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Tea & Health
Health benefits of Camellia sinensis
1. Tea is rich in disease-fighting antioxidants called polyphenols
which can help prevent chronic diseases. Mayo Clinic researchers say a
component of green tea called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) destroys
B-cell chronic lymphocylic leukemia cells by interrupting the
communication signals they need to survive. Another study found that
mice who had been genetically engineered to develop prostate cancer, and
who drank about six cups of tea a day did not develop cancer tumors.
Hasa Mukhtar, cancer research professor from the University of Wisconsin
in Madison reiterates that the Chinese have the lowest prostate cancer
rate in the world and drink the most tea.
2. The discovery of flaviinoids and antioxidants in tea inhibit the
formation of cancer cells (antimutagenic) and decrease the number of
free radicals which can lead to atherosclerosis. Drinking tea daily may
help protect the heart by relaxing the blood vessels, inhibiting blood
clots, and improving blood-cholesterol levels. Polyphenols inhibit the
angiotensin converting the enzyme that is known to cause hypertension.
According to the Tea Council USA a combined analysis of 13 published
studies found an average estimated 11 percent lower rate of heart
attacks among study participants who drank three or more cups of tea per
day. A study involving people diagnosed with coronary artery disease
reported that subjects who drank four cups of black tea per day showed
improved blood vessel function.
3. Dr. Jack F. Bukowski, assistant professor medicine at Harvard
Medical School and staff rheumatologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital
discovered that tea drinking (at least 6 cups a day) boosts your immune
system through activating certain components of the immune system called
gamma delta T-Lymphocytes, maintaining a heightened state of readiness
against bacterial, viral, parasitic, osteoporotic, and neoplastic
diseases.
4. Tea leaves have fluoride and hytoestrogens, which increase bone
density and guard against osteroporosis and tooth decay. "Those who
drink 3-5 cups a day have a higher bone mineral density, so they have
less brittle bones than those who don't drink tea," says Dr. Bukowski.
He also states this same element may be a factor in helping certain
types of hearing loss, such as otosclerosis.
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