Tea and water
It is funny, last year, I thought that having high quality tea leaves, good teapot, pretty cup meant I would have good taste, good smell cup of tea. But after trying to brew hundreds of times, I find out that high quality water is as important as high quality tea leaves. It is easy to understand the case, it is a fact that 99% of a cup of tea is water, so brewing tea with better water will makes the final come out tea better.
Experienced tea drinkers all over the world agree that the best water for tea infusion must contain enough oxygen, low in mineral content and of course free of contamination and additives. I agree with them, how about you? If you thing there is some factor affect the tea, just leave a comment so that we can discuss.
Human, animals, plants all need oxygen to breath, to maintain their life, and so does water for tea infusion. It's just a funny comparison. But it shows you that oxygen plays an important role in brewing because it helps to release the best flavors of tea. As a result, one must use water that is aerated (full of oxygen).It is an established fact that the presence of oxygen in water is required to maximize tea flavor. Aeration is particularly important when brewing fine teas. When water is boiled, oxygen evaporates, and the crisp taste in the brewed tea is lost. Most experts recommend that we should not boil water for a prolonged period or re-boil a previously used supply. The more the water is boiled, the more oxygen that evaporates of the water. After some tries, my cup of tea tastes better. When I brewed the tea with so hot water, there was a little bitter that ruin my cup of tea, I couldn't drink it.
The best water for tea infusion must be low in mineral content
Water is high in dissolved minerals, especially calcium and magnesium. These minerals accumulate in the water, sometimes make the tea sour, sometimes make the tea bitter and none of us want our cup of tea come out like that after spending too much enthusiasms for brewing. And water in high minerals can also affect the clarity of tea by making it dark. And it is worst, I prefer dark cup of coffee to dark cup of tea, so the appearance is very important, you drink by your eyes first, then your mouth. High mineral content bottled water has the same negative impact on tea. Teas brewed with pure water containing no minerals produce a crisp flavor and a clear brew that is aesthetically agreeable.
Experienced tea drinkers all over the world agree that the best water for tea infusion must contain enough oxygen, low in mineral content and of course free of contamination and additives. I agree with them, how about you? If you thing there is some factor affect the tea, just leave a comment so that we can discuss.
The best water for tea infusion must contain enough oxygen.
The best water for tea infusion must contain enough oxygen |
The best water for tea infusion must be low in mineral content.
The best water for tea infusion must be low in mineral content
Caterpillars want to eat tea leaves
Do you know the best tea leaves is the leaves at the top of the plan?
A caterpillar and his son just want to eat best tea leaves at the top of the plant. Is that too much to ask for? The caterpillars in the video is so lovely!The best tea leaves is the leaves at the top of the plan.
Loose tea is the way to go
Tea, it's the second most consumed beverage in the world, beaten only by water. It has a place in almost every culture on earth, and has been drunk for what historical documents suggest to be over 5,000 years.
There are four main types of this beverage which are white tea, green tea, oolong tea (wu long tea or brown tea), and black tea (read how these tea types are made). However, each type of tea comes from the same species of plant called Camellia sinensis, and it is the processing that the tea leaves go through which determine what type they will ultimately become.
Many studies show that there are a number of health benefits that can be obtained by drinking tea. This beverage has many goodies floating around it like antioxidants, catechins, and polyphenols which can shield our immune system, prevent certain tumor growth, and aid in a healthier heart. One study out of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggests that drinking green tea can help abate esophageal cancer, while another from Pace University reveal that drinking black tea can help destroy oral virus such as herpes, as well as prevent diarrhea, pneumonia, cystitis, and skin infections.
Having mentioned all that, the way we drink tea can strongly influence not only the health benefit aspects, but also another that goes unnoticed...the flavor benefits. Many folks drink tea simply because it taste great, and not just for benefits. I happen to be one of them!
There are two main methods of brewing tea:
In America, just about 90 percent of folks brew their tea by tea bag and remain unaware of the true way tea is meant to be enjoyed. Even drinking white and green teas that are in iced tea form in bottles sold in stores does not provide the same taste and benefits. The reason is because tea bags consist of fannings (or tea dust) which happens to be the lowest grading of tea. All the natural oils and nutrients that give us that great flavor and health benefits are in little abundance in these dried up tea particles. And as for the chilled teas in bottles, well, they are loaded with sugar so noticing the subtle taste in the mix is hard.
