Tea, For Good Health & Well-Being
By Ron Campbell, Owner of Merkaba
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Claims have been made regarding the health benefits of tea consumption since the beginning of its recorded history around 5,000 years ago. It has been used in Asia and Africa to prevent disease, promote longevity and improve mental functions. There is ample evidence today supporting tea’s many healthy properties.

Mainstream researchers are beginning to take age-old wisdom about tea seriously. Funding for studies has come from numerous groups which are now studying tea and health. Literally 1000’s of research tests have been done on the benefits of drinking tea, most with the same end result - it‘s good for you.

Green teas seem to be the general center of consumer attention and target of most research studies. This is most likely because of the cost, availability, larger consumption and higher level of antioxidants than some of the other teas.

According to the USDA, the antioxidant activity of tea is more potent than that found in over 22 fruits and vegetables including orange juice, carrots, and broccoli. Also that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant, is at least 100 more times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E at protecting cells and DNA from damage believed to be linked to cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses. It also has twice the antioxidant benefit of resveratrol, found in red wine.

There are four primary polyphenols in green tea and they are often collectively referred to as catechins or antioxidents. These powerful antioxidants have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, antiviral, antimutagenic and antiallergic properties and have been shown to fight viruses, slow aging, and have an overall beneficial effect on health.
These polyphenols reduce the number of chromosome aberrations, inhibit tumor growth, dissolve cholesterol and improve general health by increasing energy levels and boosting the body's natural immune system.

Clinical tests have shown that they destroy free radicals and have even more far-reaching positive effects on the entire body. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules and fragments of molecules that can damage the body at the cellular level leaving the body susceptible to cancer, heart disease, and many other degenerative diseases.

The Journal of Nutrition reports: Consuming between 30 and 32 ounces of tea every day over a period of time (the fluid equivalent of 2.5 cans of soda) may reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels by more than 10% and decrease DNA damage caused by smoking.

* White Tea: If you are drinking tea for your health, you may want to consider white teas. There is considerably less caffeine in white tea than the other varieties (15mg per serving, compared to 40mg for black tea, and 20mg for green). Studies have also shown that white tea contains more active cancer-fighting antioxidants than green tea.
  One recent study demonstrated that it removes or prevents even more tumors from the stomachs of specially bred cancer-susceptible laboratory rats than green tea, or caffeine alone (although the other two were also shown to have a benefit).

* Green Tea: It generally contains more antioxidants than the other teas (except white). It has less caffeine than oolong and black tea. Although green tea is also rich in catechins, it may have different catechin profiles than white tea.
The Kissa Yojoki, or Book of Tea written by Zen priest Eisai in 1191, describes how drinking green tea can have a positive effect on the five vital organs, especially the heart. The book discusses tea’s medicinal qualities which include easing the effects of alcohol, acting as a stimulant, curing blotchiness, quenching thirst, eliminating indigestion, curing beriberi disease, preventing fatigue, and improving urinary and brain function.
  Along with cancer and heart disease, a number of other benefits have been attributed to drinking green tea, such as it; reduces high blood pressure, lowers blood sugar, lowers LDL cholesterol, cognition, stopping certain neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimers, treating arthritis, treating MS, increases fat oxidation (helps the body use fat as an energy source) and raises metabolism resulting in weight loss, preventing lowered T-Cells due to HIV (In lab tests, ECGC, found in green tea, was found to prevent HIV from attacking T-Cells. However, it is not known if this has any effect on humans yet) and boosts the immune system. It also contains fluoride that helps strengthen bones and helps prevent cavities.
  Have a sunburn? Green tea is loaded with ECCG, an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and relives pain. Brew green tea, chill and then apply to your sunburn using a washcloth. Adding a herbal, such as rose, will make you smell better too!
As with most natural cures, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rejected all claims of the health benefits for green tea.

* Oolong Tea: It is reported to help with indigestion, lowers cholesterol and boosts metabolism (greatly assisting in weight loss).

* Black Tea: Black tea contains more caffeine than other teas but still only half as much as coffee. It is purported to lower the risk of stroke. The high concentration of flavonoids helps reduce clotting and acts as an antioxidant.

* Rooibos Tea: Often called “Red Tea”, although not from the tea plant. A natural source of antioxidants with high level of flavonoids. It is completely and naturally caffeine free, containing no additives, preservatives, flavorants or colorants. It is super-rich in antioxidants (50 times greater than green and white tea) that may boost the body's immune system and help slow the aging process. It is also a natural sources of several minerals, supplementing our daily intake of iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc needed for maintaining a healthy immune system.
  It’s claim of benefits include that it helps soothe upset stomach, diminishes hay-fever symptoms, reduces insomnia, irritability, headaches, nervous tension and hypertension. Also that its antioxidants also protect the heart by reducing cholesterol buildup.

* Yerba Mate: Yerba mate is not derived from the tea plant, but from an herb. Scientists have found that Yerba mate contains mateine, which is very similar to caffeine, but very different in the way it interacts with the body.It is said that Yerba Mate energizes body, boosts immunity, tones nervous system, eliminates insomnia, aids weight loss, is a gentle diuretic and more.

  In a study published by Nature Structural & Molecular Biology: Researchers state that a powerful antioxidant in green tea known as EGCH binds to protein found on tumor cells and dramatically slows down their growth.The possible beneficial health effects of tea consumption have been suggested and supported by a multitude of studies. As with any new regiment, we suggest that you should consult a doctor before using high concentrations of tea for disease treatment or prevention. Ingestion of large amounts of tea may cause nutritional and other problems because of the strong binding activities of tea polyphenols and the caffeine content, although no solid data exist concerning harmful effects of tea consumption.

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Ron Campbell and his wife Kathy own and operate Merkaba, which features a wide variety of teas and tea items, and gifts for all your spiritual and cultural needs. Their teas come from all over the world and include organic herbal teas, healing teas, Yerba Mate, green teas, black teas, oolong, white teas, pu-erh, flavored tisanes, chai teas, flavored and blended teas. You'll find all kinds of tea products including filters, thermometers, tea bag squeezers, tea cozies, gourds, tea pots and tea sets, mugs and cups, mesh tea infusers, bombilla and even coffee and tea scoops. For more information about Merkaba's retail shop in Idyllwild, CA, or online store visit: http://www.southwestblend.com/merkaba/index.htm