4 Surprising Facts About the Health Benefits of Tea

Conventional wisdom has long promoted tea as a treatment for many of life’s ailments. Researchers once dismissed this way of thinking as tradition more than real science. What’s surprising to a lot of people is the fact that new studies are actually proving many of these traditional claims to be true. Solid research is linking the consumption of tea to some interesting health effects.

4 Health Benefits of Tea



Cardiovascular Health


The most famous studies involving tea-drinking revolve around the influence of tea consumption on cardiovascular health. Tea could potentially protect against cardiovascular and degenerative heart diseases. Strong evidence suggests that there’s a correlation between regular tea consumption and a lower incidence of heart attack and stroke. Cardiovascular disease is certainly one of the biggest health concerns that people face today.

Tea more than likely acts as a blood thinner, which in turn helps to prevent blood clots. Most stimulants are associated with destructive cardiovascular events. Researchers originally didn’t understand how a stimulant could actually be working to prevent these kinds of health problems. It seems like tea is a stronger anticoagulant than a stimulant, which could help to explain this seeming paradox.

Neurological Health


Chinese medical texts from the 4th and 5th centuries connect tea drinking with a healthy mind. New research proves that the writers of these ancient books were pointing in the right direction. Polyphenols found in freshly steeped green tea are an effective agent in preventing degenerative neurological diseases. This class of disease, which includes Alzheimer’s, is notoriously difficult to treat. It seems that nothing more than a delicious cup of green tea could be one of the keys to preventing them. Polyphenols also help maintain parts of the brain involved in higher cognitive functions. These micronutrients help to regulate memory and learning new material. Some blends of tea also contain vitamins that are necessary for proper cognitive functioning. Green tea is rich in folic acid as well as beta-carotene.

Parkinson’s Disease


A recent study actually linked drinking tea with a lower risk of contracting Parkinson’s disease. Scientists looked at several factors when assessing patients participating in the study. These factors included weight, age, level of physical activity, and whether or not the patient smoked in addition to tea drinking. Researchers ultimately concluded that there was a correlation between tea drinking and lower risk levels. It should be noted, of course, that those with the lowest risk also stayed active and did not smoke.

Tea Takes on Cancer


Western medicine has been more interested in the connection between tea drinking and a lower incidence of cancer than anything else. Oncologists have published more studies on tea drinking than dieticians have. Chinese and Japanese medical texts have recognized this connection for centuries before Western oncologists ever picked up a pen. Studies indicate that regular consumption of green or black tea can negate some of the health effects that long-time smokers suffer from. This includes lessening the risk of lung cancer after a patient quits smoking.

Antioxidants found in brewed tea are well known for their ability to protect against numerous types of cancer. Studies have shown correlations between these antioxidants and almost every type of cancer. Green tea is noted for the large amount of micronutrients that it contains. Black tea, however, actually has higher amounts of the antioxidant molecules that are so interesting to oncologists.

A Few Caveats to Keep in Mind


According to Kenko. Green, a specialty tea firm that provides one of the few sources of Japanese Ashitaba ceremonial tea, not all tea is created equal. Western consumers often lack access to high-quality grades of tea. Some of these varieties would be difficult enough to find in Japan or Korea. Canning and processing potentially strip a great deal of the nutrients out of various tea blends. These issues combine to make it rather difficult to find truly beneficial varieties of tea.

Loose tea is generally better than instant or bagged tea. Instant tea often comes packed full of food additives that negate many of the healthy properties of the natural tea. Adhesives used to hold tea bags together may actually be harmful according to recent studies. Natural tea made the old-fashioned way might be the best way to go. Whole leaf tea can be steeped much longer than more modern forms of tea. It doesn’t necessarily turn bitter with time as long as you don’t let it steep for more than maybe five or six minutes.

Enjoying a Daily Cup


Tea is by no means a miracle drug, but science has proven many of the claims that traditions have heaped on it. Enjoying a daily cup of tea can be very good for you. Drinking it plain without any cream or sugar is even a great way to add a beverage that includes essentially no calories to your diet. You shouldn’t have to feel guilty when enjoying your favourite beverage.


Important Notice: This article was originally published at www.livelovefruit.com by Carly Fraser where all credits are due.

Disclaimer

The watching, interacting, and participation of any kind with anything on this page does not constitute or initiate a doctor-patient relationship with Dr. Farrah®. None of the statements here have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The products of Dr. Farrah® are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information being provided should only be considered for education and entertainment purposes only. If you feel that anything you see or hear may be of value to you on this page or on any other medium of any kind associated with, showing, or quoting anything relating to Dr. Farrah® in any way at any time, you are encouraged to and agree to consult with a licensed healthcare professional in your area to discuss it. If you feel that you’re having a healthcare emergency, seek medical attention immediately. The views expressed here are simply either the views and opinions of Dr. Farrah® or others appearing and are protected under the first amendment.

Dr. Farrah® is a highly experienced Licensed Medical Doctor certified in evidence-based clinical nutrition, not some enthusiast, formulator, or medium promoting the wild and unrestrained use of nutrition products for health issues without clinical experience and scientific evidence of therapeutic benefit. Dr. Farrah® has personally and keenly studied everything she recommends, and more importantly, she’s closely observed the reactions and results in a clinical setting countless times over the course of her career involving the treatment of over 150,000 patients.

Dr. Farrah® promotes evidence-based natural approaches to health, which means integrating her individual scientific and clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research. By individual clinical expertise, I refer to the proficiency and judgment that individual clinicians acquire through clinical experience and clinical practice.

Dr. Farrah® does not make any representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of any multimedia content provided. Dr. Farrah® does not warrant the performance, effectiveness, or applicability of any sites listed, linked, or referenced to, in, or by any multimedia content.

To be clear, the multimedia content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen in any website, video, image, or media of any kind.
Dr. Farrah® hereby disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental, or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is, and without warranties.