Bigelow Tea

What Do They Know? by Unknown Source

Tea is a plant product similar to fruits and vegetables. It contains natural occurring compounds called phytochemicals that are powerful antioxidants. These phytochemicals have been identified as playing a role in decreasing the risk of cancer, lowering blood cholesterol and building up the immune system. Two principal phytochemicals in tea are flavonoids and polyphenols. It is believed that they may actually protect us from the harmful effects of "oxidants" or "free radicals" which are products of normal body functions and enter our bodies through pollution, smoking, certain foods or sun exposure. Free radicals can contribute to disease processes such as cancer and heart disease. They can also make us older before our time! Antioxidants neutralize the destructive potential damage of the oxidants or free radicals.

Flavonoids are vitamin like nutrients that make blood cells less prone to clotting. What can't clot won't stick to arteries or trigger a heart attack. Both black and green tea contain flavonoids.

Black tea also contains a small amount of B vitamins. Two flavonoids produced during the tea process are theaflavins and thearubigins. Research has shown them to be effective in reducing esophageal tumors and damage to lung tissue in the laboratory setting.

A recent study was conducted by a heart specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston on the effects of drinking tea on the heart. The study concluded that drinking a single cup of tea a day could cut the risk of heart attack by 44%. The effect was the same, whether tea was consumed hot, cold, loose or tea bag form and milk, sugar or lemon was added.

By the way, according to the Tea Council, you get the same antioxidant benefit from drinking decaffeinated tea.

If you are taking a medication to thin your blood like Coumadin, you should check with your physician as to how much black or green tea you should be drinking. Tea contains vitamin like nutrients called Flavonoids. Flavonoids are reported to make blood cells less prone to clotting.

There has been publicity about taking an iron supplement and drinking tea. Apparently, some feel that tea could interfere with the absorption of iron. We are not sure if this is true, but we suggest you drink your tea a couple of hours after taking the supplement.

One particular polyphenol in tea is called " EGCG" is thought to be 100 times more powerful than Vitamin C and 25 times more powerful than Vitamin E. This is also present in the black tea. In the laboratory setting, EGCG selectively destroys cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. It is recognized that there is a lower incidence of certain cancers in Japan due to the daily consumption of green tea.

Tea is also an excellent source of fluoride and appears to inhibit the growth of bacteria associated with decay causing plaque by drinking just one cup a day.

It has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce the incidence of stroke. A 15-year study of men in the Netherlands concluded that those who drank 4 or more cups of tea a day were 69% less likely to suffer a stroke.

A more recent study showed women age 65 to 75 increased their bone density significantly by drinking at least one cup of black tea. It is believed that the polyphenols in tea protect the bones and keep them healthy.

Some cosmetic companies, impressed by the positive results of tea in skin cancer research has added green tea to some of their products.

The exciting information is ongoing and includes many other possible health benefits. The one thing we do know for sure is that adding a cup of tea to your diet can contribute to your well being, and more importantly, it tastes good!

"Thank God for tea, what would the world do without tea, how did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea." Sidney Smith, clergyman and popular figure.