The World of Tea (A.K.A Liquid Wisdom)

You are all welcome to today’s post. I encourage you to live well, one day at a time and form healthy habits rather than restrictions; for there is no diet that can beat healthy eating. So stay on the healthy lifestyle lane.

“A simple cup of tea is far from a simple matter” Mary Lou Heiss.

Tea! It is the second most consumed drink in the world, with water in the first position.

All teas, Black, Green, Oolong , White and Pu’erh come from the same plant known as Camellia Sinensis. All other drinks we may know as tea are actually ’tisane’ or more widely termed herbal tea. Tisane is any flower, fruit or herb that can be steeped in water and ingested.

Every tea contains essential oils (provides the aromas and flavours), polyphenols (provides the health benefits) and caffeine (the energy boost). What differentiates one tea from another is the way the leaves are processed.

As all teas come from the same plant with the same basic composition, the benefits are similar. Even though there are differences because of the way they are processed, the differences are not significant. For instance, White tea has more anti-oxidants than Black tea, the amount of difference is not relevant in relation to the health benefits. To build immune strength and get all the benefits that teas have to offer, drink any of the teas that makes your palate happy. However, to get the most benefits, at least 3 - 4 cups per day is recommended.

Just as with any food, when buying tea, watch out for the quality as some tea bags contain mostly fannings and dust, which probably contain lower anti-oxidants.

One of the great benefits of drinking tea is the presence of various xanthines. These stimulate the brain and at the same time relax the body. A second benefit is, they are high in polyphenols. These help the body get rid of free radicals, the free radicals which make room for diseases to ravage the body.

Free radicals are oxidants that are unstable, molecules that damage cells, change DNA and cause diseases. Therefore,  anti-oxidants like polyphenols are necessary to fight cellular damages. Since many diseases are the result of cellular damage, polyphenol activities through the consumption of tea can be a key benefit in healthy lifestyle.

Tea also contains L-theanine, an extraordinary amino acid that only appears in the leaves of tea, Camellia Sinensis. It puts our bodies in a state of relaxed concentration, i.e. a calm alertness.

Most definitely, tea alone cannot fight diseases or improve health. We ought to view our foods and drinks as an army of soldiers working together and tea is one of soldiers. Tea should be complemented by a lifestyle that incorporates a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, high quality proteins, right amounts of fat and carbohydrates with enough sleep.

Tea is always a good idea.

Until next week, let Polly put the kettle on. 😉