Tea - Sip Your Way to Wellness Presented By

Wellness News Network TM Your Source for Health & Wellness Information

Issue 3, June 2017

Tea - Sip Your Way to Wellness Presented by:

In the Chinese province of Yunnan, a Although large-scale research needs tree still grows that first sprouted 3,200 to be conducted, most types of tea show years ago. And the leaves of this benefits for health – from reducing TRUE OR FALSE: species of tree are used to create the cholesterol to preventing cancer. A All tea leaves must be second most popular beverage in the Swedish study that followed the dietary fermented before world: tea. (Only water is consumed habits of 60,000 women (ages 40 to 76) processing more.) over 15 years revealed those who drank two cups of tea daily ANSWER: Tea was widely touted for its medici- False. White tea and cut their risk of ovarian cancer by 46%.1 nal properties almost since it was first green tea are not cultivated. In addition, green tea shows exciting fermented promise for treating breast cancer. This The best known teas are green, black, tea contains the potent antioxidant white and oolong. Tea comes from the QUESTION: EGCG. In a breast cancer study using genus of Camellia - a group of plants female mice injected with breast cancer Where was tea first that prefer to grow in the hot and moist cells, research uncovered the mice cultivated? climates of sub-tropical and tropical given EGCG had a slower progression A) China areas. The harvesting and processing of of cancer cell growth compared to the B) India the tea leaves determine how a tea is C) Brazil mice only given drinking water. Tumor classified by type. White tea and green size was trimmed 68% in the EGCG tea leaves are steamed to stop oxidiza- group. Researchers speculate this green ANSWER: tion. But they don’t undergo any tea antioxidant may inhibit blood A) China fermenting or processing like black and supply to the tumors and prevent cancer oolong tea. 2 cells from spreading. Green tea may TRUE OR FALSE: As Good as Veggies? also help prevent bladder, lung, stom- ach and colon cancer. Removing the caffeine Tea contains antioxidants - powerful decreases tea’s In the areas of brain health, this molecules that can defend your body antioxidants powerful tea may reduce the incidence against attack from disease. In fact, black of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. tea and green tea have as much as ten ANSWER: times the amount of antioxidants than False. fruit and vegetables.

Presented by: As well as fighting and preventing What About QuoteQuote toto InspireInspire serious diseases of the body’s organs, Herbal Teas? green tea benefits the musculoskeletal system. Research has shown that it may Another option for those who’ve “You are younger today help soothe joint inflammation and wanted to avoid caffeinated beverages than you ever will be reduce cartilage degeneration. In one has been to drink herbal tea. Usually again. Make use of it for study on green tea and arthritis, the containing a mixture of herbs, flowers, the sake of tomorrow.” researchers concluded, “Our studies roots and similar ingredients, herbal - Anonymous suggest that a polyphenolic fraction teas are actually tisanes. This is because from green tea that is rich in antioxi- most herbal teas do not actually contain dants may be useful in the prevention tea. While they may contain healthful of onset and severity of arthritis.” 3 properties, most herbal teas are not as high in antioxidants as genuine tea. References and Sources: Although green tea has gotten most 1) Tea Consumption and Ovarian of the research spotlight, other teas are Cancer Risk in a Popula- revealing their health potential. tion-Based Cohort - Arch Black tea demonstrates hope for Intern Med. 005;165:2683-2686 treating type 2 diabetes. A study 2) Differential Effects of EGCG, a published by the Journal of Food Green Tea Antioxidant, on Vascular Endothelial Growth Science found that specific polysaccha- Factor (VEGF) Expression and rides, a type of carbohydrate, found in Proliferation in Cultured ER-posi- black tea might be especially effective tive and ER-negative Human at reducing blood sugar - much more Brewing for the Best Breast Cancer Cells - FASEB J. than any other type of tea.4 Black tea Benefits 2009 23:984.2 may also help prevent stroke, while 3) Prevention of collagen-in- Oolong tea shows promise at slashing The jury is still out on how much tea duced arthritis in mice by a LDL (bad) cholesterol. you need to drink daily to achieve the polyphenolic fraction from green maximum health advantages. Some tea - Departments of Medicine, studies, like the Swedish cancer study, Division of Rheumatic Diseases, Does Caffeine Matter? Dermatology, and Biochemistry, show positive results with just two cups Case Western Reserve Universi- The one drawback of tea is caffeine. a day. But other research suggests you ty, Cleveland, OH An 8-ounce cup of tea may contain 30 mg may need to consume as much as a dozen to 90 mg of this stimulant. While they 4) Physicochemical Properties cups of tea daily. The type of tea you and Antioxidant Capacity of 3 dislike the side effects of caffeine, drink may also influence how much of Polysaccharides from Green Tea, many people continue to consume tea it you need to consume. Oolong Tea, and Black Tea - because of the health benefits. The Journal of Food Science, Volume good news is you can still get the same However, health experts do know you 74 Issue 6, Pages C469 - C474. antioxidant levels by drinking decaf- should brew tea for two to five minutes feinated tea. A noted tea researcher says to ensure you get a good helping of to date there’s no evidence that tea’s antioxidants. You may want to steep antioxidant flavonoids are affected by fermented teas, like black and oolong, the removal of caffeine. So have for five minutes, as these teas take longer another cup! to release their antioxidant compounds. Adding milk or cream to your tea may dampen its health benefits, so drink it clear

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