Green tea actually comes from the same plant as black tea. However, they are widely different in their health effects. The reason is that green tea is derived from only lightly steaming and drying the leaves of the tea plant. This process prevents (‘inactivates’) certain enzymes responsible for oxidation having an effect, thus leaving the important bioactive polyphenol content (for all intents and purposes its anti-oxidant properties) unchanged.
Black tea however, is withered, fermented and dried for curing. During this fermentation process, the biologically active polyphenols of the fresh leaf are oxidised (destroyed!). This significantly reduces its beneficial polyphenols (i.e it’s free radical scavenging abilities).
High in anti-oxidants, the popular benefits of drinking green tea are said to be things like,
- reducing dental cavities
- detoxyfication of body tissues
- possible heart protection effects
- general immune defence (from scavenging free radicals etc).
While popular in Asian cultures for thousands of years, green tea has only recently become more popular in the West. If you haven’t tried it already, why not try a cup of green tea the next time you’re out or as a regular thing during your day? Maybe instead of that cup of coffee!!!
If it’s good enough for Oprah!!!
Laugh of The Week: BUSH HAS TEA WITH THE QUEEN:
George Bush is invited to tea with the Queen. He asks her what her leadership philosophy is. She says that it is to surround herself with intelligent people. Bush asks how she knows if they’re intelligent. “I do so by asking them the right questions”, says the Queen. “Allow me to demonstrate.”
Bush watches as the Queen phones Tony Blair and says,
“Mr. Prime Minister, please answer this question: your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or sister. Who is it?”
Tony Blair responds, “It’s me, ma’am.”
“Correct. Thank you and good-bye, sir,” says the Queen.
She hangs up and says, “Did you get that, Mr. Bush?”
Bush nods: “Yes ma’am. Thanks a lot. I’ll definitely be using that!”
Bush, upon returning to Washington, decides he’d better put the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the test. Bush summons Jesse Helms to the White House and says,
“Senator Helms, I wonder if you can answer a question for me.”
“Why, of course, sir. What’s on your mind?”
Bush poses the question: “Uhh, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?”
Helms hems and haws and finally asks, “Can I think about it and get back to you?”
Bush agrees, and Helms leaves. He immediately calls a meeting of other senior Republican senators, and they puzzle over the question for several hours, but nobody can come up with an answer. Finally, in desperation, Helms calls Colin Powell at the State Department and explains his problem.
“Now lookee here, son, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?”
Powell answers immediately, “It’s me, of course.”
Much relieved, Helms rushes back to the White House, finds George Bush, and exclaims, “I know the answer, sir! I know who it is! It’s Colin Powell!”
And Bush replies in disgust, “Oh no you stupid fool, it’s not Colin Powell……………..it’s Tony Blair!”
