Tea
Ordinary tea, as most people know it, comes from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. There are three main types of tea: green tea, oolong tea, and black tea, categorized according to their oxidation levels (called the fermentation process). Green tea is steamed, baked, or pan heated to prevent oxidation and thus the leaves remain green. Unlike green tea, oolong tea is partially fermented, and black tea is fully fermented.
So why is green tea getting all the attention in the science world? It's mainly because of the antioxidant epigallocatechin-3 gallate ( EGCG ), the main component considered good for one's health which is preserved in green tea but lost in oolong and black varieties when fermented. Antioxidants are thought to prevent free radicals.
- When I drink tea I always reuse the tea bag. A small tip, but they all add up!
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[edit] Tea is healthier than water
"Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants, so it's got two things going for it," said Dr. Carrie Ruxton, nutrition team leader.
In a recent study by The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Dr. Ruxton and her team from King's College, London, found that tea is healthier for your body than plain water. Tea not only re-hydrates the body, but it also contains disease-fighting antioxidants. Because of these antioxidants, drinking tea may offer protection against heart disease, stroke and many types of cancer including: lung, mouth, breast, pancreas, colorectal, esophageal, bladder and skin.
[edit] Types of Tea
All tea comes from the evergreen tea bush (Camellia Sinensis). The following terms only describe tea leaves after they are harvested from the tea bush and processed for consumption.
Oxidization is a chemical reaction that takes place when tea leaves are picked and begin to wither and die. Green tea is not allowed to oxidize and is quickly dried, pan- fried or oven fired to dehydrate the tea leaves for storage. This process retains many of the polyphenols, catechins, and flavonoids that are associated with the health benefits of drinking green tea.
Black tea is allowed to oxidize which “ripens” the tea and creates a deep, rich, robust flavor with uniqueness based on the tea grower’s knowledge and skill. The oxidation process is commonly referred to as fermentation. This is technically incorrect because "fermentation" is a process in which yeast is converted into alcohol and sugar is converted to and released as carbon dioxide gas.
Oolong tea falls somewhere between green tea and black tea in the amount of time the tea leaves are allowed to oxidize. Two terms often used to describe oolong tea are “green” and “amber” style. The “amber” styles are allowed to oxidize slightly more than the “green style” oolong tea. This results in a variety of smooth teas available that bear the makers style and tradition.
White tea is picked before the leaf buds fully open and are still covered with fine silky hairs. The delicate buds are quickly air dried to produce some of the rarest and most expensive tea available. White tea is said to have three time more antioxidants than green or black tea. Researchers for some of the large cosmetic companies have become very interested in white tea in recent years. The polyphenols in white tea have been shown to be very effective in mopping up free radicals that can lead to aging, and wrinkles, and sagging skin.
[edit] Tea keeps the mind young
Another new study shows that green tea may protect an aging brain. Green tea is very popular in Asia and has long been deemed as a soothing health tonic. Japan has a lower rate of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia than the U.S. and other Western countries, and it could be attributed to the high levels of green tea consumption.
Researchers from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that seniors in Japan who drank one or more cups of green tea a day were half as likely to show cognitive and memory problems as those who drank less. The more tea the subjects drank, the lower their chances of having mental difficulties. Members of green tea-drinking cultures usually consume three cups a day.
Green tea contains the potent compound EGCG, which seems to inhibit the production of beta-amyloid, a toxic protein that clogs the brains of Alzheimer’s victims. Other studies show that EGCG may prevent heart disease, certain cancers, bacterial infections and the spread of HIV.
[edit] Benefits of Organic Green Tea
A main green tea benefit is that it contains powerful antioxidants that favor bacteria beneficial to the human body while killing those that are harmful. Organic green teas have a high rate of antioxidants which are really important to protect the cells from a natural process that prevents toxins that build up from unnecessary oxygen.
Organic tea is the more natural form of modern tea plants that are sprayed with pesticides and other artificial methods of growth. Many tea plantations are now converting to organic due to the harming effects of chemical fertilizers- this organic tea provides a fuller taste that heightens the green tea benefits. The process of green tea formation includes only the leaf bud and top two leaves of the tea plant. The leaves do not become oxidized as they are not fermented like black tea. This process helps to preserve the leaves without destroying the beneficial compounds in the plant. Organic tea benefits also include various nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, manganese and potassium and the vitamins A, C, E and K.
Consumption of organic tea help prevent diseases such as arthritis, improve bone density, reduce the risk of heart disease, and helps fight cataracts. Green organic tea is beneficial for almost every organ in the body as it helps prevent cancer by blocking compounds with poly phenols. Organic green tea helps control blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart attacks. Its daily consumption has shown results in preventing viral infections. It is a very soothing drink that can help you control stress and slow down the aging process. Many people have used green tea for aid in weight loss as well as it works wonders for your metabolism. Tea is also a wonderful alternative to coffee, with many varieties having just half of the caffeine.
[edit] Side Effects of Drinking Green Tea
Every drink will have specific reactions that are related to them. Most are familiar with what some of these drinks can do, while others have more hidden side effects. Drinking green tea can have some of these side effects. If you want to know what to look out for, as well as what will benefit you, then you can simply look before drinking.
- The first set of side effects that occur from drinking green tea is related to the caffeine that is in the drink. For some, they are sensitive to this particular part of the tea, and it may cause them to loose sleep, even for an entire night. For those that are extremely sensitive to caffeine, green tea may also cause problems with hypertension and anxiety. However, you can keep in mind that most mixtures of the herbs will contain a smaller amount than other caffeinated drinks, such as coffee.
- Another negative side effect from drinking green tea is smaller, but can be a problem, depending on how your body reacts to specific chemicals. The iron that is found in some of the plants that are consolidated in the green tea can easily be absorbed by women because of their natural build. This type of iron is not necessarily considered healthy, and may be the cause of iron deficiency. However, if the iron is balanced out in other ways and through other substances, this will not be effective.
- The other side effects from drinking green tea are positive. Overall, most say that green tea is harmless, as well as healthy in a variety of ways. It is known to clear the immune system, help the circulation and flow of blood, and clean out other parts of the system. If you have high cholesterol or extra calories in your body, green tea can be effective in helping these to be reduced and to balance out. This, of course, will occur after drinking the green tea for a longer amount of time.
For some less excessive side effects, you can also use green tea. It has been used in China for centuries in order to relieve some common symptoms such as headaches. If someone was having problems with the body, and was in pain, the marvellous drink would be given to the patient to relieve some of the tension in their body. Green tea is known for calming the pains that are in the body, making it an even more powerful drink.
For those that want a cleaning and empowering drink, then they only need to look towards the side effects of green tea. This will give them the ability to enhance the health of their life and relax. If you are in any pain, you do not necessarily need a pain medicine. If you are having immune problems, or other internal problems, you do not need surgery. Instead, you can use green tea to help enhance your health and your life.
[edit] Tea External Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_tea
