Tea
TEA...green or black??
Drinking tea improves our health. In general, both green and black tea remove flatulence and improve digestion. They are cooling, diuretic and help improve the eyesight. Regular tea consumption reduces atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Three cups of tea a day significantly reduce the risk of ischaemic stroke.
However, green tea is much superior to black tea. L-theanine found in green tea improves the quality of sleep, learning and memory. It also helps mental and physical relaxation without causing drowsiness. Green tea offers anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and cholesterol reducing effects. More importantly, at least 3 cups of green tea a day seems to be protective against cancer, particularly pancreas, lung, gastrointestinal, prostate and breast cancers.
Studies do not show these health beneficial effects with black tea consumption. In fact there is some evidence that black tea might even increase the risk of certain cancers.
Green tea has further benefits, such as the prevention of age related bone loss and tooth decay. In recent years, green tea has also become popular for weight loss.
Tea should not be strong, only lightly infused. If it feels too strong then hot water should be added. For diarrhoea, 1 teaspoon of strong tea few times a day is helpful.
Green tea is not oxidised but black tea is left to oxidise until it turns black.
Oolong tea falls somewhere between the two and its oxidation may vary from 10% (when it’s profile tends towards green tea) to 80% (when it’s profile tends towards black tea).
Oolong tea contains more caffeine than green tea. For bone health and reducing blood pressure oolong tea is more beneficial than green tea but for all the other benefits green tea is more powerful.
In short there is more to tea than just it’s relaxing effects. Black tea is not a good substitute for green tea but does offer some health benefits too so long as no more than 2 cups a day is consumed.
For a healthy long life green tea is your best friend. If you prefer the taste of oolong tea, so long as it’s not oxidised more than 15%, you will still get all the benefits of green tea from it. Enjoy and relax.
