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Tea consumption has also been found useful for prevention of many devastating human diseases that include maintenance of cardiovascular and metabolic health. Various studies suggest that antioxidants like polyphenolic compounds present in green and black tea are associated with beneficial effects in prevention of cardiovascular diseases, particularly of atherosclerosis and coronary heart diseases.
The origin of tea is a blend of myth and fact wrapped in ancient concepts of spirituality and philosophy. According to the Chinese legend, its history dates back to 2737 BC, when the Emperor Shen Nong – a skilled ruler and scientist – accidentally discovered tea. When he was boiling water in the garden, a leaf from an overhanging wild tea tree accidentally fell in his pot. The emperor enjoyed the infused boiling water so much that he started to do further exploration on that wild tree leaf and told others about its medicinal and refreshing properties. The word “chai” that we attach to this refreshing beverage of tea was derived from the Chinese word “cha” meaning the same. The Indian legend is bit different. An Indian Buddhist saint named Bodhi-Dharma did continue his meditation for 9 years without sleep. It is said that at the end of his meditation, he fell asleep. After waking up, he became so distraught that he cut off his eyelids and threw them to ground. Tea plants grew out of those eyelids. Legend says that even today his sacrifice of eyelids helps us to banish unwanted sleep. Sometimes tea is considered as a “Wonder Drug” of the nature for its huge health benefits. However, tea is generally taken as a beverage in the world rather than as a medicinal drink.
Tea, next to water, is the most popular beverage consumed worldwide for various reasons. Studies provide strong evidence that drinking tea regularly may affect the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases. Tea owes its medicinal properties to an antioxidant named Polyphenols. It is well-known that antioxidants prevent cell damage, fight against free radicals, slow down the aging process and improve regeneration of cells. Many researches also indicate that tea has a positive effect on brain and improves mental health of a person. Tea contains an amino acid named L-theanine that is scientifically proven to improve relaxation and concentration. Tea also helps to decrease the probability of having cognitive impairment, which affects the ability to think, reason, formulate ideas, and remember. A research done among Japanese adults did show that those who drank at least 2 cups of green tea daily lessened the chances of cognitive impairment by 50%.
Tea consumption has also been found useful for prevention of many disturbing human diseases that include maintenance of cardiovascular and metabolic health. Various studies suggest that antioxidants like polyphenolic compounds present in green and black tea are associated with beneficial effects in prevention of cardiovascular diseases, particularly of atherosclerosis and coronary heart diseases. In addition, anti-aging, anti-diabetic and many other health beneficial effects are associated with tea consumption. Various researches show that catechins and theaflavins, which are the main polyphenolic compounds of green and black tea respectively, are responsible for most of the physiological benefits of tea.
All types of tea come from one basic plant – Camellia sinensis. The difference between various teas arises from processing, growing conditions, geographical location of cultivation and processing and other factors. Tea can be divided into six basic categories: Black, Dark, Oolong, Yellow, Green, and White. Some very popular teas can be mentioned here:
- Black: Black Tea is allowed to wither, which follows a process called oxidation during which water evaporates from the leaf and the leaf absorbs more oxygen from the air. It has higher caffeine content compared to other teas.
- Oolong: Oolong Tea undergoes partial oxidation. It has caffeine content between Green and Black Tea.
- Green: Green Tea leaves are allowed to wither after picking up but they undergo an extremely low oxidation process compared to other teas. So Green Tea tends to have less caffeine.
- White: White Tea is considered the most delicate of all teas. The tea leaves are hand-processed using the youngest shoots of the tea plant with no oxidation. It tea has a natural sweetness.
Which tea is considered the healthiest? Each kind of tea has specific benefits. The health benefits of Green Tea for a wide variety of ailments, including different types of cancer, heart disease and liver disease, have been reported. There are also human studies on using green tea to treat metabolic syndromes, such as obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular risk factors. Drinking Black Tea can be an excellent option if you are looking for an alternative of coffee or energy drink. Studies show that long-term drinking black tea results in the improvement of blood pressure either from lower or higher sides and reduces the chances of onset of cardiovascular disorders. CTC Tea is another type of processed Black Tea. This tea offers a number of benefits – it helps to increase alertness, helps to prevent cancer, Parkinson’s disease.
Can we add more taste and health to the tea at the same time? Yes, we can. In recent years, infusion has become very popular among the masses for various reasons. It is an easy way to feel good and rehydrate with this delicious drink. Infusion is nothing but plant root/bark/leaves/fruits or other herbs added with tea. They are refreshing, full of flavour and medicinal benefits. Infusions can be drunk any time of the day – morning, noon, afternoon and even after dinner. Some very common infusion variants are:
- Amla: An excellent source of Vitamin C. It helps to boost the immunity and may prevent viral and bacterial infections including common cold and cough.
- Apple: Rich in important antioxidants and flavonoids, including Vitamins C and B Complex. They help to reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Cinnamon: Contains catechins and procyanidins – which boast antioxidant activity. This has anti-inflammatory properties and may lower risk of heart disease.
- Ginger: Has antibacterial properties. Helps to prevent common cold and flu and keeps the respiratory tract healthy.
- Hibiscus: Helps to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol. The antioxidants present in it help to boost the body immunity.
- Lemon: Rich in Vitamin C and is known as natural diuretic. It helps to clean the liver & remove the toxins from the body.
- Moringa: Helps to control high blood pressure. Antioxidant named chlorogenic acid helps to lower high blood sugar. Moringa also helps to mobilize body fat and keeps away obesity.
- Pomegranate: Helps to reduce blood pressure and lower overall cholesterol levels. Gives a major boost to your metabolism; helps to reduce body weight.
- Rose: Has anti-inflammatory, detox and diuretic properties. Helps to get rid of body toxins. Vitamin C present in it helps to boost immunity.
- Tulsi: Home remedy to treat common respiratory ailments like cold, congestion, cough, flu, sore throat, sinusitis, bronchitis. Helps to keep the body refreshed thus reducing stress.
To get the best out of your cup of morning tea – you must pick a neat and pure tea. Sometimes tea is adulterated with cheap, harmful and useless adulterants to reduce the manufacturing cost. So to enjoy all the benefits, organic tea is the finest choice. Certified Organic Tea is free of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Organic tea agriculture sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. At the same time, organic tea can provide real benefits to our body. Why wait anymore? Pick a tea that suits you the best. Enjoy your morning tea!
