by Lynn Mason

Created on: August 09, 2009

Tea has long been revered as a health elixir in the East and now Western science is supporting those claims. It has been proven that tea is good for you and there doesn't seem to be a downside.

There is a staggering amount of information being published on the health benefits of true tea, that is tea from the Camilla tree. Tea has become a virtual health phenomenon. What emerges is a vast body of studies that seem to indicate tea helps to prevent heart disease and cancer.

Black, Green, White and Oolong teas are made from the leaves of Camilla sinesis, an evergreen tree native to Asia. Tea made from this tree was discovered and used for medicinal purposes in China 5000 years ago.

Leaves from this tree contain unique antioxidants called flavonoids. The strongest of these flavonoids, ECGC, may help fight free radicals that can contribute to clogged arteries, heart disease and cancer.

Tea provides many health benefits. Studies have found that tea may help with cancer, heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. Tea can lower cholesterol levels and help with weight loss. One Japanese study shows green tea lowers the death rate from heart disease. Green tea has also been much recommended to lower risks of colon and prostate cancers. Just two cups of tea a day is thought to reduce a woman's chance of ovarian cancer by as much as forty-six percent. Five cups of tea a day reduces the incidence of stroke in men by up to seventy percent.

There has been a lot of media coverage about the health benefits of green tea lately but it is unfermented white tea that contains the highest antioxidant levels and all Camilla teas seem to be good for you.

The different varieties of Camilla tea arise from the different degrees of processing and studies are showing the less intensive processing the more antioxidants the leaves contain. Thus, less processed white and green teas contain the most flavonoids while oxidized black and oolong have lesser amounts. Herbal infusions do not contain antioxidants except for Rooibos.

Rooibos tea is made from the South African Red Bush. Naturally caffeine free and low in tannins, the residue in teas that can sometimes cause digestive problems, Rooibos is a good choice for those who are sensitive to caffeine. There is no scientific study results published on the health benefits of Rooibos tea but it has been shown to contain antioxidants, as well as vitamin C, and minerals needed by the body. The tea has lower amounts of flavonoids than true teas; however, Rooibos tea contains certain unique antioxidants. Red tea has long been used in traditional medicine to treat digestive ailments, skin problems and allergies. In South Africa it is mixed with milk and given to colicky infants.

Herbal teas are made from steeping different herbs, fruits or roots in hot water. Herbal teas make a wide variety of claims that they can do anything from help you fall asleep, lose weight or cure the common cold but these claims are unsupported as most of the research has concentrated on true teas. Herbal teas may well be beneficial to your health but there just hasn't been enough concentrated research to prove this.

Tea has far less caffeine than coffee and could prove to be a healthy alternative. There doesn't seem to be a drawback to tea consumption although doctors advise staying away from bottled teas as they may contain unnecessary sugars and calories. Incorporating tea into your diet is a great idea full of healthy benefits and countless flavors.

Sources: accessed on August 8, 2009

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/tea-types-and-the ir-health-benefits

www.healthcastle.com/tea.shtml

www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5 0742

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