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Do you know where your teapot is located?
You better find it and prepare it for use. You are going to need it if
you wish to derive such benefits as possible prevention of many types
of cancers, lowering of blood pressure, prevention of cardiovascular disease,
some bacterial infections, and possibly aid in weight loss, from the beverage
you drink.
Are you confused about the kinds and properties of
tea? Teas that are true teas that we know as black, oolong, and green
come from the dried and processed buds, leaves, and occasionally twigs
of the evergreen Camellia sinensis. Green tea is
the least processed of the teas, being briefly steamed or heated in red
hot metal pans shortly after harvest. Black and oolong teas are crushed
and withered causing loss of valuable compounds. It is a brief process
for oolong and longer for black tea.
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Green teas ability to inhibit many types of tumors
is derived from it's high content of polyphenols (powerful antioxidants).
About 30% of the weight of the green tea leaves are made up of polyphenols.
One of the polyphenols (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) has been shown to
inhibit the growth of benign and malignant tumors. The antioxidants of
green tea may be more powerful than those of vitamin E. Scientists have
found that it may have 200 times the antioxidant power of vitamin E and
may be superior to vitamin C. Green tea extract has been shown to prevent
cancers of the lung, breast, prostate, liver, colon and esophagus in laboratory
studies.
Studies have shown that people with a high intake of
polyphenols seem to have a lower risk of stroke and heart attack. This
may come from the effect of polyphenols on total cholesterol levels and
the improvement of the the ratio of bad (LDL) to good (HDL) cholesterol.
In addition green tea may promote thermogenesis (the
expenditure of energy) or calories as heat. This may be a factor in promoting
weight loss. In controlled studies theses effects did not come form the
caffeine in the tea extract since the people who did not consume caffeine
did not experience the same effects, although caffeine may work with other
tea compounds to induce this effect.
Ongoing research in Japan has found the promise of
green tea having anti-bacterial capabilities. Green tea has been found
to destroy the bacteria membranes helping to prevent bacterial infections.
As long ago as 1923, an army surgeon recommended that soldiers put tea
in their canteens to prevent typhoid infections. Although this is not
a known attribute of green tea, it may prevent the growth of bacteria
that causes diarrheal diseases.
Black tea has it's benefits too although one must consider
the higher caffeine content of this tea. One study has shown that people
who drank one or more cups of tea per day cut their risk of developing
severe heart disease by almost half. Results suggested that tea drinking
offered protection against the development of severe atherosclerosis (hardening
of the arteries).
The caffeine amount per cup of green tea is about 10mg.,
15mg. in oolong, and 20 to 100mg. in black tea. Coffee contains 60 to120mg.
per cup.
If using tea leaves let them float freely in the pot
rather than packing them into a tea ball as this inhibits the quality
of the infusion. Use a good quality filtered water. Distilled water will
cause a flat taste if used for the brewing. In contrast to black tea which
should be brewed with near boiling water, the ideal temperature for green
tea is 160-180 degrees. Brewing time for green tea is no longer than 1
1/2 minutes to 3 minutes. Tightly rolled or balled teas require the longer
brewing time. Strain them immediately. Prolonged steeping of these teas
causes bitterness.
How much tea is necessary to derive healthy benefits?
Of course any amount of tea will impart healthy qualities but typically
those in research groups are consuming 4-5 cups per day. Populations of
Japan and China typically consume 6-10 cups or more per day.
Have you added tea to your shopping list yet?
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