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Pacific College of Oriental Medicine - Articles The role of tea in cardio-vascular health Long stressful days at work; eating foods high in fat and low on fiber; lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle; aerated drinks high on sugar and little nutrition value; and an excess consumption of tobacco and liquor can take a toll on you both physically and psychologically. With all the abuse we put our bodies through, our heart is the most susceptible. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one killer in America. About 910,000 Americans died last year of CVD, accounting for over 40 percent of all deaths. The good news is that all you need are regular tea breaks to combat the damaging effects and repair your heart health. All three varieties of tea--black, red and green--have a host of benefits for maintaining cardio-vascular health. Consuming about four cups of tea a day drastically reduces your susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases. According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, drinking tea every day reduces the chances of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. The good news is that all you need are regular tea breaks to combat the damaging effects and repair your heart health. All three varieties of tea--black, red and green--have a host of benefits for maintaining cardio-vascular health. Consuming about four cups of tea a day drastically reduces your susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases. According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, drinking tea every day reduces the chances of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Polyphenols in tea have a beneficial effect on two long established heart disease risk factors-High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure. The study published by the Archives of Internal Medicine also showed that those who drank one or two cups a day lowered their risk of circulatory disease by 46 percent. For those who drank four cups a day, the risk dropped by 69 percent. According to researchers, adding milk, honey, lemon or sugar does not diminish the positive health effects. Although fruits and vegetables are good sources of antioxidants, tea is the best source as it does not add more calories to your diet. Oolong tea (Taiwanese variety of Green tea) extract is believed to enhance noradrenalin-induced lipolysis in adipose tissue and inhibit pancreatic lipase activity, therefore proving an anti-obesity action of tea consumption. Tea has also been proven to express a cardiovascular-protective and lipid-lowering effect. In another study the tea and coffee drinking habits of 680 people aged 76 and under were researched. One set of heart attack victims and the same number of healthy volunteers were studied. The men and women who drank one or more cups of tea a day had a 44 % percent reduction in heart attack risk compared to non-tea drinkers. All the three varieties of tea - black, red and green-are made from the leaves of the plant, Camellia Sinensis. This plant is grown throughout Asia, and in parts of Africa, Indonesia and Europe. The different types of tea are based on where the tea is grown and harvested, and what part of the plant is harvested and the method in which it is processed. The variety of tea combined with the right processing procedure contributes to the medicinal value of tea. Red tea beneficial for tension and depression.The Chinese scholar Lu Yu in his Cha Shung, the earliest treatise on tea, says, "When feeling hot, thirsty, depressed, suffering from headache, eye ache, fatigue of the four limbs or pains in the joints, one should only drink tea. Tea tempers the spirit, harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude, relieves fatigue, awakens thought, prevents drowsiness and refreshes the body and mind." What else would be the most effective way to help you cope with the stress of day to day living in today's competitive world? Red tea is known to have a soothing effect on the central nervous system and is a safe, long term herbal remedy for headaches, irritability, disturbed sleeping patterns, insomnia, nervous tension, stress, hypertension, panic attacks and even mild depression. India is the largest producer of Red tea while Sri Lanka ranks second. Kenya and Vietnam are the new entrants. The best variety of Red tea is grown in Darjeeling located in the Himalayan region of India. In the West, Darjeeling has become synonymous with tea. Rooibos or 'red bush' from South Africa is found to be a very potent variety of red tea prepared from the leaves of the herb Aspalathus linearis. Indigenous to the Cape of Good Hope region of South Africa, Rooibos is the only red tea that undergoes a fermentation process similar to black tea. Fermentation turns the green leaves into a garnet colour and lends a very sweet flavor. Rooibos endowed with a very high magnesium ('Nature's tranquilizer') component, acts as a natural adaptogen i.e., that which helps the body adapt to stress. Incidentally, Rooibos is almost caffeine-free. Research shows that 60 per cent of tea drinkers experience insomnia and anxiety due to the high caffeine intake, especially when they consume large quantities regularly. Rooibos has less than 1mg caffeine per cup as compared to even decaffeinated green tea that contains 30 mg caffeine per cup. The Tibetan herbal red tea varieties, Sorig and Loong, are found to be very effective for alleviating stress when taken with salt and honey. A common offshoot of Stress and depression is a weak immune system. Certain types of the Oolong variety of tea contain high concentrations of a particular amino acid which help strengthen the body's immune system response when fighting off infection. Red tea also has a high concentrate of Thiamine, an amino acid, which enhances blood circulation to the brain, and thereby has a tranquilizing effect, and an increased cognitive activity and brain function. Regular consumption of tea thus leaves you refreshed during the day and relaxed at night. Green tea helps fight against agingThe Chinese king Tang Xuan Zong of the Zang dynasty asked a monk who was more than 130 years old, "How could you live so long? Did you take any medicine for that?" The monk answered, "Drank tea daily, no thing else." Thus goes the legend. The anti-aging properties of tea are no longer legend. The world is rediscovering the medico-cosmetic benefits of tea in retarding the aging process. For those of you that are beauty and age conscious, artificial, not-so-healthy techniques such as cosmetic surgery, botox treatment and the like are not the only options. You have the most natural, inexpensive aid with negligible side-effects in Green tea. China is the largest producer of Green tea, while Japan and Korea also contribute considerably. Green tea comes from the same plant as black tea, Camellia sinensis. What makes it different tough is the manner in which the plant is processed. It is the least processed of the commercial teas. The leaves are picked and then immediately 'fired' -- a tea processing term which means the leaves are either steamed or heated. The leaves are then dried. This process also helps retain the antioxidants that retard the aging process in human beings. Our body uses Oxygen and simultaneously produces free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin cells and cause the skin to wrinkle and lose elasticity. Antioxidants are molecules that help neutralize these free radicals. The antioxidant benefits of Green Tea come from a biological compound called polyphenols. A sub-group of polyphenols called catechins effectively destroy free radicals and help slow down the aging process. The most powerful of these catechins in green tea is the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). When an antioxidant meets a free radical, it engulfs the free radical to form weak, harmless free radicals that are unlikely to further damage your body. In one study healthy cells exposed to "amlyoid", a protein linked to Alzheimer 's disease died due to the high toxicity of this protein. However, cells exposed to amlyoid and then exposed to green tea extracts containing catechins survived. It is said that a daily dosage of 300-400 mg of polyphenols is essential to reduces age spots, ensure flawless skin and to protect the skin from the sun's ultra-violet (UV) rays. Green tea is a natural astringent and anti-bacterial agent that can detoxify and purify the skin. Green tea extracts, when applied topically or when consumed as a beverage also reduces the risk of skin cancer (melanoma). According to the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, benzol peroxide used in acne medications, when applied on the skin can cause skin tumors. Applying green tea topically to the same area prior to the application of benzol peroxide protects against such skin tumors. A range of cosmetic and beauty care products including body lotion, shampoos, conditioners, face creams are out in the market today with green tea extracts. Tea Tree Oil, a tree native to Australia, is also being largely used in anti-aging cosmetic products. The leaves of this plant Melaleuca alternifolia, was used by Australian aboriginals as a substitute to tea leaves. It is used to treat several skin diseases. No wonder, then, tea is the most popular beverage in the world today after only water. ### |
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