The health benefit of tea was actually declared at the time of it's discovery.
Legend states that In 2737 B.C. Chinese Emperor Chen Nung discovered the camillia seninsis plant. After drinking the beverage made with Camillia seninsis leaves the Emperor known as the "Divine Healer" declared that it gave vigor of body as well as contentment of mind. This is the first mention of the health benefit of tea.
In the reading I have done on the health benefits of tea these are the things I have found to be claimed about drinking tea.
We know that tea is the second most commonly consumed beverage in the world today. Whether it is white, green, black,oolong or pu-erh tea, they all contain polyphenols(also called catechins).
Health effects of tea
Polyphenols give tea its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants may help protect our body from free radical damage. In fact, tea ranks as high as or higher than many fruits and vegetables in antioxidant potential.
Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals which can cause damage.
Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers". They prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals.
Health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, cancer and other health problems are all contributed to by oxidative damage.
Tea antioxidants may also enhance immune defense lowering risk of infection.
Again, these are things I have read. It should be noted that the United States Food and Drug Administration does not feel there is enough proof to support these claims.
That being said, we know that many studies have been done in China and Japan that suggests that loose leaf tea provides us with many health benefits.
Learn more about the health benefits of tea here.
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