The miracle of green tea

by Tiran Peiris

Take a break from your everyday black tea routine, and try some green tea? Perhaps you thought it was too exotic, or were unsure how it would taste. It's time to get out of your tea rut, and brew up a cup of green tea. It tastes great, is easy to make and is just packed with healthy attributes, unlike any other tea. Green tea counts as the oldest beverage in the world.

History

Tea is one of the three major non-alcoholic beverages in the world.

The origin of tea is not precisely known, but as it has been in use in China since the earliest times, it is commonly attributed to that country. In China, tea has been known since long before the Christian era. The use of tea was discovered accidentally when an ancient Chinese scholar was boiling water for his evening meal, and in replenishing the firewood (made of the branches of the tea plant), some of the leaves fell into the water vessel.

Upon tasting it, he found the drink to be exciting and exhilarating in its effects that he continued to use it. That knowledge was imparted from person to person and its use soon spread throughout the country. The first positive reference to tea is that by Kien-Lung in the fourth century,who described the medicinal effects of the tea plant and its preparation.

By the time of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D) in China tea drinking had flourished to the extent that a book named "Tea sutra cha kyou" was published. It was written by Lu Yu, who lived in the T'ang Era, and discussed the history of tea in China. The method of manufacture, the untensils of manufacture and the method of preparation and of drinking of tea. There are no accurate records as to when tea was first imported to Japan. It is estimated that in the eighth century.

Buddhist monks coming from China and India and the Japanese envoys despatched to T'ang China, brought tea to Japan. In the 12th Century a Buddhist monk named Yeast brought tea seeds from China to Japan. He may, therefore be cited as the founder of the Japanese tea industry.

At first, the custom of tea drinking was not associated with the common people. Tea was used as a kind of medicine and in upper class social affairs. It was only after Senno-Rikyu (1521-1591) had accomplished the art of tea ceremony that the custom of tea drinking was conveyed from the upper classes to the society of Bushi, and then gradually to the common people.

Importance

The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. Having enough antioxidants in your diet means that your organism is able to react to some conditions much quicker.

For example, your skin cells are rebuilt at a faster rate if you have more antioxidants in your body. Also, your internal organs function at a better efficiency - mainly the liver and kidneys, which will be better protected against most of their associated diseases as well. Add to that the fact that green tea contains the most powerful antioxidants known to man, is why it's so healthy and useful.

Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet.

In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.

Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed.

Green tea leaves are steamed and pan fired, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidised. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented and semi fermented leaves respectively, results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

All the different kinds of green tea have different flavours, but they do have a taste in common. The flavour of green tea can be described as: fresh, light, green, or grassy. Some varieties of green tea have a bit of sweetness to them, and some are a little astringent. Green tea is not usually served with milk or sugar, - part of the beauty in green tea is enjoying its original, fresh taste!

How to brew a cup of green tea?

One thing to watch out for: don't use fully boiling water. Green tea is more delicate than black, so you want to keep the water a little cooler. Brewing when your water is just about to hit the boil is good.

You may follow the instructions given below for your perfect cup of Green Tea:

If not handled properly, those same polyphenols that provide health benefits can ruin the flavour, making the tea taste "gassy." It's particularly important not to over brew. While it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions for each variety of green tea, here are some general instructions:

* Use one tea bag, or 1.5-2grams of tea,* per cup.

* Fill a kettle with cold water and bring to a boil.

* Allow the kettle to stand for up to 3 minutes

* Pour the heated water (around 60 degrees C) over the tea bag or tea, and allow it to steep for up to a minute for the first serving and for the second serving use water at 80 degrees C and using a tea bag, remove the bag.

* Allow the tea to cool for three more minutes.

*One to two teaspoons, depending on the variety of green tea you are brewing.

Handmade specialty green teas

The world of tea and loyal tea drinkers the world over are rapidly expanding as its health benefits become widely accepted and proven with scientific research. Countries such as Japan and China are in the forefront of this development in with high quality white and green teas. So where ever you may be in the world, you can now experience the best flavors and maximum health benefits.(See Graphic-Handmade speciality green teas)

Why you should drink green tea

Green tea has increasingly become a very popular drink worldwide because of its immensely powerful health benefits.

* It is extraordinary amazing what green tea can do for your health

* And if you're not drinking 3 to 4 cups of green tea today, you're definitely NOT doing your health a big favour

Here are the 25 Reasons why you should start drinking green tea.

