Health

Cuppa that keeps doctor away!

by Chanuka Mannapperuma

Today, the tea drinking habit has spread all over the world. It is second only to water as the most favourite beverage on earth. Most people drink tea as a social drink, because of its pleasant and stimulating character. Recent biomedical research confirms the centuries-old lore about the power of tea in preventing illness and prolonging life.

Tea is processed from the tender shoots of the tea plant with botanical term Camellia sinenisis.

According to the Tea Research Institute (TRI) Talawakelle, in different regions of the world, various types of tea are produced from the tender shoots of the major water soluble chemical components in the tender shoots of the Camellia sinenisis.

These teas could be grouped into three main types. Black, green and oolong teas. Their differences derive from the method of processing those tender shoots.

Tea is a class of chemical compounds known as polyphenols. Polyphenols contribute mostly to the taste of tea. The important of made tea, as far as tea and health are concerned are the water soluble components that come into the cup on brewing.

A typical brew of tea contains 0.35% tea solids in water. Also the polyphenols are the major components in the solids released into water. According to the statistics, Tea does not contain significant amounts of nutrients.

The calorific value of tea is almost Zero, making it an ideal drink for the modern day calorie conscious consumer. Although rich in potassium, the sodium content tea is very low. This makes tea an ideal beverage for hypertensive individuals. Caffeine and polyphenols the major non-nutrient components in tea have pharmalogical effects.

Caffeine the well known stimulant acts on the central nervous system, increase alertness and reduce feelings of drowsiness and fatigue.

The polyphenols which include catechin, the flavin, the arubigins and other flavonoids are mainly responsible for the beneficial effects of tea. Scientific investigations have found that polyphenols could act an antioxidants after consumption, thus decreasing the risk of many diseases. Tea also contains significant amounts of fluoride which helps to reduce tooth decay.

Heart ailments

International research has also found that consuming tea could help to reduce the risk of heart disease.

The common form of heart disease was coronary heart disease (CHD), which is caused by either partial or complete blockage of the arteries supplying blood to the heart wall and muscles (coronary arteries). A continuous and unrestricted blood supply by coronary arteries is essential for the heart to continue the smooth pumping of blood by the action of the heart muscle.

Restriction of the blood flow in arteries occurs when the arteries are thickened by plaque formation in the inner lining if the artery wall. This is called arteriosclerosis. A blood clot could easily block the thickened artery completely (thrombosis). Plaque formation in arteries is a gradual process and lipids (fat), including cholesterol, are the main constituents in plaque. Certain factors such as high levels of lipids and oxidations of lipids facilitate the deposition on the walls of the arteries.

'Oxidative stress' or high amounts of free radicals and reactive oxygen species facilitate the plaque formation. Scientific investigations have found that anti-oxidants could reduce the amount of oxidant species in the circulatory system and therefore reduce plaque formation.

Tea also helps to reduce cholesterol, reduce oxidation of fat, reduce blood clotting and improves endothelial function as well.Scientific investigation have shown that tea polyphenols could directly react and neutralise chemical carcinogens, reducing the risk of cancer.

Our body itself has enzyme system that act to detoxify toxic and carcinogenic agents which enter the body. According to those researches that tea increase the activity of these detoxifying enzymes. Chemical carcinogen and radiation also could damage the DNA, leading to carcinogenesis. Therefore, anti-oxidants in tea could act to reduce the risk of cancer.

Diabetes

Tea is another medicine for Diabetes. There are two types of diabetes. Insulin dependant diabetes -the pancreas does not produce the required amount of insulin to regulate blood glucose. In type 2 diabetes non-insulin dependent diabetes liver and muscle cells cannot utilise the insulin produced to regulate blood glucose.

Some plant extracts contain substances which could mimic the action of insulin and help in managing type 2 or non insulin dependent diabetes. The flavonol, myricetin which is present in tea is found to be able to mimic insulin activity.

A variety of micro-organisms live in our digestive tract. Some of the enzymes secreted from micro-flora in the intestines help to digest and metabolise compounds in food. Consumption of tea and its polyphenols either chronically or over a period of weeks reduce harmful enterobacteriaceae and increase Lacto-bacilli and bifidobacteria that produce beneficial metabolites.

The gradual replacement of less desirable bacteria by beneficial bacteria in the intestine is one of the beneficial consequences of drinking tea.Today the main diseases afflicting the people of the world are the degenerative diseases.

Heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer and diabetes. These diseases, caused at least in part by improper and unbalanced nutrition are responsible for 50-70% of premature mortality.

Tea, as the most consumed beverage has a great impact on balanced nutrition. Forma myriad of scientific investigation that have been carried out, the anti-oxidant activity of tea's polyphenols emerges as the most important factor that reduce the risk of degenerative diseases.

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'My Breath & I'

An art of living designed exclusively for the young mind :

by Ms. N. Samarakkody

Real kids experience growing pains

Many adolescents are under a great deal of stress. Family environment may add stress to an adolescent's life. Very often stress comes from being in a hurry. For children with learning difficulties, school is not the enriching experience.