Steeping tea using whole loose leaves brings out a whole new beverage loaded with more healthy benefits and much more flavor since these leaves still have most of their oils. I'll never forget my first cup of loose leaf, and till this day I have enjoyed over 100 varieties, with hundreds more to explore. Trust me, loose tea is the way to go, it offers more varieties and drinking pleasure over any tea bag!
Now that we've discovered loose leaf brewing, there are a couple of other factors on taste:
So if you're a tea bag dunker, I hope this article introduced you to something new, and the next time you hear that whistle from the kettle you ditched that tea bag! If so, years of loose tea drinking enjoyment await you, along with a healthier lifestyle!
More about tea to read:
Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world
There are four main types of this beverage which are white tea, green tea, oolong tea (wu long tea or brown tea), and black tea (read how these tea types are made). However, each type of tea comes from the same species of plant called Camellia sinensis, and it is the processing that the tea leaves go through which determine what type they will ultimately become.
Many studies show that there are a number of health benefits that can be obtained by drinking tea. This beverage has many goodies floating around it like antioxidants, catechins, and polyphenols which can shield our immune system, prevent certain tumor growth, and aid in a healthier heart. One study out of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggests that drinking green tea can help abate esophageal cancer, while another from Pace University reveal that drinking black tea can help destroy oral virus such as herpes, as well as prevent diarrhea, pneumonia, cystitis, and skin infections.
Having mentioned all that, the way we drink tea can strongly influence not only the health benefit aspects, but also another that goes unnoticed...the flavor benefits. Many folks drink tea simply because it taste great, and not just for benefits. I happen to be one of them!
There are two main methods of brewing tea:
loose leaf tea.
tea bag.
In America, just about 90 percent of folks brew their tea by tea bag and remain unaware of the true way tea is meant to be enjoyed. Even drinking white and green teas that are in iced tea form in bottles sold in stores does not provide the same taste and benefits. The reason is because tea bags consist of fannings (or tea dust) which happens to be the lowest grading of tea. All the natural oils and nutrients that give us that great flavor and health benefits are in little abundance in these dried up tea particles. And as for the chilled teas in bottles, well, they are loaded with sugar so noticing the subtle taste in the mix is hard.
Steeping tea using whole loose leaves brings out a whole new beverage loaded with more healthy benefits and much more flavor since these leaves still have most of their oils. I'll never forget my first cup of loose leaf, and till this day I have enjoyed over 100 varieties, with hundreds more to explore. Trust me, loose tea is the way to go, it offers more varieties and drinking pleasure over any tea bag!
Now that we've discovered loose leaf brewing, there are a couple of other factors on taste:
First, make sure that your tea is young, that is, loose teas are best enjoyed within the first six months of the flush.
Second is about what kind of water you will be using to brew it. Good water makes great tea, so avoid plain tap water since the impurities will influence the taste and instead use either natural spring water (not distilled), or well filtered water.
Pay attention to the steeping time that came with your loose tea since over steeping can lead to a bitter cup due to the excess release of tannins.
Water temperature is also important! White and green teas are delicate, so be sure to let the boiling water cool down for around 30 seconds before pouring. For brewing oolongs and black teas adding boiling water is fine since the leaves are more oxidized and "tougher".
So if you're a tea bag dunker, I hope this article introduced you to something new, and the next time you hear that whistle from the kettle you ditched that tea bag! If so, years of loose tea drinking enjoyment await you, along with a healthier lifestyle!
More about tea to read:
- Loose tea
- Health benefits of green tea
- How are white tea, green tea, black tea, oolong tea made?
- The color of tea - this is an so interesting site about tea.
Organic Loose Tea
Organic Loose Tea - quite simply put, this is the way that tea has been prepared for 100's of years. Tea leaves all originate from the same plant, and teas differ in the way they are processed. Read how Black Tea, Green Tea, White Tea, Oolong tea are made here.
The loose teas are typically whole leaves that have been processed. During processing the tea leaves are dried and they shrink, so when you look at a pile of whole leaf tea it just looks like shriveled bits of tea! The magic of course is once you brew.
If you were not pre-warned, your first batch will be way to strong, and you will waste alot of those precious loose tea leaves. The tea leaves will expand 4x or more once put into the freshly boiled water. Organic loose tea can be pricy, but in comparison you just need such a small amount to brew your tea, it is actually quite inexpensive.
