SandraC
Longs for the feeling of sandy salt water in her k
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2000
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It's no secret to my friends and family that I LOVE TEA! Here is an interesting article to support the benefits of tea! Blessings, Sandra
Tea -- whether iced or hot, green, black or oolong (in between green and black teas in flavour and colour) -- may be more than just a tasty beverage. Scientific research is pointing to potential protection against heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, osteoporosis and other illnesses. Some varieties may even be a boon for those concerned with girth control.
Tea basics
But first, a primer on tea. Herbal teas are not really teas at all but rather tisanes, or infusions, of various herbs. True teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant, with the popular types, black, green and oolong, differing due to the processing techniques. Green tea is produced when the leaves are simply fired or steamed and dried, not fermented. Black tea comes from leaves that are fermented, while oolong is partially fermented.
Tea is chock-full of an assortment of phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, flavonoids and catechins, disease-fighting compounds from plant foods that may act as antioxidants, protecting the body against damaging free radicals.
Protecting your health
The health benefits of each type of tea differ. Researchers at Boston University have found that drinking black tea may offer a defence against heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol readings and improving the elasticity of the arteries, which eases blood flow through veins and arteries.
Animal studies on tea's anticancer action have looked at cancers of the skin, lung, mouth, prostate and colon, with all types of tea appearing to offer a defence at various stages of cancer development. Tea may help prevent DNA damage, which may be a cause of some cancers. Researchers at the University of Arizona found that heavy smokers who drank four 8-ounce (250 millilitre) servings of decaffeinated green tea each day for four months suffered significantly less DNA damage than those who drank decaffeinated black tea or water.
Burn more calories
And if these benefits aren't enough, green tea may help boost your metabolic rate, or calorie-burning capacity, which may help you maintain your weight. But this is due to the caffeine's interaction with other compounds in green tea, so it may not be an ideal choice before bedtime.
Tea -- whether iced or hot, green, black or oolong (in between green and black teas in flavour and colour) -- may be more than just a tasty beverage. Scientific research is pointing to potential protection against heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, osteoporosis and other illnesses. Some varieties may even be a boon for those concerned with girth control.
Tea basics
But first, a primer on tea. Herbal teas are not really teas at all but rather tisanes, or infusions, of various herbs. True teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant, with the popular types, black, green and oolong, differing due to the processing techniques. Green tea is produced when the leaves are simply fired or steamed and dried, not fermented. Black tea comes from leaves that are fermented, while oolong is partially fermented.
Tea is chock-full of an assortment of phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, flavonoids and catechins, disease-fighting compounds from plant foods that may act as antioxidants, protecting the body against damaging free radicals.
Protecting your health
The health benefits of each type of tea differ. Researchers at Boston University have found that drinking black tea may offer a defence against heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol readings and improving the elasticity of the arteries, which eases blood flow through veins and arteries.
Animal studies on tea's anticancer action have looked at cancers of the skin, lung, mouth, prostate and colon, with all types of tea appearing to offer a defence at various stages of cancer development. Tea may help prevent DNA damage, which may be a cause of some cancers. Researchers at the University of Arizona found that heavy smokers who drank four 8-ounce (250 millilitre) servings of decaffeinated green tea each day for four months suffered significantly less DNA damage than those who drank decaffeinated black tea or water.
Burn more calories
And if these benefits aren't enough, green tea may help boost your metabolic rate, or calorie-burning capacity, which may help you maintain your weight. But this is due to the caffeine's interaction with other compounds in green tea, so it may not be an ideal choice before bedtime.
But the only breakfast type tea I like are the regular tetley decaf bags or the decaf earl grey bags.
