Drinking Tea Is Healthy

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Although tea drinking has been associated with health benefits for

centuries, only in recent years have its medicinal properties been

investigated scientifically. The October issue of Harvard Women's

Health Watch recognizes the healthy power of tea while helping

readers get the most out of their cups.

 

Tea's health benefits are largely due to its high content of

flavonoids?plant-derived compounds that are antioxidants. Green tea

is the best food source of a group called catechins. In test tubes,

catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting

oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting

properties. Studies have found an association between consuming

green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin,

breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder.

 

Additional benefits for regular consumers of green and black teas

include a reduced risk for heart disease. The antioxidants in green,

black, and oolong teas can help block the oxidation of LDL (bad)

cholesterol, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and improve artery

function. A Chinese study published recently in the Archives of

Internal Medicine showed a 46%-65% reduction in hypertension risk in

regular consumers of oolong or green tea, compared to non-consumers

of tea.

 

The October issue provides a few tips to get the most out of tea-

drinking:

 

-- Drinking a cup of tea a few times a day to absorb antioxidants

and other healthful plant compounds. In green-tea drinking cultures,

the usual amount is three cups per day.

 

-- Allow tea to steep for three to five minutes to bring out its

catechins.

-- The best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is

to drink it freshly brewed. Decaffeinated, bottled ready-to-drink

tea preparations, and instant teas have less of these compounds.

 

-- Tea can impede the absorption of iron from fruits and vegetables.

Adding lemon or milk or drinking tea between meals will counteract

this problem.

 

The Harvard Women's Health Watch is available from Harvard Health

Publications, the publishing division of the Harvard Medical School.

 

For more information about Tea visit:

www.organicteali.com