So, while in Western Countries we are used to the flaked tea remains that are found in our tea bags, we are not used to this expansion of the loose teas. If you use a tea strainer, just remember to fill it no more than 25% full or it will over flow on you.
This is also a great concept as the organic loose teas can be used to brew up to 3 pots of tea! Something you would never get out of a tea bag! So, once the first pot has steeped, you can reuse the leaves up to 3 times more by just letting each pot of tea brew a little longer.
Another interesting point is what you will find when you go to remove the tea from your pot, you can actually see the whole leaves! NO flakes or bits to be found, just whole tea leaves.
When you think about it, it is really not that amazing, but if you have never seen it before, it can be a bit of a shock.
Organic loose tea is available for most kinds of tea including Black Tea, Green Tea, Oolong and White Tea. The flavours are much different from bagged teas, but it is truly the way tea is supposed to be.
More post you should read more:
Don't forget to subscribe my feed to get latest posts.
The loose teas are typically whole leaves that have been processed. During processing the tea leaves are dried and they shrink, so when you look at a pile of whole leaf tea it just looks like shriveled bits of tea! The magic of course is once you brew.
If you were not pre-warned, your first batch will be way to strong, and you will waste alot of those precious loose tea leaves. The tea leaves will expand 4x or more once put into the freshly boiled water. Organic loose tea can be pricy, but in comparison you just need such a small amount to brew your tea, it is actually quite inexpensive.
So, while in Western Countries we are used to the flaked tea remains that are found in our tea bags, we are not used to this expansion of the loose teas. If you use a tea strainer, just remember to fill it no more than 25% full or it will over flow on you.
This is also a great concept as the organic loose teas can be used to brew up to 3 pots of tea! Something you would never get out of a tea bag! So, once the first pot has steeped, you can reuse the leaves up to 3 times more by just letting each pot of tea brew a little longer.
Another interesting point is what you will find when you go to remove the tea from your pot, you can actually see the whole leaves! NO flakes or bits to be found, just whole tea leaves.
When you think about it, it is really not that amazing, but if you have never seen it before, it can be a bit of a shock.
Organic loose tea is available for most kinds of tea including Black Tea, Green Tea, Oolong and White Tea. The flavours are much different from bagged teas, but it is truly the way tea is supposed to be.
More post you should read more:
Don't forget to subscribe my feed to get latest posts.
How are green tea, black tea, white tea, oolong tea made?
Tea is one of the most popular after food drinks in the world, but still very few people are aware that there are four inherently different flavours and types of tea one can find in every supermarket. Each tea is made out of different ingredients and each tea has its advantages and disadvantages. I will explain.
What you should always remember is that there are only four types of tea.
What you should always remember is that there are only four types of tea.
- Black tea
- Green tea
- White tea
- Oolong tea
Tea Processing and Its Effects on Tea Polyphenol Content
Black TeaThe strong flavored burnt Sienna colored hot beverage is the most popular type of tea in the West. Either served with a squeeze of lemon or added milk and a cube of sugar, the cup of black tea is part of daily tea ceremonies that take place worldwide. Black tea is made of heavily oxidized Camellia sinensis leaves. When served plain, it contains no calories, carbohydrates, or fats. A cup of black tea contains more caffeine than any other types of tea but less than in any cup of coffee. |
Green TeaThe lightly oxidized tea has been popular in China, Japan and Korea for centuries. Recently, rumors on its health benefits increased its popularity in the West as well. It has been proven that drinking green tea can lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, increase metabolic rates and be helpful in variety of other conditions and illnesses. The green tea is lightly oxidized, dried, but not fermented. It is usually served plain, without sugar or milk. Since some of the green tea variants taste a bit bitter, it should be brewed in lower temperature than the boiling point. |
White TeaWhite tea is rarer and more expensive than the other types of teas mentioned above. Originated in the Fujian province of china, the white tea is made of young Camellia sinensis leaves, which go through a long process of steaming or frying, inactivate fermenting and drying. Since the leaves are harvested while the buds are still covered by white hair, it is called white tea. White tea has the most delicate, sweet taste than the other types of tea. Moreover, it contains the smallest amount of caffeine and the largest amount of antioxidant that help prevent cancer. |
Oolong TeaThe traditional Chinese tea is the common companion of Chinese foods such as dim sum and chop suey in American Chinese restaurants. The oolong tea, black dragon in Chinese, got its name after its long, dark distinguished leaves that look like wild black dragons when brewed. The unique taste of the oolong tea is achieved by a long process that includes sun drying of the Camellia sinensis leaves, light oxidization, cooling and drying processes. The result is a lighter flavor than the popular black tea and stronger than the delicate green tea. |
Benefits Of Green Tea And Weight Loss
Most of this information comes straight from the Chinese Green Tea for Weight Loss pros. Careful reading to the end virtually guarantees that you'll know what they know.
