Today's tea industry is becoming increasingly popular. There are hundreds of different types, flavors and qualities of tea.
"Millions of Americans still reach for that first cup of coffee to get them going in the morning, but tea is making inroads into the java market."
Tea and Health
There are few people who would argue the fact that tea is good for you, and unlike coffee all tea, in varying degrees is healthy to drink. Green Tea is one of the best when it comes to your health. It is a well-published fact that the Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of Green Tea for more than 4,000 years and use it to treat everything from a headache to depression.
So, why exactly is tea good for you? Antioxidants!
In fact, tea is a rich source of a specific kind of antioxidant called Flavonoids. All tea comes from one plant Camellia Sinensis if it doesn't come from that plant it is not tea (herbs come from a variety of plants). Over time, the plant has protected itself from photosynthetic stressors by forming chemical compounds known as polyphenols. Polyphenols, which include flavonoids, have the same beneficial class of compounds, antioxidants, that make fruits and vegetables good for you. The leaves are processed differently: Green tea leaves are not fermented; they are steamed and withered. Black tea and Oolong tea leaves undergo crushing and fermenting processes. All teas from the Camellia tea plant are rich in polyphenols, which are antioxidants. They scavenge for cell-damaging free radicals and detoxify them.
Whether green or black; teas have 8-10 times the antioxidants found in fruits and veggies. If you look at the world's big tea-drinkers, like Japan and China, "They have much less heart disease and don't have certain cancers that we in the western world suffer," says John Weisburger, PhD, senior researcher at the Institute for Cancer Prevention in Valhalla, New York.
A recent study by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and Harvard Medical School showed that tea, unlike coffee, boosts the body's immune system to fight infection. It also showed blood cells from tea drinkers responded five times faster to germs than did those of coffee drinkers.
A study published by the American Heart Association Journal Circulation showed that people who drank large amounts of tea - roughly 19 cups a week - were less likely to die after a heart attack.
Tea boasts a range of benefits, including health and flavor, That culminates to provide people with a relaxing experience” -- Cindi Bigelow, Vice President, R.C. Bigelow Tea
Generally speaking, the less processed a tea is, the more antioxidants and less caffeine it has. Herbal tea is not made from the same plant, so most Herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free and offer different health benefits.
Tea is basically calorie-free, if taken without milk or sugar, and can play a major function in maintaining bodily fluid balance. Additional benefits of drinking tea daily include:
Fluoride: Tea contains fluoride which helps to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce the formation of plaque.
Antioxidants: Varying degrees found primarily in white and green teas, but also some black tea. This may help to reduce the risk of some cancers such as colon, lung and skin.
Polyphenols: These are believed to help inhibit absorption of cholesterol in the blood stream which may help to prevent the formation of blood clots.
Caffeine: Caffeine is known as a mild stimulant and this can help to increase the activity of digestive juices. This benefit helps stimulate the circulatory system which could aid in reduction of the atherosclerosis or otherwise known as hardening of the arteries.
Below are some specific health benefits of each type of tea we offer:
- The highest in antioxidants, White Tea aids in cleansing or detoxifying the body which helps fight cancer, helps increase your metabolism, and is the best for skin and complexion (helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles).
- Green tea has the most of the EGCG complex (the potent extract), which is good for metabolism. It also contains polyphenols for cancer prevention, boosts the immune system, helps regulate blood sugar, aids in detoxifying the body, and promotes healthy skin, teeth and bones. One cup of green tea will contain approximately 300-400 mg of polyphenol and has demonstrated an ability to lower total cholesterol and raise HDL ("good") cholesterol in both animals and people.
- Drinking Oolong tea during or after a high-cholesterol meal has been shown to lower the intake of fat content in the blood. It also contains the most tannic acid, which is good for lowering cholesterol. Oolong tea is good for the skin as well and is a weight-loss tea, since it burns fat already built up in the body.
- Black tea may assist in lowering cholesterol, which is good for the heart. Medical research suggests black tea helps to regulate blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and keep the blood vessels soft, because of the caffeine. Finally, black tea promotes healthy teeth, skin and bones.
- The majority of Herbal teas are high in vitamin C and very rich in antioxidants. Many are also naturally caffeine free. However, the actual health benefits differ from one herbal tea to another.
- High in antioxidants and rich in vitamins and minerals, Rooibos is caffeine free and may aid in relieving allergies, increases iron absorption, great for hair, teeth, skin, and bones. Rooibos tea is good for those with a sensitive central nervous system.