Right now:

1. Green tea and cancer

Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer. The antioxidant in green tea is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times better than vitamin E. This helps your body at protecting cells from damage believed to be linked to cancer.

2. Green tea and Heart Disease

Green tea helps prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the level of cholesterol.

Even after the heart attack, it prevents cell deaths and speeds up the recovery of heart cells.

3. Green tea and anti-ageing

Green tea contains antioxidant known as polyphenols which fight against free radicals. What this means is that it helps you fight against aging and promotes longevity.

4. Green tea and Weight Loss

Green tea helps with your body weight loss. Green tea burns fat and boosts your metabolism rate naturally.

It can help you burn up to 70 calories in just one day. That translates to 7 pounds in one year.

5. Green tea and skin

Antioxidant in green tea protects the skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, which cause wrinkling and skin ageing.

Green tea also helps fight against skin cancer.

6. Green tea and arthritis

Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Green tea has benefit for your health as it protects the cartilage by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage

7. Green tea and bones

The very key to this is high fluoride content found in green tea.

It helps keep your bones strong. If you drink green tea every day, this will help you preserve your bone density.

8. Green tea and Cholesterol.

Green tea can help lower cholesterol level. It also improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol level.

9. Green Tea and Obesity

Green tea prevents obesity by stopping the movement of glucose in fat cells. If you are on a healthy diet, exercise regularly and drink green tea, it is unlikely you'll be obese.

10. Green tea and diabetes

Green tea improves lipid and glucose metabolisms, prevents sharp increases in blood sugar level, and balances your metabolism rate.

11. Green tea and alzheimer's

Green tea helps boost our memory and although there's no cure for Alzheimer's, it helps slow the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer's.

12. Green tea and Parkinson's

Antioxidants in green tea helps prevent against cell damage in the brain, which could cause Parkinson's. People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson's.

13. Green tea and liver disease

Green tea helps prevent transplant failure in people with liver failure. Researches showed that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.

14. Green tea and high blood pressure

Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure. Drinking green tea helps keep your blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.

15. Green tea and Food Poisoning

Catechin found in green tea can kill bacteria which cause food poisoning and kill the toxins produced by those bacteria.

16. Green tea and Blood Sugar

Blood sugar tends to increase with age, but polyphenols and polysaccharides in green tea help lower your blood sugar level.

17. Green tea and Immunity.

Polyphenols and flavenoids found in green tea boost your immune system, making your health stronger in fighting against infections.

18. Green tea and Cold and Flu

Green tea prevents you from getting a cold or flu. Vitamin C in green tea helps you treat the flu and the common cold.

19. Green tea and Asthma

Theophylline in green tea relaxes the muscles which support the bronchial tubes, reducing the severity of asthma.

20. Green tea and Ear Infection

Green tea helps with ear infection problem. For natural ear cleaning, soak a cotton ball in green tea and clean the infected ear.

21. Green tea and Herpes

Green tea increases the effectiveness of topical interferon treatment of herpes. First green tea compress is applied, and let the skin dry before the interferon treatment.

22. Green tea and Tooth Decay

Green tea destroys bacteria and virus that cause many dental diseases.

It also slows the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.

23. Green tea and Stress

L-theanine, which is a kind of amino acids in green tea, can help relieve stress and anxiety.

24. Green tea and Allergies

EGCG found in green tea relieves allergies. So, if you have allergies, you should really consider drinking green tea.

25. Green tea and HIV

Scientists in Japan have found that EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) in green tea can stop HIV from binding to healthy immune cells.

What this means is that green tea can help stop the HIV virus from spreading.

Functions of green tea

The rituals, customs and art of drinking tea has come to being over a long period of time; initially it known as a medicinal beverage.

Even centuries back, its appreciation of health benefits were either experienced by the tea drinkers or identified by them to label as such.

With the advancement of technology and modern chemistry, components of tea have been analysed and the health benefits of green tea have progressed to the point where there is scientific confirmation for the saying 'Tea is a miraculous drink for maintenance of health'.

The Catechins found in green tea particular have become very sought after due to its health benefits. Other components are Vitamins B,C,E, Caffeine, Amino Butyric Acid, Falconoid, Polysaccharide, Fluoride and Thiamine.

Latest types

Over and above its health benefits, its ant oxidative, antibacterial, and deodorant properties the future of green tea looks very bright and promising. From the instant tea cans and Pet bottles in the beverage market it has advanced to Green Tea pills for modern-day convenient lifestyles.

