Tea has been a staple of Chinese medicine for four thousand years. Its benefits have taken longer to be accepted by the west but recently begun to be studied and documented. The consumption of tea has become a regular occurrence for individuals who had not previously enjoyed it as a supplement to their dietary regime.
The hype over oolong and other teas has reached almost the point of hysteria. While they are certainly beneficial, it is important to separate which claims have been medically proven and which, as of yet, have not.
Medically Proven Claims:
Antioxidants: Teas contain a very high concentration of antioxidants. Oxidation is a process by which the chemical bonds that hold cells apart in our bodies begin to break down, leading to a systematic chain as the now unstable molecules attack stable ones in order to stabilize themselves, turning the previously stable molecules into now unstable ones, and so on and so forth. While this process occurs naturally in the human body, it can also take place as a reaction to external elements such as UV sunlight, pollution or some known carcinogens. Antioxidants fight and stop (or at least help to limit) the externally caused oxidation process.
Flavonoids and Polyphenols: Teas are rich in both flavonoids and polyphenols, chemical substances typically found in plants that have a strong antioxidant effect. More interestingly, however, both have been linked with a reduction in incidences of cancer and cardiovascular disease. This does not mean they prevent cancer, but that their presence in the human body has been correlated with a lower incidence of both diseases.
Diuretic: Tea is known to have a mild diuretic effect. This helps increase the flow of urine which makes the body get rid of excess fluids and toxins while keeping the kidneys clean and functional. Its effects are mild enough to minimize the loss of important vitamins and nutrients, but as always one should be careful to hydrate and maintain a balanced diet to minimize adverse effects.
Increase Metabolism: Teas have been proven to increase metabolism, with green tea estimated to increase it by up to ten percent for the two hours immediately following its ingestion. An increased metabolism speeds up the rate at which calories are consumed and helps promote weight loss.
Claims that have not been medically proven:
Cancer Prevention: While there has been a correlation between the regular ingestion of tea and the lower incidence of certain cancer rates, it has not been proven that they help prevent or treat cancer.
Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's: Many who suffer from these diseases claim that tea helps minimize their effects and even reverse some of them, but these claims have not been verified by independent medical studies.
Anti-Aging: While oxidation is a process that is linked to aging, there has been no medical verification of the claims some individuals have that the regular ingestion of tea has reduced, however mildly, the speed and effects of their aging process.
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Tea has been a staple of Chinese medicine for four thousand years. Its benefits have taken longer to be accepted by the west but recently begun to be studied and documented. The consumption of tea has become a regular occurrence for individuals who had not previously enjoyed it as a supplement to their dietary regime.
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