Tea and health have been intimately linked since its discovery roughly 4,700 years ago. Chinese Emperor Shennong, (who is said to himself have discovered tea) claimed, in his compendium "The Divine Farmer's Herb Root Classic" that tea infusions were useful for treating abscesses, tumors, bladder problems and even lethargy. Known as the father of Chinese medicine, he dedicated his life to recording the medicinal properties of herbs. More recently, scientists in the have begun confirming what physicians in the east have known for thousands of years: the consumption of tea provides human beings with innumerable health benefits, some subtle some immediate, which have only just begun to be documented in the west.
The many health benefits of tea include:
First and foremost, tea has an incredibly high concentration of antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules capable of slowing down or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. The process of oxidation occurs naturally, but it can also be caused by external factors which would lead to the breakdown of healthy cells in the body. The antioxidants found in tea include epigallocatechin gallate and catechin. Epigallocatechin gallate (more commonly known as EGCG) has been found to contain numerous anti-cancer properties. Scientists believe it not only helps prevent the incidence of certain types of cancer (particularly lung, breast and prostate) but also helps minimize the reproduction of certain cancer cells and can even help reduce the size of certain tumors. Catechins, it has been found, can help reduce the risk of certain cancers, strokes, heart failure and diabetes. They also posess antibiotic properties and are believed to, when combined with regular exercise, help delay certain types of aging. Because of the presence of both EGCG and catechins it has been found that tea and tea extract, when applied topically to the skin, can serve to filter UV rays and protect the body from carcinoma related skin damage.
The catechins in tea, combined with its caffeine content, help to accelerate the metabolism. An accelerated metabolism consumed more calories and helps promote weight loss. The accelerating effect lasts for up to two hours after the tea has been consumed and, even though tea contains caffeine, it typically has 33% or less the ammount found in a comparably sized serving of coffee making it a healthier alternative for an early morning energizing beverage.
Tea has been found to, because of its catechins, improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. For this reason it is believed that it might help prevent diabetes. Even if this claim turns out to be exagerated there is no question that its effect on glucose and insulin make tea an excellent complement to ongoing diabetic treatment.
Aside from the above mentioned, tea has been found to boost mental awareness, boost the immune system, lower stress hormone levels, reduce intestinal inflamation (and soothe digestive ailments), inhibit the growth of bacteria that causes halitosis (bad breath), help fight certain bacterial infections and to have many, many other incredibly beneficial effects to the consumer's health.
To learn more about the equipment needed to brew Loose Leaf Tea and how to use it, see out Tea Equipment section
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Tea and health have been intimately linked since its discovery roughly 4,700 years ago. Chinese Emperor Shennong, (who is said to himself have discovered tea) claimed, in his compendium "The Divine Farmer's Herb Root Classic" that tea infusions were useful for treating abscesses, tumors, bladder problems and even lethargy. Known as the father of Chinese medicine, he dedicated his life to recording the medicinal properties of herbs. More recently, scientists in the have begun confirming what physicians in the east have known for thousands of years: the consumption of tea provides human beings with innumerable health benefits, some subtle some immediate, which have only just begun to be documented in the west.
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