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Important Information on Tea Oolong tea is nothing more than the leaves of the camellia sinensis that have been processed a certain way. It is one of the four types of teas (white, green, oolong and black)
Oolong teas are the most difficult of the four types of teas to process. First of all, "wu long," while accurate, is not the preferred term. Coming from the Chinese "wu"--"black"--and "lung"--dragon--the tea is more commonly termed "oolong" in the West--in fact, is considered the standard. Black Tea In a study done at the American Heart Association in New Orleans, researchers found that tea drinkers have a lower risk of heart attack and stroke. Black tea relaxes and expands arteries, thus increasing blood flow to the heart. The eight-week study involved 50 men and women with coronary artery disease. They drank four cups of either water or tea a day for four weeks. The arteries of a healthy person release the chemical called nitric oxide which causes the artery to dilate. People with coronary artery disease produce less nitric oxide and thus the areteries do not dilate normally. The study revealed tea reverse this abnormality while drinking water had no effect.Tea drinking also increases the amount of favonoids in the blood. These are antioxidants which are like those found in fruits and vegetables. The high levels of antioxidants in black tea have been found to not only improve artery function but also to lower the rates of cancers. They have the ability to stop the oxidation which causes damage to DNA and turn normal cells into cancer cells. Green Tea The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers. Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases. Other Benefits New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo. Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market. Harmful Effects?To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.
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DisclaimerHerbal DisclaimerHerbal DisclaimerHerbal medicine as a method of healing is not recognized in the USA. Here Comes The Sun Gourmets makes no health claims other than the empirical evidence of the ages. Any herbal information is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe in any way, and is for informational purposes only. We do not take responsibility for your experience using them. We trust that you will consult a licensed professional when appropriate, especially pregnant or nursing mothers, or anyone with a medical condition. |
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