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From the beginning of tea-drinking time, good health has been associated
with tea. Tea was, in fact, first regarded as a medicine. Today, scientific
investigations continue to report that positive health benefits do exist.
Research has shown that tea contains benefits from specific antioxidants
to help prevent the onset of chronic diseases. Antioxidants are compounds
that help the body fight harmful free radicals. Tea is also a rich source
of the plant substances known as flavonoids, which can also be found in
broccoli, oranges and other foods including wines.
During
a time when so many people are trying to improve their health,
reassess priorities and take more time to relax and enjoy life,
making tea a regular part of your daily routine seems so natural. Tea, full of
health-promoting antioxidants and minerals, is a natural part of a healthy lifestyle.
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• Cancer
Prevention - The American Association for Cancer Research, among other researchers, have
found that tea drinkers were less likely to develop certain
cancers than non-tea drinkers due to the antioxidant EGCG.
• Bone Health - As studies continue, the reports by many researchers show that tea drinkers have been found to have higher bone-density measurements.
• Heart Health - Many studies show that tea drinkers
have a significantly lower risk of fatal heart attacks than non-tea drinkers.
• Weight Loss - Research continues to show that drinking tea will increase metabolism, enabling the body to burn more fat. Caffeine also has a positive effect on energy, thereby increasing the burn rate.
• Chronic Disease - Antioxidants, called catechins, found in tea have a positive effect in the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases. Green tea, in particular, has had the most beneficial studies.
• Arterial Health - Boston University researchers found that blood vessel function improves with drinking tea and seemed to reverse the progression of atherosclerosis.
• Skin Health - By applying tea to sunburned skin, its polyphenols will reduce sun damage associated with wrinkling and cancer.
• Oral Health - With its natural fluoride, flavonoids
and vitamin C, tea inhibits the plaque-forming ability of oral bacteria.
• Reduce Stress - Tea contains "theanine" a chemical that stimulates the brain's production of alpha waves, which has a positive effect on reducing stress and anxiety.
• Overall Health - Brewed tea contains antioxidant polyphenols
that neutralize free radicals which help protect against chronic disease. |
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WHAT ABOUT CAFFEINE?
Caffeine
is a stimulant and occurs naturally in about 60 plants including coffee
beans, cocoa beans and tea leaves. Caffeine has been shown to increase
alertness and concentration, quell headaches and to speed reaction
time. It also increases the flow of digestive juices and helps the
kidneys eliminate toxins in the body. In the United States,
however, caffeine is a matter of controversy. High amounts of caffeine
can adversely affect some people. If caffeine is your concern, consider
that on average, tea contains approximately 1/3 to 1/2 less caffeine
per serving as coffee. The average tea drinker consumes about 80 mg
of caffeine per day as compared to the average coffee drinker's 220
mg. And the longer the infusion the greater the caffeine content. Tea
bags, which contain broken leaves, produce an infusion with far more
caffeine than loose leaf tea.
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on
average . . .
black
tea contains half as much
caffeine as coffee
oolong tea contains half as
much caffeine as black tea
green tea contains half as
much caffeine as oolong tea
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For those who are
caffeine sensitive, consider red tea or Rooibos, a
completely caffeine-free herb tea from South Africa. Rooibos (roy-bus)
is the only other herb
in the world which undergoes a fermentation process like black tea.
Studies show that Rooibos contains comparable amounts of polyphenols
to green tea and has a soothing effect on headaches, disturbed sleep
patterns and digestive problems. A great "tea alternative".
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Copyright
Notting Hall 2001-2012©
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