The Tea Detective
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
Uncovering and Exploring the Facts About Tea
| The Chemistry of Tea It's What's Inside That Counts |
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| For centuries the Chinese have used tea as much for medicinal purposes, as they have a tasty beverage. No one needed to prove to them that tea held the key to better health. The proof was in the pudding, so to speak...or rather, in the teacup. |
| But the wary Western world always insisted on proof, proof, and more proof. And they've gotten what they've asked for in the form of hundreds of colleges, medical centers, scientists, and governmental agencies that already knew; that tea is healthy for body, mind, and spirit. It not only helps to heal the inside, but the outside as well. Numerous studies on everything from halitosis (bad breath), to heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes, show that tea plays a major role in helping to heal or eliminate sickness and disease. It helps boost the immune system to help fight in- fections, and ward off colds and flu, aids in digest- ive problems, irritable bowel syndrome, and helps strengthen teeth and bones, and more. |
| The tiny tea leaf is an amazing thing. But I bet you're wondering what's in tea that makes it so healthy. Well, let's take a look. |
| Tea - What's in There? |
| Tea is filled to the brim with good stuff - vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in the form of polyphenols EGCG, and tannic acid, which fight diseases, inflammation, and cell damage resulting in some forms of cancer. But to make it easier to understand how it fights illness and dis- ease, we'll break the tea leaf down, and look at some of the speci- fic compounds and what they do. We'll start with EGCG, an anti- oxidant with a great big name. EGCG (epigallocatechingallate) From the polyphenol group, EGCG is an important organic compound that helps in the fight against everything from cancer to colds and viruses. Polyphenols help in slowing down many types of cancer, and in the case of lung cancer, works not only in the bloodstream, but in the respiratory system as well. This is important to heavy smokers who can help to reverse the damage done by free radicals by drinking three to four cups of tea a day. Like aspirin, EGCG has anti-clotting properties, helping to pre- vent blood clots in veins and arteries normally susceptible, helping to prevent strokes and heart attacks. Tannic Acid Like EGCG, tannic acid is also from the polyphenol group. One of its unique qualities is the ability to slow the absorption of caffeine into the bloodstream. Another important function of tannic acid is the removal of the culture medium used by toxic bacteria living in the intestines. By changing proteins into molecules it creates a substance parasites can no longer use. Deprived of their food source the bacteria die. This is one of the reasons tea has such a soothing effect on the stomach and intestines, and why tea is so effective in treating and preventing nervous disorders and inflammation of the stomach. Flavonoids Flavonoids play a key role in the fight against cardiovascular disease, helping to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They also help to prevent strokes by reducing clots in the veins and arteries. Studies show they also help reduce the risk of stomach cancer, breast cancer, and cancer of the intestines. Other Vitamins and Minerals in Tea There are plenty of other vitamins, minerals, and various compounds in tea that make it so healthy for us. Such as: Vitamin C - an anti-inflammatory and important antioxidant. Thiamine - a water soluble B vitamin. Helps with concentration and mental acuity, and helps eliminate stress. Flouride - aids in growth and strength of bones and teeth. |
| Aluminum - (contains trace amounts) helps relieve excess gastric acids and soothes heartburn and stomach irritations and flare-ups. Manganese - this trace element helps build connective tissue, such as muscle and tendons, and helps metabolize fat and protein. Together with calcium it also helps food to pass quickly to bones. This is only a partial list of the health benefits, and vitamins and minerals contained in tea. Every day there is more ongoing research into the contents of tea, and its impact on our health. Needless to say, tea not only tastes good, but is very, very good for us, too. Enjoy. |
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| For more information or to learn more about tea, visit our other pages: Learn how tea helps you lose weight the healthy, natural way. Drinking just three cups of tea a day not only helps you take off those unwanted pounds, but also provides a powerhouse of other health benefits as well. (For a tasty, healthy way to take off weight try SLT Weight Loss Tea from Silver Leaf Tea Co - with their 100% satisfaction guarantee what do you have to lose?... except maybe a few unwanted pounds?). Do you feel a cold or the flu coming on? Quick...read this! It may be hard to believe, but by just drinking a few cups of tea each day, you're boosting your immune system and warding off illness. Learn how tea helps stop the virus responsible for colds and flu, dead in its tracks. (For a great selection of organic teas visit Silver Leaf Tea Co.) Tea and caffeine - how the caffeine in tea affects us. A look at the amount of caffeine in each type of tea and how it affects our body. Also caffeine as a stimulant, how it works, and the positive and negative effects it may have on our system. Make brewing tea a breeze with a few helpful tools. Brewing tea is an easy task, but with a few choice tools and accessories, you can make it even easier and more enjoyable. Brewing Loose Leaf Tea Easy step-by-step instructions and a few helpful tips will have you brewing the perfect cup or pot of tea the first time, every time. Flavored Teas-Everyone's Favorite Satisfy your favorite cravings with a healthy, low calorie cup of tea. Whether it's berries, citrus, or even caramel or chocolate (how does chocolate with chocolate chips or mint chocolate sound), your favorite flavor of tea is just waiting for you. Scented teas are a fragrant and refreshing treat for the taste buds. Having been perfected by the Chinese many centuries ago, these delicate, refreshing, and relaxing teas are not only tasty, but sport many health benefits as well. So who is Earl Grey, anyway? Earl Grey is probably the most recognizable of blended teas, but there are many other tasty blends that make the perfect beginning or finish to your day. Organic teas aren't just good for you, but Mother Earth, too. Learn how organic teas are grown, and how to ensure the tea you're buying is certified organic by the country it was grown in. What is Fair Trade and how does it work? The origins of the early Fair Trade program and the organizations that helped to develop it and are considered the founding fathers of Fair Trade. The history of iced tea and recipe for Sun Tea, a summertime classic. Learn the history behind iced tea and how a spur of the moment decision led to its creation, and the recipe for brewing up a glass or pot of Sun Tea, a summertime classic. A quick lesson on how teas are named and graded. Are you confused by all the different names, letters, and symbols surrounding tea? We'll take the mystery out by giving you a quick lesson on what it all means, giving you one more tool to use in learning all about this mystical plant. How is green tea made? Learn about the unique manufacturing process for green tea, leaving it in its near nat- ural state while preserving the vitamins, minerals, and important antioxidants. What secret ingredient is added when making puerh tea? Puerh tea is considered to be a medicinal tea in China, and the secret to producing this healthy tea may surprise you. How is white tea made? White tea receives the least amount of processing, leaving it in its near natural state. Learn how this healthy tea is made, and why it's only available in limited quantities. What makes yellow tea so unique? Find out what extra step is taken during processing to set yellow tea apart and make it unique, while still sharing many attributes of both white and green tea. Oolong tea-nature and a careful manufacturing process make the difference. Nature provides the perfect growing conditions, while a long, careful manufacturing process gives oolong teas a wide spectrum of flavors, some light and sweet, others hearty and robust. Find your favorite! |
| For a great selection of quality teas, gifts, and accessories, visit: The Tea Detective's Gift of Tea Store |
Receive A Guide To Tea, an 88-page book on the history and enjoyment of tea free with your first Adagio Teas order of $19 or more.
An easy-to-use ingenuiTEA teapot, whose ingenious design has been featured in The New York Times, Time Magazine and HGTV.
Gifts for lovers of tea with free wrapping of all items.