Tea is the second most commonly used beverage after water. It is cultivated primarily in India, Srilanka, Indonesia and China. This is a small evergreen tree that grows up to 30 feet in the wild. Tea belongs to the family Theaceae of class Magnaliophyta of the domain Eukarya. There are 2 more commonly available varieties of tea; Camellia sinensis var. sinenensis(China tea) and Camellia sinensis var. Assam (India tea). In cultivation, it is more like a bushy shrub. Its bright green leaves are shiny, often with a hairy underside. Flowers are scented and can occur singly or in a cluster of 2 to 4. Its leaves are processed in both green and black tea. Green tea is simply the dried leaf. Black tea is dried and then fermented. There are also red and white teas. Most people drink it as a mild stimulant, but its best use is to prevent tooth decay, and work as a bronchial decongestant. It is also known to protect from heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Tea contains high levels of antioxidants, some of which are called polyphenols, flavanoids, and catechins – all of which take care of the “free radicals” in the body and prevent them from harming the healthy cells. Higher quality teas may have more catechin antioxidants than lower quality teas. White tea has more antioxidants than any other tea. Green tea has more catechin antioxidants than black tea, since black tea goes through more processing. More researchers seem to agree that brewed (cold or hot) or caffeinated tea has more antioxidants than instant tea.
Tea helps in lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and protects from heart disease. It also helps in fighting off cancers and AIDS. Green tea has been reported to help in cure of esophageal cancer and black tea can slow down the spread of prostate cancer and cancer caused by smoking. Green and white teas are known to fight off colon cancer (Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon Sate University studies, carcinogenesis, 2003). Hot teas may lower the risk of some skin cancer. Teas also boost the body’s defenses as well as play a role in delaying Alzheimer’s disease.
To get the most health benefits out of tea, choose high quality loose leaf tea from your local or online tea shop. Brew it up and enjoy.
Keep exploring and keep learning! Take care of your health with knowledge.
My next article will be posted in the first week of December on the health benefits of another wonder herb – Asparagus.
Till then……………Adios!
Ali M. Jafri, Ph.D.
