect much like that of rust. Over time this may lead to cancer or
cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants in tea are able to neutralize
the damaging effects of oxygen and free radicals that are present
in the body. Antioxidants slow or prevent cell damage from exposure
to oxygen by creating a barrier around cell tissue.
(University of California, Berkeley)
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Cancer Prevention:
Green Tea has been found to inhibit the growth of esophageal and
stomach tumors in mice. Green and black tea could inhibit the
development of pre-cancerous lesions as well.
(Saitama Cancer Center and the Department of Biochemistry, Bunri Tokushima University)
A recent study showed that a compound in black tea called TF-2 caused
colorectal cancer cells to "commit suicide"; normal cells were
unaffected. (Rutgers University)
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White Tea Health:
Recent studies show that the polyphenols found in green tea appear
in greater concentrations in white tea helping to destroy bacteria and
other organisms that cause disease.
(Pace University's Dyson College of Arts & Sciences)
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Improved Cardiovascular Health and Reduced Risk of Stroke:
A study undertaken found that of 340 men and women who had suffered
from heart attacks, those who drank a cup or more of black tea daily
had a 44% lower risk of repeated heart attacks compared to non tea
drinkers. Flavonoids are theorized to improve the lining of blood
vessels, accounting for the decrease.
(Brigham and Young, Harvard Medical School)
Studies show that drinking black tea helps to prevent narrowed or
clogged arteries that lead to ischemic heart disease, heart attack,
or stroke. (Boston University School of Medicine;
The Zutphen Study, Netherlands)
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Reduces "Bad" Cholesterol:
Black tea was shown to reduce LDL-cholesterol ("bad cholesterol")
by 11.1% in three weeks. It was speculated that tea polyphenols
might limit the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, thus
reducing the cholesterol levels in the blood.
(U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Reducing the "bad" cholesterol LDL deposits, tea elevates HDL,
the "good" cholesterol. Green tea and oolong especially, could
prevent arteriosclerosis. (The University of California)
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Prevents Tooth Decay:
Studies show the tannin and fluoride content present in tea
prevents tooth decay. (American Dental Institutions)
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Oral Health:
Green tea, specifically flavonoids, mainly catechins, found in
green tea have exhibited inhibitory effects on the growth of
cariogenic bacteria by inhibiting the adherence and growth of
plaque at the tooth surface. (Sakanaka, et al (1990))
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Prevents Bad Breath:
Polyphenols found in both green and black tea, can block bacteria
from producing foul-smelling compounds such as hydrogen sulfide
in the mouth. (American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC)
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Relieves Arthritis:
Green tea was shown to inhibit the development of arthritis in mice.
Mice given green tea polyphenols were significantly less likely to
develop arthritis. The study was conducted on 36 mice. Of the 18
mice that received the green tea, only eight (44%) developed
arthritis. Among the 18 mice that did not receive the green tea,
all but one, or 94% developed arthritis.
(Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, CWRU's School of Medicine - April 13)
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Increased Metabolic Rate:
It was found that green tea extract resulted in a significant
increase in energy expenditure (a measure of metabolism),
plus also had a significant effect on fat oxidation.
(American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)
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Burns Calories:
A recent study showed that green tea's antioxidant EGCG stimulates
the body to burn calories, notably fat. In the study, a daily dose of
270 mg EGCG (the amount 2-3 cups of green tea) caused men to burn 4%
more energy - about 80 extra calories a day.
(University of Geneva, Switzerland)
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Reduced Risk of Kidney Stones:
In a study of more than 81,000 women 40 to 65 years of age,
it was concluded that 8 fluid ounces of tea consumed daily
actually lowers the risk of developing kidney stones by 8%.
(The Third International Scientific Symposium on Tea & Human Health)
Furthermore, tea acts as a diuretic (stimulates the flow of urine),
promoting better kidney function and aids digestion.
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Retards the Aging Process:
It has been shown that Green tea reduces infection and the stresses
of bacteria on the system thus significantly retarding the aging
process. (The Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Japan)
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Immune Booster:
Blood cells from tea drinkers respond 5 times faster to germs than
those of coffee drinkers. (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA)
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Puerh Reduces Cholesterol and Aids in Digestion:
Puerh has long been drunk for its health properties - namely known to
eliminate cholesterol and sipped after meals as a digestif.
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Holds Promise as HIV Therapy:
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGGG) an active ingredient in tea, has
antiviral, antioxidant and antibacterial properties that are now
being reported to inhibit the HIV virus.
(Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX)
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