Recently at a social gathering,
for the sake of argument I asked my dinner partners for their opinions
regarding the best brand of tea. A lively discussion among the native Southerners
present erupted, mostly punctuated with statements preceded by “My Mama
always said” and followed by “Luzianne”, “Tetley’s and only Tetley’s”,
“Always Lipton”, etc.
Being able to claim Georgia as my home for only slightly
more than ten years, and my Sicilian family having absolutely no opinion
about tea whatsoever, I kept my preference to myself. One thing that everyone
did agree on however, was that the tea we were served was either too sweet
or not sweet enough. People sure are picky about their tea in South Georgia.
Besides a topic of
heated social conversation, tea is the most common beverage consumed in
the world, after water. Americans gulp down two billion gallons a year,
mostly iced. All tea, whether it is green, the preferred form in Asia,
or the black teas more commonly consumed in Europe and the Americas, comes
from the leaf of the plant Camellia sinenis.
The difference in the color
and flavor of the tea results from the various processes that occur after
the leaves are picked. Green tea leaves are steamed, rolled, and dried,
which keeps them from oxidizing. Red (oolong) teas, and black teas are
partially dried, crushed, fermented, and then dried again. These processing
differences also affect the ultimate chemical makeup of the tea.
Tea contains a multitude
of chemicals that are recognized as having positive effects on health,
but the current focus of scientific interest is in the group of chemicals
called polyphenols. Polyphenols are the most important active ingredients
in tea, and are thought to be responsible for the therapeutic actions of
green tea, in particular. Polyphenols appear to have both antioxidant and
anticancer activities, as well as lower cholesterol. Some substances in
tea prevent blood clots, similar to the effect of aspirin. Other beneficial
chemicals in tea include fluoride, which is protective against tooth decay.
Population studies
done mostly in Asia, where green tea is consumed in high amounts, show
that it may be related to decreased rates of cancer of the breast, colon,
and pancreas. People who consume green tea also have lower rates of strokes,
heart disease, and liver problems. One study of 35,000 postmenopausal women
found that consuming at least two cups of tea daily reduced the incidence
of cancers of the digestive system and urinary tract. Some compounds in
tea may relax the bronchial smooth muscle, which helps patients with asthma.
In the past, it was felt
that black tea possibly had lower concentrations of polyphenols due to
the fermentation process, and was not as beneficial to health. However,
newer studies show that this may not be true. It seems that all tea, green,
red, or black, has health-promoting properties. Tea has only two calories
per cup, provided you don’t drink it “Southern style”, loaded up with sugar!
It is known that you must steep tea at least three minutes to release the
highest amounts of polyphenols. Adding milk to tea is controversial, as
some researchers feel that it may bind polyphenols and dilute the positive
effects.
Green tea has about 50 mg
caffeine per cup (about half as much as coffee), and consuming more than
five cups a day is considered unwise, due to the increased restlessness
and agitation that can occur with any overdose of caffeine. Pregnant women
should limit their caffeine to no more than 150 mg a day (roughly three
cups of tea). Nursing mothers who drink caffeinated beverages put their
infants at risk for sleep disorders, and should consult their pediatrician
for advice on safe levels of tea consumption.
The truth about tea
is that we should view it as a true “Southern Health Food”, and drink it
daily, if we can. Oh yes, my favorite brand this month is Arizona Green
Tea with Ginseng and Honey. With all due apologies to my adopted Southern
home, but I was raised in California…..
If you would like to
learn more about this topic, please write to:
The Natural Connection, c/o
Dr. Pauline Bellecci, Southeast Internal Medicine, PO Box 777, Waycross,
GA 31501 or visit www.swampdocs.com
