It has been hard to escape the recent buzz about the health benefits of tea, and for good reason. Native to Asia, the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, has been consumed for thousands of years and has always had a reputation for being a healthy beverage. Scientists are using promising evidence from recent studies to add merit to this long held assumption and mount a case for why we should all be drinking more tea.
Green, black, oolong and white teas all come from the leaves of the same evergreen shrub, Camellia sinensis. Although they are prepared from the same plant, these four varieties are the result of different processing techniques. Black tea is fully oxidized, a process commonly hreferred to as fermentation, and oolong tea is only partially oxidized. After plucking, green tea is steamed or pan heated and white tea is dried, preventing both teas from undergoing oxidation. This lack of fermentation and processing means that green and white teas retain more healthful properties than their oxidized counterparts.
There are myriads of other "teas" that don't contain any actual tea. Often called herbal teas or "tisanes," these teas include chamomile tea, fruit teas and others that contain various herbs and spices. While certain tisanes have been indicated to have health benefits of their own, teas derived from Camellia sinensis are the real disease fighters.
According to the American Cancer Society, tea may help prevent heart disease and a variety of cancers, including skin, esophagus, stomach, colon, prostate and breast. Tea has been shown to exhibit antiviral and antibacterial effects and its fluoride content may promote dental health. It has also been associated with reducing the DNA damage associated with smoking and exposure to second hand smoke.
The compounds thought to be responsible are called catechins, a group of powerful polyphenols that are abundant in tea. They work as antioxidants to kill cancerous cells and neutralize free radicals, a form of unstable oxygen that can wreak havoc on the body's cells. The most potent catechin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, is found in green tea and has been shown to be 100 times more powerful than vitamin C in neutralizing free radicals. While it may seem like a miracle beverage, where you get your tea makes all the difference in how much good you are actually doing your body.
The surge in popularity of tea has inspired beverage companies like Snapple and Lipton to produce their own bottled versions. While their labels may boast health claims and commercials sing their praises, bottled teas are the worst source of the catechins and other antioxidants found in brewed tea. Also, bottled teas are made with high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners that may add unwanted calories. Brewed tea is by far the healthiest source of tea, as it contains the antioxidant polyphenols in much higher concentrations than bottled tea.
"The health benefits you receive from tea depend on the strength and type of tea brewed," said Kathy Hosig, MPH, R.D. associate professor, HNFE.
Less processed teas are typically healthier and those that have been allowed to steep longer usually release more catechins into the tea, creating a stronger brew.
While brewed tea might be a better alternative to bottled teas, tea bags are usually filled with "fannings," small bits of tea leaves whose essential oils and chemicals are likely to evaporate since the leaves have been broken apart. These leaves are also confined to the small space of the tea bag and aren't allowed to completely unfurl and release the maximum amount of healthful properties. Although more expensive and harder to find, the healthiest kind of brewed tea comes from whole, loose leaf teas. These are usually high quality grades of tea and contain more of the compounds that are associated with good health.
Although more research needs to be done to fully examine the health benefits of tea, it is safe to say that a cup of tea a day will do the body good. Tea is generally considered safe, but because it contains a moderate amount of caffeine, drinking high quantities may cause difficulty sleeping or frequent urination because of caffeine's diuretic and stimulant properties. Otherwise, tea is an excellent addition to a healthy lifestyle and its disease-fighting characteristics are becoming increasingly popular. Deet's Place on the Virginia Tech campus is supporting the increased demand for this healthy beverage. Deet's sells green, black, white, oolong and several herbal teas and offers several decaffeinated options.
"Tea sales used to be a very small part of our operations, but after increasing our tea selection from eight to 30 different varieties, our tea sales have tripled," said Don Harvey, manager of Deet's Place. While not all teas are created equal, drinking teas on a regular basis may be the extra boost you need to stay healthy during the rest of the semester, and a habit that may help you maintain a long-term healthy lifestyle.