For most people, the Chinese green tea is a stuff of legends. Chinese green tea has been known to be very beneficial to human health. For thousands of years, Chinese green tea has been talked about and written about because of its countless positive effects.
According to legend, the first person to ever taste Chinese green tea was the Emperor Shen Nung in 2737 B.C. It was said that while boiling some water for drinking, some leaves fell into his pot from a tree nearby. Chinese green tea leaves when boiled smelled and tasted so wonderful that Shen Nung even urged his people to drink it. The fame of the Chinese green tea did not stay at one place for long. It is believed that in A.D. 800, Chinese green tea was brought to Japan by monks who studied Buddhism in China.
Chinese green tea is produced from Camellia sinensis, the same plant where the oolong and black tea are derived. Yet, even though they all come from the same herb, the Chinese green tea truly stands out as an exceptional health drink. So what makes Chinese green tea different?
The difference lies in the method by which Chinese green tea is produced. Oolong and black tea leaves are traditionally oxidized and then dried while the Chinese green tea leaves are steamed and then dried. This method of producing Chinese green tea actually preserves most of the beneficial antioxidants present in it.
While it is already common knowledge that Chinese green tea has several health benefits, modern scientists were able to provide several concrete proofs of the positive effects of Chinese green tea. Chinese green tea antioxidants are said to be the ones responsible for making the Chinese green tea very beneficial.
Recent findings show that the antioxidants in Chinese green tea can reduce cholesterol levels in a person; can improve how blood vessels function; and can reduce blood lipids. It was also discovered that Chinese green tea can have an anti-inflammatory effects and may provide protection against cardiovascular diseases.
Significant findings were made that pointed to the benefits of Chinese green tea in weight loss (You may visit my blog about Diet and Fitness). According to the researchers of the University of Geneva, Chinese green tea has thermogenic properties which aid much in weight loss. In their study, they investigated the weight loss benefits of Chinese green tea by observing the interaction between the caffeine in Chinese green tea and a compound called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). When these two substances in Chinese green tea react, thermogenesis of the body increases by four percent. The tendency of Chinese green tea to enhance metabolic rates has given people reason to believe that Chinese green tea has weight loss benefits as well.
Another study concerning the weight loss benefits of Chinese green tea was also conducted. The results of the research showed that Chinese green tea drinkers have a better propensity for weight loss. Drinking Chinese green tea allows the body to burn an additional 70 calories a day, a feat that weight loss enthusiasts would relish.
Today, Chinese green tea is widely available as a beverage and as an ingredient for weight loss products.
It is a form of cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. Next, it invades the blood and can then spread to the lymph nodes, the spleen, liver, and other parts of the body.
In contrast, other types of cancer can start in these organs and then spread to the bone marrow, but these are not known as leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia can also change into a fast-growing acute leukemia that invades almost any organ in the body.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia affects mostly adults, and mostly older adults. The average age of people with CML is around 66 years. Only about 2% of chronic myeloid leukemia patients are children.
As with other forms of cancer, research is ongoing to help find ways to prevent and treat myeloid leukemia. There have been vast improvements in treatment of this disease in recent years. One study is of particular interest because it examines the use of a very common beverage- green tea to help treat myeloid leukemia.
This study, reported by the UK Tea Council, examined green tea's ability to induce apoptosis on leukemia cells. Apoptosis is the systematic killing off of cells. It happens in many cases in the body to help ensure that the healthiest cells survive. And, occasionally, researchers discover substances outside the body that can induce apoptosis.
In this study, researchers studied the effects of green tea's anti-oxidant, EGCG, both in the lab and in mice. In both situations, they discovered that green tea had the ability to induce apoptosis of leukemia cells. Within three hours of exposure to the EGCG, the cells began killing themselves off
If you've picked some pointers about Chinese Green Tea for Weight Loss that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won't really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don't use it.
