Monday, September 7, 2009

People Who Drink Tea Are Healthier

By Cynthia White

The latest research is great news for tea lovers. Not only is tea a tasty and enjoyable beverage but it is also incredibly healthy as well. Tea has a rich history dating back thousands of years and is enjoyed all over the world as a coveted, soothing beverage. In fact, in many Asian cultures tea has been consumed on a regular basis not only for its unique and appealing taste but also for its natural healing and disease preventing properties.

Green tea, black tea and oolong tea are different types of tea that are cultivated from the same plant. Camellia sinensis, commonly referred to as a tea plant, is an evergreen shrub grown and cultivated for its leaves and buds for the creation of numerous types of tea including green tea, black tea, white tea, oolong tea and chai tea. The difference in the type of tea available today is the method used to process the tea leaves. Leaves can be whole, crushed, cut, torn, curled, fermented, steamed or withered. However, because all teas are derived from the Camellia sinensis plant they all tend to have similar health promoting properties.

The Camellia tea plant is a rich source of polyphenols with approximately ten times more than the amount found in a serving of fruit and vegetables. Polyphenols are antioxidants which are powerful disease fighting compounds that can be found in a variety of foods. Antioxidants work to eliminate or neutralize the effect of free radicals on the body reducing the risk of age related diseases including cancer, arthritis, heart disease, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimers.

But it gets even better than that. Tea also has what are called Phytochemicals. The Phytochemicals in tea have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, prevent infection, and even improve memory!

Now if that were all that tea did, that would be enough but there is even more! Tea also contains flavonoids and fluoride. Flavonoids and fluoride help prevent plaque and can even kill bacteria! This is why research studies have shown that tea can control halitosis and even prevent cavities.

Another interesting benefit of drinking tea is centered on green tea. New research has shown that green tea boosts the metabolism and increases fat oxidization. It also has an ingredient that controls hunger.

What is really incredible, if you think about it, is that people learned that tea was healthy thousands of years before doctors and scientists even existed. No one knew what Phytochemicals or free radicals even were 100 years ago and yet people were drinking tea more than 2,000 years ago! Tea continues to be the world's best selling beverage because of its great taste and healing properties. - 14130

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