Researchers from several countries have presented evidence that suggests that black teas, green teas and oolong teas, have a protective capability against oral, lung, colon and other cancers. Green teas especially, with more than thirty polyphenols, have a unique beneficial effect on the human system. These polyphenols are also found in fruits and vegetables and act as antioxidants like vitamin C, E, and beta carotene and may reduce serum cholesterol and the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Although the healthful effects of teas have been known to countless generations, recent research shows that drinking tea both black and green, can lead to a long and healthy life. In addition to being a soothing, calming beverage, tea is reported to aid digestion, strengthen the immune system, and reduce the risk of heart disease, all of which play a role in healthy aging. Recent studies in the United States, China and Japan found that drinking green tea inhibits esophageal cancer as well as other types of tumors. Other studies have shown that regular green tea consumption can result in lower incidence of several types of cancers. One possible explanation for this seems to be that the compounds in tea inhibit the formation action of cancer causing substances, such as nitrosamines, which are the by product of cooking meats and fish.

In addition to other dietary and lifestyle factors, tea has been shown to contribute to a healthy heart. By inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive tract, tea helps prevent the formation of unwanted clots which may cause a heart attack or stroke. All types of tea black, green and oolong, contain some caffeine, although the amounts vary. Green tea, which is not fermented, has about one-third the caffeine per cup of black tea, which is fully fermented. Oolong is semi-fermented and has about half as much caffeine as black tea. Coffee by contrast, has about twice as much caffeine as black tea.

by Dr. JP Saleeby

Q: An ad said I could lose weight by drinking Oo-long (Oolong, Wu-long) tea because it burns fat. Is This True??

A: A thorough examination of the published medical leterature reveals that this is true.  Oolong or Wu-long tea, which is a partially-oxidized tea, has been reported to have anti-obesity effects in laboratory animals as well as in human subjects.  Oolong tea is fact lessens absorption of fats, increases the body's metablolisam, and is responsible for noradrenaline-induced breakdown of adipose (fatty) tissue.  Oolong tea also exhibits cholesterol-lowering effects and reduces bolld glucose.  This does not appear to be the result of a caffeine effect, for oolong tea contains half  the caffeine of green tea, but double the polymerized polyphenols (anti-oxidants).  When teas are compared,, Oolong tea trumps pu-erh, black, and green tea in suppressing body weight. 

HERE'S A TIP FOR YOU !!!

Purdue University researchers found that adding a squeeze of lemon increases the action of green tea's slimming antioxidants by up to 80%

Impressive new Chinese research proves that green tea can shrink your BMI (Body Mass Index) in 90 days or less.  The great news?  You can lose 32 lbs and 6 inches from your waist without giving up your favorite foods.

Imagine for a moment that fighting flab was as easy as sinking into your favoirite chair and savoring a steamy mug of tea.  To most of us, that sounds like a fantasy.  To many tea experts, it sounds like scientific reality.  Green Tea can have a very real positive effect on weight loss and body shape, insists Niels Boon, Ph.D., of the Lipton Institute of Tea. And there's more proof to back him up than ever before.  The most exciting new research comes from a Chinese university, where it was discovered that overweight folks put on a special green tea regimen for 90 days saw dramatic decreases in body weight, waist circumference and body-mass index (BMI) compared to folks who didn't get the green tea boost.  And there was no dieting involved!!!

How dramatic could green tea make things for you?  When a group of average readers tested the green tea trick , they lost up to 6.5 pounds and five inches of belly fat in seven (7) days-and that was without limiting their portions.  No wonder this new slim-down approch got raves all around!

TRY THIS AT HOME!!

Chinese researchers calculated that folks would get mzximum benefits from nine cups of tea a day; because that's a bit much even for many tea lover, the Chinese team compromised.  Participants got the equivalent of 9 cups of tea a day-a mix of brewed tea and MATCHA.  One cup of Matcha is equivalent to 8 cups of green tea.  When drinking MATCHA, you are ingesting the entire tea leaf, not just the tea made from the leaf.    To use the same strategy at home, aim for a 900-mg. daily dose of "catechins," the active ingredient in tea.  "One cup of strong green tea contains about 100 mg. of catechins"says Boon.  Most green tea supplements also contain 100 mg. of catechins.  Simply use any combination of tea and/or supplements and/or Matcha that suits your lifestyle best.

WHY IT WORKS

For starters, there's evidence that catechins lower levels of the hunger hormone leptin.  At the same time, tea gives us a shot of l-theanine, an amino acid that further suppresses hunger. But is's not just about appetite.  Landmark Swiss research found that catechins boost metabolisum by 4%.  Meanwhile, a British study demonstrated that catechins reduce fat storage hormones by up to 15%-which helps block fat storage and increases fat burning.  One more: Green tea has been shown to lower levels of stress hormones linked to belly fat!!!

THE COMMON MISTAKE THAT STRIPS TEA OF ITS HEALTH BENEFITS

You've read all about the many health benefits of drinking tea.  But did you know that you could be making a common mistake that totally strips the tea of those benefits?  It's true!  Tea contains beneficial coompounds called catechins,  which help your arteries contract and expand.  But here's the problem:  When you add milk to your tea,  the milk protein deactivates the catechins.  In fact, a recent university study show that tea with milk in it is no better for your arteries than drinking plain hot water!  So next time you have a cup of tea,  skip the milk.  Try some honey or lemon instead.