3. June 2010 06:53
Green tea has a reputation for having tremendous positive effects on your health but what are the reasons behind it? This article will help explain the reasons. What are the compounds included in green tea that makes it so good for you? Below is a list of what the most significant ingredients are, and how they benefit your health:
Polyphenols - a powerful-acting antioxidant, which is naturally occurring and most responsible for the color, flavor, and taste in fruits, vegetables, seeds and types of plants. The benefits include lowering the risk of heart disease, cancer and other types of diseases. The properties in polyphenol can be such that they serve as an anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic.
Catechins - a class of polyphenol, commonly in high doses in green tea. Benefits include anti-carcinogenic, lowering of cholesterol and LDL levels, prevention of high blood pressure, prevention of red blood cell clots, prevention of allergies, anti-biotic acting functionality, and improvement of digestion and elimination of body odor.
Flavonols - another class of polyphenol with anti-oxidant properties. Benefits include the trapping of free radicals and peroxides, and the prevention of destruction of body tissue. Works in conjunction with vitamin C, helping to strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
Glycosides - complex sugar. Prevents blood sugar increase.
Carotene - compound which is organic and found in most orange and yellow vegetables and fruits. Helps to make body produce vitamin A. Benefits include prevention of oxidation, improves immunity and has anti-carcinogenic properties.
Flouride - mineral which helps strengthen tooth enamel, thereby preventing tooth decay.
Caffeine - diuretic. Benefits include speeding of nervous system, prevention of asthma, increase in metabolism.
Vitamin C - vitamin which helps fight against infections and helps the immune system.
Vitamin E - vitamin which helps in prevention of breakdown of body tissues. Also helps with infertility and is anti-carcinogenic.
Vitamin B - vitamin which helps in metabolism, maintenance of healthy skin and muscle tone, enhancement of immune and nervous system, promotion of cell growth, and reduction of certain cancers.
Zinc - mineral which helps in prevention of skin inflammation and helps in maintenance of immunity level.
Selenium - mineral which helps in prevention of oxidation and heart muscle deterioration.
Magnesium - mineral which helps in prevention of oxidation, prevention of heart-related diseases, and maintenance of bodily nerves, muscles, and bones. Also helps in the synthesis of protein and cellular metabolism.
25. May 2010 10:19
Many people around the world, including chefs and even scientists believe that white tea has numerous benefits towards everyone’s health. But do you really know what exactly white tea is and how you could benefit from white tea leaves? The immature tea leaves are alternatively called white tea. These loose leaves are picked from the tea plant just before the plant has fully bloomed. The name ‘white tea’ came from the fine silvery fuzz covering the tea leaf and making it white in color. The four distinct varieties of white tea include the White Peony, Silver Needle, Long Life Eyebrow and Tribute Eyebrow. The difference between them is the proportion in which the tea leaves are blended with the tea buds.
Harvesting White Tea
Usually buds turn into tea in two days after they are picked. When two tea leaves are mixed with one tea bud, it forms the White Peony and if the mixture is made completely of buds, it is termed as the Silver Needle tea. The low quality tea variety called Long Life Eyebrow is made by mixing up the left over leaves after the White Peony and Silver Needle harvest. Tribute Eyebrow is processed using a special tea bush and is also a lesser quality tea. All four white teas can be purchased in loose leaf forms. On the other hand, teas available in bags have comparatively less quality and flavor than white tea. Tea bags are generally tea leaf dusts that remains at the bottom of tea bins after harvesting, reducing the desired quality and flavor.
White Tea Research
Scientific research has also shown that white tea provides additional protection against skin cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer and even prostate cancer. Studies on the effect of white tea extract on skin exposed to direct sunlight has shown improved protection and reduced cell damage. A partially repaired immune system was also observed in some test subjects that consumed white tea leaves. Scientists found a wealth of antioxidants present in white tea and they suggested it may have anti-aging effect. Some compelling evidence has also been found in the direction of disease prevention using white tea leaves. It is shown that the white tea leaf extract may have the ability to stop pneumonia and the bacteria that causes Staph infection. It is also used to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, plaque and even bad breath.
What Else Can White Tea Do for You?
It is also believed that white tea leaf has anti-fungal effects. Recent studies have shown that some fungal types became inactive when the fungal drugs are consumed along with white tea leaves. Results of this study also show that white tea leaves might be used to prevent the fungus growth in certain similar conditions. Cholesterol is a health requirement and there are two kinds of cholesterol: good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. It is the bad cholesterol that causes the hardening of the arteries that could lead to heart attack. A type of antioxidants called catechins has been found to reduce bad cholesterol; white tea also helps raise the good cholesterol in the human body. It has been suggested that white tea leaves could lower the blood sugar levels, and thus reduce the occurrence of diabetic symptoms. More scientific research and results can be expected in the near future as the research on white tea continues.