 “Tea tempers the spirit and harmonizes the mind; dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness”
Lu Yu The Classic of Tea (733-804)
There are numerous health claims made for tea, which was originally drunk in China for medicinal purposes. The healthy properties of tea are largely attributed to polyphenols, chemicals with potent antioxidant properties. All teas (black, green, white and oolong) contain measurable amounts of Zinc, Folic Acid, Manganese, Potassium and Vitamin C.
Our teas not only taste good but may also improve your health and wellbeing. Following are some of the current findings relating to tea and its health benefits. What more reason do you need to put the kettle on?
Flavonoids & Antioxidants – Why you should drink 4 cups of tea a day
Flavonoids are present in all Black, Green, White and Oolong teas. Flavonoids boost the body’s immune system and have been found to protect the body’s cells against damage, including protective effects against some cancers, heat disease and strokes. This has led the Royal Society of Medicine to recommend drinking 4 cups of tea a day.
Researchers at Tufts University have found that the flavonoids in tea protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and other carcinogens in the body. Flavonoids act as antioxidants that help the body flush carcinogens and maintain normal cell growth rates. This increases the natural turnover of precancerous cells and may help control the progression of some cancers.
2 cups of tea have similar levels of flavonoids as 7 glasses of orange juice, 5 onions or 4 apples.
Healthy Green tea
Green and black tea both come from the same plant, the difference being that green tea is unfermented. Studies indicate that tea in this unfermented state retains many of its  naturally occurring compounds intact. One of the most important of these is Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), a major chemical component of green tea not found in fermented black tea. The process of steaming or pan-firing green teas stops ECGC from oxidizing.
EGCG is a powerful antioxidant that the UK Institute of Child Health suggests can inhibit the growth of, and kill, cancer cells without harming the surrounding healthy tissue. It has also been found to lower levels of some types of cholesterol and inhibit the formation of blood clots, the leading cause of heart attack and stroke.
A recent study by the Canadian Cancer Society found that the consumption of green tea can significantly reduce the risk of the onset of breast cancer. While a 15 year Swedish study of 61,057 women found that those who drank 2 or more cups of tea per day had a 46% lower risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to non-tea drinkers.
Caffeine in Moderation
The average cup of tea contains half the caffeine found in a cup of coffee. The caffeine levels differ between teas depending on leaf grade, colour, blend and steeping time. In general, most cups of tea have between 25 to 34 mg of caffeine.
 Loose tea leaves and ground coffee contain similar levels of caffeine. The difference is that one pound of tea yields roughly 200 cups while a pound of coffee yields roughly 60 cups.
Caffeine is a natural component of tea and is considered safe when consumed in moderation. According to Health Canada, a balanced diet can include a moderate intake of between 400 to 450 mg per day or 10-12 cups of tea.
Our Herbal Infusions contain no caffeine.
Tea and the Immune System
Clinical trials at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that the immune cells of people who drank 5 cups of black tea daily for 2 to 4 weeks produced substantially higher levels of interferon, a protein that helps strengthen immune response. This can help the immune system fight off viral and bacterial infections.
Weight Loss and Tea Diets
Recent studies by researchers in Japan appear to indicate that certain varieties of Oolong may have properties which aid weight loss. The tea’s nutrient values and antioxidants invigorate the body, engendering a feeling of fullness that helps to alleviate the hunger pangs that lead to over-eating and snacking.
 Pu’erh, an aged Chinese black tea is claimed to aid digestion by breaking down fat molecules quickly and lowering cholesterol. Despite the popularity of pu’erh as a dieting tea, these claims have not yet been scientifically proven.
Tea drunk without milk contains no calories. Our teas are no replacement for a good diet and exercise, but irrespective of the veracity of these claims tea drinking will not increase your waist line.
Tea & the Heart
A report by Japanese researchers, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that people who drank at least five cups of green tea per day had a 26 percent lower risk of fatal cardiovascular disease than those who had fewer that one cup per day.
Tea, Teeth and Bones
Tea is a naturally occurring source of fluoride. A 2003 study by researchers at the New York University Dental Center found that drinking black tea with meals may help reduce cavities.
Recent studies by the Deptartment of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto, found that because it is a rich source of EGCG, consumption of green may have beneficial effects on bone mineral density and overall bone health.
Tea & the Brain
The 2007 International Scientific Symposium on Tea & Human Health in Washington DC revealed some research that suggests tea may lower individual risk of developing dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
In 2008 the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that drinking two to three cups of tea reduced the risk of dementia by approximately 55%. This effect was increased in heavy tea drinkers (six to ten cups a day) to 63%. |
