The benefits of tea have forever been
widely known throughout the East. Historically regarded as the key to good
health, happiness and wisdom, it is culturally believed to hold copious amounts
of medicinal healing properties that can decrease the growth of cancerous
cells, reduce stress, help with maintaining balanced cholesterol, weight,
diabetes and improve mental alertness. The positive effects of drinking tea quickly
caught the attention of researchers, nutritionists and holistic foodies in the
West, seeing more and more individuals experimenting with various blends
subsequently introducing them into their daily lives.
Nutritionists agree that any tea is good
tea however the main categories are Green, Black, White, Oolong and Pu-erh tea.
Although herbal teas contain many antioxidants and cleansing properties,
purists consider only the non-compounded leaves that are derived from the
Camellia sinensis plant – a shrub native to China and India – the real thing.
Green, Black, White, Oolong and Pu-erh tea are all derived from this plant and
all contain caffeine and theanine, which seem to heighten mental alertness, as
well as ECGC, which may help the body against free radicals that can contribute
to cancer, heart disease and clogged arteries.
Green
Tea Benefits:
- · High concentration of ECGC.
- · High antioxidants which can assist in the reduction of growth of cancers in the bladder, breasts, lung, stomach, pancreas, and colorectal.
- · Prevents clogging of the arteries.
- · Fat Burn.
- · Counteracts oxidative stress.
- · Reduces the risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
- · Reduces the risk of stroke.
- · Improves cholesterol levels.
Black
Tea Benefits:
- · Highest caffeine content, which can assist in mental alertness.
- · May protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke.
- · Reduces the risk of stroke.
- · High in antioxidants.
White
Tea Benefits:
- · Contains the most potent anticancer properties.
- · High in antioxidants.
Oolong
Tea Benefits:
- · High antioxidants.
- · Lowers bad cholesterol levels.
- · Assists in weight maintenance.
Pu-erh
Tea Benefits:
- May assist in the prevention of weight gain.
- Reduces LDL cholesterol.
- High in antioxidants.
During my venture into discovering more
teas, I stumbled across this quaint local brand titled Up the AnTea, which specializes in organic, handcrafted teas that
don’t contain any artificial flavours or sweeteners. Manufactured by two
intelligent ladies based on the Gold Coast, Up
the AnTea promotes only the highest grade of tea leaves, herbs and fruits,
and each flavor has its own cleaver spin on incorporating the word ‘tea’ into
its titles. They are passionate about creating blends that exude great flavor
whilst giving support to great health and wellbeing. A lot of research goes
into each blend Up the AnTea creates
therefore giving you complete confidence that only the healthiest of benefits
will be filling your cup every time.
I have had the good fortune of trying a
variety of flavours from their growing 22, and have already put in my orders
for Christmas! So far, my favourite infusion is a blend titled AphrodiTea – a concoction of organic
raspberry leaves, organic hibiscus, organic rose petals, organic calendula,
safflower, organic cranberries and wild yam root. This tea promotes glowing
skin, balances hormones and summarizes women’s health to a ‘tea’…(see what I
did there?) It tastes superb drunk either hot or chilled with honey.
For more information about Up the AnTea and their range of teas,
please visit their page.
**Please
note: tea should not be used as a diarrheic or substitute for food. Click here
to hear what my friend Ashley has to say about the effects of
tea on her site Move Eat Heal.
