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The medical community is all praises for the positive effects that tea has on health. There are various types of teas and each of these is believed to have its own specific aroma, nutrients, minerals and health benefits. The difference in aroma comes from the variations in processing the leaves after these are harvested. But all these 2,000 varieties come from basically four major categories i.e. black tea, the oolong tea, the green tea and the white tea.
For all top-grade fine teas, only the top two leaves (which are the most aromatic) and the unopened leaf bud is used. Black tea: To produce black tea which is the most commonly used tea available at your nearest grocery store, the leaves undergo full oxidation fermentation, which causes the leaves to turn black and gives them their strong, typical flavour. When the aroma and flavour has fully developed, the oxidation process is stopped. Then the leaves are crushed to various sizes and are sorted out and stored according to their sizes. Green tea: The regular green tea, which is commonly consumed and is also available easily, is produced in a similar fashion, except that after the leaves are picked, these are not oxidised as it occurs during the production of black tea. These are spread out in the hot air to become soft and pliable. Then these are rolled which gives the leaves their characteristic style and also helps to regulate the release of the natural substances and flavour during the sleeping. Then the leaves are dried whereby their natural fragrances and flavour are stabilised. The aim during the production of green tea is to preserve the healthy, natural and active substances of the fresh leaves so that they can be released into the cup at the time of infusion. Research conducted by countries that mainly drink green tea, namely China and Japan, says that green teas are high in nutrients and minerals and have numerous health benefits. Oolong tea: Oolong
teas fall in the category in between the unfermented green tea and the
fully fermented black teas. These have health benefits similar to
black teas depending upon the degree of fermentation.
White tea: It is not so common in India. When infused in water it has a pale yellow colour and a delicate flavour. This tea is generally not fermented and has a very mild flavour. It has health benefits similar to green tea. Herb teas: These
are a variety by themselves. These are completely different, from the
teas describe above. These are not teas in the true sense of the word
but fresh herbs, which have medicinal properties. When a tea spoon of
these fresh herbs like mint, tulsi, ginger, jasmine and many others
are infused into hot water, their medicinal properties seeps into
water which when taken gives a desire effect which may be laxative,
refreshing, sedative, curative or antiacid in nature. According to
their medicinal effects, these teas are named as sleeping tea,
slimming tea, dieter's tea, cholesterol-lowering tea etc. according to
their specific medicinal properties.
Herb teas are available under different brand names, according to their medicinal effect.
For instance you
have herb teas, which help to relive colds and congestion, sore throat
and stuffy nose. Ginger tea: It is
made from the ginger root. It is pungent in taste and is used to give
warmth to the body, aids digestion, prevents hansea, and aids
arculation. It is also known to provide relief from colds by drying up
the mucous.
The health benefits derived from herb teas are different from those derived from the regular teas described earlier. Both type of teas are considered to have positive effects on health and well-being. Regular tea and its health benefits
Research conducted
on tea, states that tea, whether green or black, contains antioxidants
that fight against free radicals and hence prevents cell destruction. Tea drinking and alertness: Tests shows that tea drinking improves concentration and alertness. Tea and cancer: The antioxidant properties of tea inhabit cell mutations and formation of cancer causing substances. Tea increases immunity: The WBC's (white blood cells) are generally responsible for fighting any infection in the body. Both polyphenols and vitamin C present in green tea help to increase the WBC count and thus helps increase immunity to colds and thus helps to increase immunity to colds and diseases. Tea and heart: Research suggests that any diet rich in antioxidants is able to stimulate circulation, strengthen the blood vessels and decrease the cholesterol levels. Tea is rich in antioxidants and hence helps to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Tea and weight-loss: Certain slimming teas are known to help in reducing body weight as these have an effect on the fats in the blood stream and in the tissues. Tea aids digestion: The essential oils present in tea increase the flow of digestive juices and thus aids digestion. The most commonly known such tea is the Chinese tea which the Chinese usually drink after or with their meals. In the digestive tract, tea is known to help fight food poisoning. Tea is also known to have antibacterial properties that help to fight threat infections. An infusion of green tea can also disinfect cuts as a home remedy. Tea and dental health: Tea is rich in fluorides a mineral that helps strengthen bones and tooth enamel. Hence tea drinking can also help fight osteoporosis. The polyphenols present in tea destroy the bacteria present in the mouth thereby help in preventing plague formation. To sum it up findings from research indicates that tea has numerous curative and preventive health benefits, which indicate that the tea drinking habit leads to a healthier and longer life. The writer is a nutritionist and Founder Director of Health Total. She treats obesity and related health disorders online. She can be reached at ask@health-total.com / www.health-total.com
HEALTH
CAPSULES Researchers from Columbia University, USA, have found that although children show stronger food craving than adolescents and adults, a strategy exists that re-directs their attention, effectively controlling their cravings, thereby combating obesity. Most interventions aimed at preventing or reducing childhood obesity focus on changing the environment — by limiting access to soda, for example, or by encouraging physical activity. "If children as young as six can learn to use a cognitive strategy after just a few minutes of training, that has huge implications for interventions," said researchers. The study involved 105 healthy individuals who ranged in age from six to 23 years. They were shown pictures of a variety of unhealthy snacks while undergoing fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans. The study results revealed that participants of all ages reported less craving when they used this cognitive strategy Even when using the strategy, however, children's food cravings were still stronger than those of adolescents and adults, suggesting that foods are generally more desirable to children. The study appeared in the journal Psychological Science. Exercise good for kids with attention disorder For kids suffering from attention deficit hyper-activity disorder (ADHD), daily aerobic exercises before school can help reduce symptoms of inattentiveness, moodiness and difficulty in getting along with others in the classroom as well as at home. "Early studies suggest that physical activity can have a positive effect on children who suffer from ADHD," said Alan Smith, chairperson of the department of kinesiology at Michigan State University. In over a 12-week study, a psychologist from the University of Vermont, studied about 200 early elementary school students that either exhibited signs of ADHD or did not. During the trial, students were randomly selected to participate in a group that completed moderate to vigorous physical activity each day before school, or a group that completed more sedentary classroom-type activities. "Results indicated that all participants showed improvements. Children with ADHD risk receiving exercise benefited across a broader range of outcomes than those receiving sedentary activities," Smith noted. The study appeared in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. Fathers who smoke risk having asthmatic kids A new study has revealed that men who smoke before the conception could give asthma to their babies. The results showed that non-allergic asthma (without hayfever) was significantly more common in children with a father who smoked prior to conception. This risk of asthma increased if a father smoked before the age of 15 and this risk grew the longer the duration of smoking. The researchers observed no link between the mother's smoking prior to conception and a child's asthma. Dr Cecile Svanes, University of Bergen, Norway, said that this study was important as it was the first study looking at how a father's smoking habit pre-conception can affect the respiratory health of his children. — Agencies
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