Another cause is that we have some sort of expectations of how things should be. Stress can be reduced by various positive emotional experiences. DIN (Do-It-Now) or write it in a diary to do later is one way to reduce stress. Cultivating mindfulness to tap & focus our own wasted energies is another way. People can be mindful in daily activities.

The mindfulness of in and out breathing helps to develop concentration. Mental disturbances can be overcome by loving kindness meditation.

Mastery over the 'monkey' mind

No human being can remain unaffected by the tensions and conflicts in the society, by the misery that is so intense. Mastery over the mind is important and purification of the mind is essential for true peace and happiness.

The technique of 'anapana' is a simple way to achieve mastery over the mind and lead a happy, wholesome life. Anapana means observation of natural, normal respiration, as it comes in and as it goes out.

Anapana is the first step in the practice of Vipassana Meditation. Vipassana means, "to see things as they are". Vipassana is the practical essence of the teachings of the Buddha, who taught Dhamma - the Universal Law of Nature.

To be good, is like cultivating a crop, you have to water, manure and look after the crop. It doesn't give fruits, flowers & seeds unless the proper support is given. But the bad is something like the weed, it grows without any support.

Inner education

Education, said Albert Einstein, is that which remains when everything that is learnt in school is forgotten. Education has two aspects: learning about the world outside which helps the child to acquire various skills which eventually help him to earn a living, and learning about the world within which helps children to learn an art of living whereby they generate happiness for themselves and others.

A child can be well trained in the acquisition of various skills so that he or she may become a successful professional, but when the learning about the world within is neglected, we get a society which is haunted by fear, insecurity, violence, nervousness and depression.

Benefits of Anapanasati

Once there were two wood cutters. The first wood cutter cut trees without a break. The second wood cutter rest in between. At the end of the day, the second wood cutter cut a greater amount of trees because he sharpened his axe while he was resting. Anapana technique sharpens a mind, so the child can easily concentrate.

Anapana helps children to understand themselves better and gives them an insight into the workings of their own minds. They develop an inner strength that helps them to choose right and appropriate actions over wrong actions, control and become master of their own mind. Young people who have started practising Anapana have realized many benefits.

Their ability to concentrate becomes enhanced, their memory gets sharper, their ability to comprehend a subject improves and they become calmer.

In general, they feel they have a practical tool to use in the face of any type of adversity or challenge such as fears, anxieties, also an increase in qualities like discipline, honesty, co-operativeness, attentiveness, cleanliness and concentration and a decrease in qualities like irritability, quarrelling, use of abusive language and feelings of inferiority. Once a teacher asked her class to collect potatoes in a bag and bring to school everyday, each potato representing an enemy.

The one who had many enemies, had to carry a heavier weight and as days pass by, the potatoes started getting rotten.

Our negative emotions are like potatoes, the more they are, the heavier and rotten our hearts can be. Meditation trains the mind to let go of negative emotions. Negative emotions is like a barbed wire, it hurts the one who is holding to it, before it hurts the others.

Best gift from parent/teacher

The ideal time to begin the first steps of this mental training is during the childhood. Meditation will help your child to become the happiest person in the world. It is essential that parents or teachers meditate with the children. It is, in fact, our serious responsibility to impart this wonderful technique, the pure Dhamma, to the younger generation - for their own good, for the good of the whole society, for a better and more peaceful tomorrow.

Children's meditation retreats

The focus in these retreats is the practice of Anapana meditation, the observation of natural respiration. The retreats include activities such as stories, games, etc... The need for respect and gratitude towards parents, teachers and elders and the value of keeping company with wholesome people is highlighted. Children's retreats are conducted throughout the world free-of-charge.

Further information can be obtained from Dhammasobha Meditation Centre, No. 38, Pahala Kosgama, Kosgama ([email protected]), Dhammakuta Meditation Centre, Mowbray Gardens, Hindagala, Peradeniya ([email protected]) and Pagoda Meditation Centre, 1st Cross Street, Pagoda ([email protected])

Loving kindness

May I be well & happy, may I be free from sickness & ill-will, may I always be happy, full of joy, full of kindness. May my mind be full of joy and happiness always.

May all living beings be well and happy, full of joy. May they enjoy the little pleasures they have. May they be forgiving, giving, loving, helping each other, May they be happy with their families, happy with their friends. May all beings be happy, may their hearts be wholesome.

Bhavatu Sabbe Mangalam!

Acknowledgements:

http://www.vri.dhamma.org/anapana/,

http://www.beyondthenet.net/dhammakuta/,

http://groups.msn.com/PagodaMeditationCentre,

http://www.bswa.org.au,

Within our own hearts by Ven. Ayya Khema, Living in Peace by Ven. Bhikkuni Kusuma, Stress Reduction for youth through mindfulness meditation by Ven. Mirisse Dhammika Thera, Stress management through Buddhist Meditation by Ven. Olande Ananda Thera, Settling back into the moment by Joseph Goldstein.