Posts you should read more:
According to legend, the first person to ever taste Chinese green tea was the Emperor Shen Nung in 2737 B.C. It was said that while boiling some water for drinking, some leaves fell into his pot from a tree nearby. Chinese green tea leaves when boiled smelled and tasted so wonderful that Shen Nung even urged his people to drink it. The fame of the Chinese green tea did not stay at one place for long. It is believed that in A.D. 800, Chinese green tea was brought to Japan by monks who studied Buddhism in China.
What makes Chinese green tea different from all other teas?
Chinese green tea is produced from Camellia sinensis, the same plant where the oolong and black tea are derived. Yet, even though they all come from the same herb, the Chinese green tea truly stands out as an exceptional health drink. So what makes Chinese green tea different?
The difference lies in the method by which Chinese green tea is produced. Oolong and black tea leaves are traditionally oxidized and then dried while the Chinese green tea leaves are steamed and then dried. This method of producing Chinese green tea actually preserves most of the beneficial antioxidants present in it.
Chinese Green Tea for Health
While it is already common knowledge that Chinese green tea has several health benefits, modern scientists were able to provide several concrete proofs of the positive effects of Chinese green tea. Chinese green tea antioxidants are said to be the ones responsible for making the Chinese green tea very beneficial.
Recent findings show that the antioxidants in Chinese green tea can reduce cholesterol levels in a person; can improve how blood vessels function; and can reduce blood lipids. It was also discovered that Chinese green tea can have an anti-inflammatory effects and may provide protection against cardiovascular diseases.
Chinese Green Tea for Weight Loss
Significant findings were made that pointed to the benefits of Chinese green tea in weight loss (You may visit my blog about Diet and Fitness). According to the researchers of the University of Geneva, Chinese green tea has thermogenic properties which aid much in weight loss. In their study, they investigated the weight loss benefits of Chinese green tea by observing the interaction between the caffeine in Chinese green tea and a compound called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). When these two substances in Chinese green tea react, thermogenesis of the body increases by four percent. The tendency of Chinese green tea to enhance metabolic rates has given people reason to believe that Chinese green tea has weight loss benefits as well.
Another study concerning the weight loss benefits of Chinese green tea was also conducted. The results of the research showed that Chinese green tea drinkers have a better propensity for weight loss. Drinking Chinese green tea allows the body to burn an additional 70 calories a day, a feat that weight loss enthusiasts would relish.
Today, Chinese green tea is widely available as a beverage and as an ingredient for weight loss products.
It is a form of cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. Next, it invades the blood and can then spread to the lymph nodes, the spleen, liver, and other parts of the body.
In contrast, other types of cancer can start in these organs and then spread to the bone marrow, but these are not known as leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia can also change into a fast-growing acute leukemia that invades almost any organ in the body.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia affects mostly adults, and mostly older adults. The average age of people with CML is around 66 years. Only about 2% of chronic myeloid leukemia patients are children.
As with other forms of cancer, research is ongoing to help find ways to prevent and treat myeloid leukemia. There have been vast improvements in treatment of this disease in recent years. One study is of particular interest because it examines the use of a very common beverage- green tea to help treat myeloid leukemia.
This study, reported by the UK Tea Council, examined green tea's ability to induce apoptosis on leukemia cells. Apoptosis is the systematic killing off of cells. It happens in many cases in the body to help ensure that the healthiest cells survive. And, occasionally, researchers discover substances outside the body that can induce apoptosis.
In this study, researchers studied the effects of green tea's anti-oxidant, EGCG, both in the lab and in mice. In both situations, they discovered that green tea had the ability to induce apoptosis of leukemia cells. Within three hours of exposure to the EGCG, the cells began killing themselves off
If you've picked some pointers about Chinese Green Tea for Weight Loss that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won't really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don't use it.
Posts you should read more:
- Diet and Fitness blog (my blog about diet and fitness)
Green Tea Health Benefits
Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.
Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:
* cancer
* rheumatoid arthritis
* high cholesterol levels
* cariovascular disease
* infection
*
impaired immune function
What makes green tea so special?
The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.
Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.
Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.
Other Benefits
New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.
Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.
Harmful Effects?
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.
Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:
* cancer
* rheumatoid arthritis
* high cholesterol levels
* cariovascular disease
* infection
*
impaired immune function
What makes green tea so special?
The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.
Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.
Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.
Other Benefits
New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.
Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.
Harmful Effects?
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.
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