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Sunday, September 18, 2011

A Cup A Day – The Benefits of Drinking Tea

A Cup A Day – The Benefits of Drinking Tea.  Now, here is a topic close to my taste buds.  Wonderful, wonderful tea.  In all it's many shades and potency, herbal, wild, cultivated, grown everywhere there are ideal conditions.
Offered in many styles and methods, preparations and so forth, tea is, inescapably, one of Nature's best "medicines".  

http://blog.homecure.com/

"One of the world’s oldest beverages, tea is the second most commonly consumed liquid on earth besides water. Maybe one of the reasons is the myriad of health benefits associated with drinking tea. If you are not drinking tea yet, you’re missing out on a convenient, potent and delicious health beverage; here are some healthy tea facts that might surprise you:

1.) Tea has less caffeine than coffee. A cup of tea contains approximately 30 mg of caffeine, versus 135 mg in a cup of coffee.
2.) Tea adds to your necessary daily fluid intake, unlike coffee and other beverages which may have a diuretic effect.
3.) Tea has no calories, unless you add milk or a sweetener.
4.) Tea increases your metabolic rate.
5.) Tea contains potent antioxidant properties.
6.) Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.
7.) Tea builds strong bones.
8.) Tea contains fluoride and tannins for healthy teeth and gums.
9.) Tea boosts your immune system.
10.) Tea possesses cancer-fighting properties.
Black, Green, White, Oolong and Red TeasIt’s hard to believe, but Black, Green, White and Oolong teas (the four true teas) come from the same plant, known as Camellia sinensis, grown in many parts of the World. The major differences between them are the amount of processing each goes through. Black teas are processed the most and White teas the least. This results in the Black teas having a stronger and bolder taste, while the Green and White teas are much lighter tasting. In addition, Green, Black and Oolong teas come from the upper leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, while White tea is derived only from the tips of the leaves.
Red teas usually refer to Honeybush or Rooibos teas made from a blend of different plants. Research has shown that Red teas are the healthiest of all the available teas. They have more antioxidant properties than Green teas.
Honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia) is a shrub native to South Africa. This deliciously sweet tea is smooth tasting, lacking the typical bite found in most Green and Black teas, because it contains virtually no tannins and is caffeine free.
Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) is another plant from South Africa. Rooibos only grows commercially in one small corner of the world – South Africa’s Cederberg district. The soil conditions, rainfall and sunshine of the district can’t be duplicated anywhere else on earth. In order to protect the future of the industry, environmental controls in the area are stringent. Growers take great care to ensure that the fragile Cederberg ecosystem isn’t tempered with or altered. People from this part of the World drink Rooibos tea purely for enjoyment, but also to help relieve insomnia, irritability, headaches, nervous tension, hypertension, skin problems, and stomach cramping and colic in infants. This tea contains no oxalic acid, making it a good beverage for people prone to kidney stones.
Herbal Teas
When you drink a cup of peppermint or chamomile tea you are actually not consuming tea. You are drinking a “tisane” or an “infusion”. Tisane is French for ‘herbal infusion’ and is simply an infusion of dried herbs or fruits. Tisanes and herbal infusions are not true teas since the Camellia plant is not used. However, they are generally referred to as teas since the preparation, enjoyment, and health benefits are similar. Many herbal teas are consumed for medicinal reasons and are naturally caffeine free.
What’s In A Tea Bag?Almost all teas in tea-bags are blends and usually of a lower quality than loose teas. Tea blending may occur in one tea-planting area (e.g. Assam) or the blends may be a combination of teas from diverse tea plantations. The aim of blending is to give the consumer a stable taste over the years and a cheaper price. For only the best quality and taste, we recommend using loose tea, whether brewing a cup of herbal tea or true Camellia sinensis.
How To Brew A Perfect Cup Of Tea
For one cup of hot tea: Measure 1 teaspoon of dried tea of your choice and place into a container. Bring 1 cup of water to a rolling boil and pour over the tea and steep to desired strength. Strain and enjoy.
For a cup of iced tea: Follow the above instructions and chill with ice."


http://blog.homecure.com/

A Cup A Day – The Benefits of Drinking Tea. I hope you have enjoyed this article on tea and it's healthful gifts to us all .  Presently, I am sipping on a favorite that is very calming, nourishing and lovely to drink.  Tulsi Tea by Organic India.  It is Holy Basil herbal tea and loaded with antioxidants and other healthful benefits  I purchase my supply at Vitacost.com.  They have the best price and I buy in bulk. 






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