The Benefits of Tea

Much has been written and said about the amazing health benefits of tea. So much in fact, that it's often difficult to separate fact from fiction. What are the scientifically recognized benefits of tea? The following is a brief synopsis of the latest findings.

 White Tea (Both Golden and Silver Tips)

* White Tea (WT) is one of the rarest, least produced, and expensive types of tea, which has only gained attention in the last decade. The WT manufacturing process, that is, Camellia sinensis fresh leaves/buds being dried is minimal compared to production processes used for other types of tea. For that reason, WT retains a high amount of its polyphenols, especially catechins. Once catechin content has been associated with antioxidant activity, WT presents potent antioxidant properties. Several studies have investigated the physiological relevance of WT in biological processes modulated by oxidative stress. WT demonstrated important preventive and therapeutic properties in human conditions such as, obesity, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and fertility dysfunctions. Thus, the consumption of WT is popularly described as healthy practice, though it is not very common among tea consumers. Its inclusion in food supplements could be an effective measure to maximize the health benefits of WT. < https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/white-tea > Tânia R. Dias, ... Branca M. Silva, in Nonvitamin and Nonmineral Nutritional Supplements, 2019. / more reading; Jenny T. Mao M.D., in Tea in Health and Disease Prevention, 2013.

* White tea appears to have more potent anticancer qualities than green tea. Reuters Health, March 30, 2000.

Researches by Diseases;

Aging

* If you are the type to fret over the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of growing old, tea may be the answer to your worries. In a recent experiment carried out jointly by researchers from the US, Taiwan, and Japan, mice that were fed tea displayed fewer signs of aging than mice that were fed water. The Straits Times, Sept. 24, 2001.

Allergies

* The wonder cup just got even more wonderful. Green tea, rich in antioxidant treasures that protect against heart disease and cancer, now shows promise as an allergy fighter. In laboratory tests, Japanese researchers have found that the antioxidants in green tea, block the biochemical process involved in producing an allergic response. Green tea may be useful against a wide range of sneeze-starting allergens, including pollen, pet dander, and dust. Prevention, April 2003.

Arthritis

* Green tea catechins are chondroprotective and consumption of green tea may be prophylactic for arthritis and may benefit the arthritis patient by reducing inflammation and slowing cartilage breakdown. The Journal of Nutrition, Mar 2002. Green tea may be useful in controlling inflammation from injury or diseases such as arthritis. Boston Globe, April 26, 1999.

Bone Strength

* Tea flavonoids may be bone builders. A report in this week's Archives of Internal Medicine looked at about 500 Chinese men and women who regularly drank black, green, or oolong tea for more than 10 years. Compared with nonhabitual tea drinkers, tea regulars had higher bone mineral densities, even after exercise and calcium-which strengthen bones-were taken into account. U.S. News & World Report, May 20, 2002.

Cancer

* "Tea is one of the single best cancer fighters you can put in your body," according to Mitchell Gaynor, MD, director of medical oncology at the world-renowned Strong Cancer Prevention Center in New York City and co-author of Dr. Gaynor's Cancer Prevention Program. The latest tea discovery? Strong evidence that both green and black tea can fight cancer-at least in the test tube-though green tea holds a slight edge. In a new study, both teas kept healthy cells from turning malignant after exposure to cancer-causing compounds. Prevention, May 2000.

* People who drink about 4 cups of Green tea a day seem to get less cancer. Now we may know why. In recent test-tube studies, a compound called EGCG, a powerful antioxidant in tea, inhibited an enzyme that cancer cells need in order to grow. The cancer cells that couldn't grow big enough to divide self-destructed. It would take about 4 cups of green tea a day to get the blood levels of EGCG that inhibited cancer in the study. Black tea also contains EGCG, but at much lower concentrations. Prevention, Aug 1999. 

Cholesterol

* Tea can lower 'bad' cholesterol levels. Researchers at the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland, asked test subjects to eat low-fat, low-calorie prepared meals and drink five cups of caffeinated tea or caffeinated and non-caffeinated placebos that mimicked the look of tea. Levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol dropped 10 percent among the test subjects who drank tea. Vegetarian Times, Jan 2003.

Heart Disease

* Drinking black tea may lower the risk of heart disease because it prevents blood from clumping and forming clots. In a recent study, researchers found that while drinking black tea, the participants had lower levels of the blood protein associated with coagulation. Better Nutrition, Jan 2002.

* Better to be deprived of food for three days than tea for one,Ó says a Chinese proverb. Research is showing it may just be true. Dr. Kenneth Mukamal of Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center reported that out of 1,900 heart-attack patients, those who drank two or more cups a day reduced their risks of dying over the next 3.8 years by 44 percent. Newsweek, May 20, 2002.

Weight Loss

* Trying to lose weight? Reach for a cup of green tea instead of a diet beverage. Compared to the placebo and caffeine, green tea extract consumption produced a significant 4% increase in 24-hour energy expenditure. If you consume 2,000 calories per day and don't gain or lose weight (you're in energy balance), an increase of 4% would translate roughly into an 80-calorie daily difference. Over a year, this could result in 89 pounds of weight loss. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Nov 1999.

* Recent evidence shows that in the battle of fat loss, green tea may be superior to plain caffeine. According to a new study, green tea appears to accelerate calorie burning - including fat calories. Researchers suggest compounds in green tea called flavonoids may change how the body uses a hormone called norepinephrine, which then speeds the rate calories are burned. Joe Weider's Muscle & Fitness, April 2000.

Loose Tea Selling in Packs  VS  Tea Bags Selling in Packs 

Tea made from loose leaves has more antioxidants than tea bags, which tend to have lower-quality, powdered leaves. Prevention, April 2003. (So it is better to change your tea habit to consume leafy tea)

Black vs Green Tea  

* Black Tea is turning out to be just as healthy as Green tea. Univ of California Wellness Letter, March 2002. (This indicate the research done in Japan & China just to promote their tea to the world in commercial purpose rather taking a proper value of both teas varieties)

* One cup of Black or Green tea has more antioxidant power than a serving of broccoli, carrots, or spinach. Prevention, Aug 1998.

Decaf Tea

* Tea decaffeinated using a natural CO-2 process retains 90% of its cancer-fighting properties. Prevention, Feb 2000.

* Java junkies, perk up: Substituting tea for coffee will cut your caffeine intake by more than half. Prevention, May 1996.

If, like read more scientific findings of Tea consumption by clicking the following link.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4055352/