Green tea is now used in the production of clothes such as green tea socks, t-shirts, towels, undergarments to confectionery items such as candy, chewing gum, biscuits as well as used in the manufacture of perfumes and cosmetics.

Forming a healthy diet is the foundation of any good life. You can't expect your body to work properly while feeding it nothing but junk food and tasteless garbage that only harms it in the long run. You need to take action and throw out the harmful stuff, and add something healthy to your diet.

Green tea is perfect for that purpose - it's extremely healthy, and it's used by many people worldwide to treat their problems and conditions.

At an altitude of about 3,000 feet above sea level in the lush green valley of Pussellawa, Nuwara Eliya is where one can find Sri Lanka's finest Green Tea - the Melfort.

This plant and Sanquhar is nestled in the valley surrounded by some blue mountains and cascading water falls up in the Kandy district, approximately 2800' above sea level.

Sanquhar is one of the oldest tea plantations in Sri Lanka and the history goes back to 19th century. This is the only steam green tea plant in the country. It produces above 500 metric tons per annum.

Already an industry leader, Melfort plant receives some of the finest quality fresh leaf that has given its edge in the processing of Chinese Green Tea. Maintaining such stringent quality standards has made it the only fully fledged Chinese Green Tea plant in Sri Lanka to be accredited with HACCP (food safety management system) and ISO 22000.

Its production capacity ranges from about 420 metric tons to 650 metric tons per annum and boasts of a wide range of specialty Green Teas based on a grade mix of 'estate fresh green leaf' according to an original Chinese Green Tea processing recipe. This ancient Chinese Green tea processing is very much a well guarded secret that is unique to a few true manufacturers in the world.

The writer is the Deputy Managing Director/ C.E.O,,Melfort Green Teas (Pvt) Ltd.

Education helps brain compensate for dementia change

by Caroline Parkinson

The effects of dementia were seen across those studied People who stay in education for longer appear to be better able to compensate for the effects of dementia on the brain, a study suggests.

A UK and Finnish team found those with more education were as likely to show the signs of dementia in their brains at death as those with less.

But they were less likely to have displayed symptoms during their lifetime, the study in Brain said.

Experts said scientists now had to find out why the effect occurred.

Related stories Dementia: Facts and figures Longer schooling 'cuts dementia' Over the past decade, studies on dementia have consistently shown that the more time you spend in education, the lower the risk of dementia.But studies have been unable to show whether or not education - which is linked to higher socio-economic status and healthier lifestyles - protects the brain against dementia.

Compensation

The researchers in this study examined the brains of 872 people who had been part of three large ageing studies.

Before their deaths they had also completed questionnaires about their education.

The researchers found that more education makes people better able to cope with changes in the brain associated with dementia.

Continue reading the main story " Start Quote Education in early life appears to enable some people to cope with a lot of changes in their brain before showing dementia symptoms" End Quote Dr Hannah Keage

Cambridge University Post-mortems showed the pathology - signs of disease - in the brains of people with and without long educations were at similar levels.

But the researchers found those with more education are better able to compensate for the effects of the condition.

It also showed that, for each year spent in education, there was an 11% decreased risk of developing dementia.

Dr Hannah Keage of the University of Cambridge, who co-authored the study, said: "Previous research has shown that there is not a one-to-one relationship between being diagnosed with dementia during life and changes seen in the brain at death.

"One person may show lots of pathology in their brain while another shows very little, yet both may have had dementia.

"Our study shows education in early life appears to enable some people to cope with a lot of changes in their brain before showing dementia symptoms."

'Dementia resistant'

The researchers used data from the Eclipse collaboration, which combines the three European population-based longitudinal studies of ageing from the UK and Finland which have assessed people for up to 20 years.

Professor Carol Brayne, who led the study, said: "Education is known to be good for population health and equity.

"This study provides strong support for investment in early life factors which should have an impact on society and the whole lifespan.

"This is hugely relevant to policy decisions about the importance of resource allocation between health and education."Ruth Sutherland, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "This is the largest study ever to confirm that hitting the books could help you fight the symptoms of dementia in later life. What we don't know is why a longer education is so good for you.

"It could be that the types of people who study longer have large brains which adapt better to changes associated with dementia.

"Another reason could be that educated people find ways of managing or hiding their symptoms."

She added: "We now need more research to find out why education can make the brain more 'dementia resistant'. Until then the message appears to be stay in school."

- BBC