Tea Time

I have never been much of a tea drinker,  but after doing some research on this topic, I feel confident that my multivitamin regimen will always include various forms of tea.  Mine personally includes green tea, black tea, and oolong tea to be very specific.  I feel the tea gives me energy, helps maintain my weight, and gives me focus as I go about my day.  If you are not using tea (either drinking or in capsule form), then please pay attention to the facts in this blog.

Tracing back to 700 A.D., tea houses became popular social centers amongs poets, royalty, educators, and physicians. And tea is still a staple in Chinese households today.  I did not realize this, but the US is now China's seconds largest importer of tea. WOW!  Americans like their tea.  All teas come from an evergreen plant 'Camellia sinensis' which produces many types of teas (~300).  The plants can grow crazy high (50 feet), but most are kept at about 5 feet tall.  Of the 300 varieties of tea, there are really 5 types that are of importance to health and longevity.  I want to keep the blog short so I feel doing just a simple breakdown list is probably the best approach. 
So here goes....lets talk teas.

Types of Teas
1. Black Tea-(fully fermented) has a smoky flavor. has warming properties so it's best in colder months. is good for people with pain in the extremities due to cold weather.  is good for poor circulation, arthritis, and coughs caused by a cold.  Pu-er black tea is the most effective for weight, triglycerides, and cholesterol.  It is used in Chinese medicinals to decrease risk of stroke, atherosclerosis, and obesity.

2.  Oolong Tea- (half fermented) can aid in digestion. can decrease absorption of fats from big meals. is beneficial for patients who have skin problems such as acne.

3.  Green Tea- (not fermented) has a weaker ability to boost metabolism as compared to the other teas.  popular during summers because of their cooling properties. has a high antioxidant content.  Gunpowder tea is the green tea with the highest antioxidant content.

4.  Flower, Fruit, and Scented Teas: (black, green, and oolong) a popular tea during summer because of it's cooling properties, decreased effect on  sweating, dehydration, headaches, irritability, allergies, and eye problems.  Fruit teas are great for those with intestinal and stomach problems such as bloating, gas, indigestion, and heartburn.

5. White tea is not readily available unfortunately because of its seasonal extraction process.

HEALTH BENEFITS:
Research proves that tea has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.  It lowers blood glucose, prevents tooth decay, boosts the immune system, and increases blood flow and energy.  Tea can also decrease plaque in blood vessels.  There's more. The polyphenols in tea contain powerful antioxidants that aid in cancer prevention.  And, both black and green tea inhibit the activity of enzymes linked to Alzheimers disease.  WOW! Pour me a cup.

Cancer: heavy smokers who drank at least 4 cups of tea each day had a 31% reduction in a chemical that is released causing DNA damage. (American Assoc. for Cancer Research)

Blood Pressure: Habitual tea drinkers showed a decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure over the course of a year.

Other Uses: Washing a cut to prevent infection. Treating athletes foot. Placing tea leaves in a pillow case to serve as an air freshener. Mouthwash for bad breath.  Who knew???

What about the caffeine? a common misconception is that caffeine is bad.  (I'm actually quite fond of it myself. LOL!) Teas are caffeinated but release differently than coffee products which give a quick jolt.  Teas boost energy and focus by giving a slow steady release throughout the day.  Caffeine in tea is significantly lower than that found in coffee.  Patients sensitive to coffee can usually handle tea just fine. 

So there you have it.  Tea Time is good for you.   Invite me over, we'll sip some tea. :)

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja
417-777-7455