Thread: The health benefits of tea

Recent research findings about the health benefits of tea shouldn't be surprising. A single tea leaf contains a wide variety of substances. The two substances receiving the most attention in tea, however, are antioxidants and caffeine.
Antioxidants
We learned about oxidation a few sections ago. Just like tea leaves, apples and car hoods, humans are susceptible to oxidation. Oxygen molecules create stress on our tissues and organs by introducing harmful free radicals that lead to complications such as cancer and heart disease. Free radicals are charged atoms or molecules. They have to steal an electron from the molecules.
Antioxidants are substances that slow down the damaging effects of oxidation, and they are found naturally in fruits and vegetables. Once they are introduced into the body, antioxidants neutralize free radicals by giving up an electron. The antioxidant is harmless, because it is stable with or without its extra electron. Examples of powerful antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene.
Tea contains a wide range of antioxidants. Scientists haven't agreed yet on the effectiveness of these substances, but the general consensus points toward polyphenolic compounds as the most abundant and helpful source of antioxidants in tea. Several kinds of polyphenols known as catechins, are common in green tea and considered to provide the best protection from oxidation. Black tea offers strong antioxidants, too, but the polyphenols have different structures and are not quite as effective. The reason for this goes back once again to the different ways to process tea -- the catechins that stay in green tea transform into theaflavin and thearubigin in black teas.
Caffeine
Like coffee, tea contains caffeine, the stimulant that wakes us up and increases concentration. The amount of caffeine in a cup of tea varies greatly -- everything from location to processing decisions affects the outcome -- but most agree that there's more caffeine in coffee than in tea. A standard cup of coffee contains anywhere from 80 to 120 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, while a cup of tea can have between 20 and 60 mg of caffeine. Most reports note that black tea is the strongest, containing about 30 to 40 mg. Green tea and oolong tea contain less, somewhere between 10 and 20 mg. White tea is thought to contain almost a negligible amount of caffeine, about 1 percent of the caffeine in a cup of coffee.

Tea is actually a habit. One can not leave the habit of tea. But have you marked one thing that if you have tea in moderation then you can actually feel quite fresh all the day long. The main purpose of tea is that it has antioxidants and thus it maintains good blood flow. Also, the best thing about tea is that it is said to prevent cancer too. We talk a lot about green tea. Green tea is a natural herb which makes you healthy and fit.

Originally Posted by cherry

Tea is actually a habit. One can not leave the habit of tea. But have you marked one thing that if you have tea in moderation then you can actually feel quite fresh all the day long. The main purpose of tea is that it has antioxidants and thus it maintains good blood flow. Also, the best thing about tea is that it is said to prevent cancer too. We talk a lot about green tea. Green tea is a natural herb which makes you healthy and fit.

I'm drinking tea as substitute to soft drinks. And they also say that it makes your body become more sexy. hahahha. )

Many people think that tea is not good for health. But if you have tea in moderate amount may be a cup or three in a day then it wont do any harm. In fact according to research, if you consume green tea or herbal tea then it can benefit you in avoiding cancer, asthma etc.

I've been rocking the White Tea With Acai within my diet plan...I'm having one hell of a hard time not drinking cola but I'm getting there. I've also been mixing some green tea with strawberry tea which is quite nice actually.

Originally Posted by cherry

Tea is actually a habit. One can not leave the habit of tea. But have you marked one thing that if you have tea in moderation then you can actually feel quite fresh all the day long. The main purpose of tea is that it has antioxidants and thus it maintains good blood flow. Also, the best thing about tea is that it is said to prevent cancer too. We talk a lot about green tea. Green tea is a natural herb which makes you healthy and fit.

I drink tea 2 times a day since i come out from hospital because of too much caffeine taken that makes me so nervous (and my family always makes me nervous by doing extra terrestrial hobbies at home!) and i don't like it.

my chinese friend told me drinking jasmine tea after eating fatty foods help break down the fats -- something like that. We couldnt really understand each other very well cos her english isnt very good.

but i get insomnia every time i drink jasmine tea after 6pm.

I've read that Green Tea is very helpful in weightloss. I have to do some research on other teas to see what the benefits are.