The Health Benefits of Common Tea Varieties

For thousands of years, tea has been known for its incredible medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Today we know much more about the health benefits of tea leaves, thanks to hundreds of government, university and independent clinical studies. There are seven commonly available varieties of tea: green, white, black, oolong, pu’erh, roobios and herbal. Each type is prepared differently and offers a variety of health benefits.

Green Tea – Because green tea is made by steaming, rather than fermenting the tea leaves, it is able to retain the powerful antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG has been proven to inhibit cancer cell growth as well as kill active cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It is also effective in lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Also, because green tea contains fluoride, it helps prevent tooth decay by killing the bacteria that causes plaque.

White Tea - White tea comes from the buds and young tea leaves, shortly before the buds have fully opened. The leaves are then steamed and dried with the minimum amount of processing. Because of this, white tea retains the greatest levels of antioxidants and the lowest levels of caffeine than any other tea from the Camellia Sinensis plant (green, black or oolong). It is so effective in ridding the body of free radicals that it is know for its anti-aging and skin-protectant properties. In fact, several top cosmetic companies are taking notice and including white tea in their skin creams.

Black Tea – While most of the EGCG antioxidants are oxidized during the fermenting process of black tea, it does retain a high number of polyphenol and flavonoid antioxidants. These antioxidants help rid the body of harmful toxins and help to prevent cancer, reduce the risk of strokes and lower cholesterol. Black tea is also known for its therapeutic effects on gastric and intestinal illnesses.

Oolong Tea - Oolong tea is a partially fermented tea and has the flavor and health characteristics of both green and black teas. It contains a high number of antioxidants, which work to protect healthy skin cells and slow down the aging process. It has been said that drinking oolong tea is one of the best ways to fight the effects of aging on the skin.

Pu’erh Tea – This type of tea comes from a large leaf variety of tea plant and can be picked any time of the year. It is processed similarly to black tea. What makes this tea unique is that once it is picked, it is piled and aged – sometimes for as long as 50 to 100 years. Pu’erh tea has been shown to be one of the most effective cholesterol-lowering methods. It also has powerful soothing properties, perfect for aiding in digestion after a heavy meal.

Roobios or “Red” Tea – Rooibos comes from a shrub in South Africa. It is naturally caffeine free – making it a good choice for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Rooibos tea has a high number of antioxidants and studies have shown that it has anti-HIV activity, may protect brain cells from damage, and has the potential to protect the body from tumors.

Herbal Tea – For centuries, herbs have been use as remedies for various medical ailments, and drinking them as a tea is a delightful way to gain their benefits. There are many different kids of herbal teas – each containing a different blend of herbs. Some popular tea herbs are: peppermint for its digestive properties, lemon balm and chamomile for their calming effects, ginger for relieving nausea, echinacea for its immune-boosting abilities, and rosemary for relieving headaches. This is just a short list of the many herbs that can be found in an herbal tea blend, there are many more – each with its own health benefit.

So, no matter what type of tea you decide to drink, you’ll be doing something great for your body. To get the most out of your tea drinking, you may want to have a collection of whole-leaf teas in your pantry, trying to drink at least three varieties per week.

These links lead to current information, research and opinion on the medicinal benefits of tea.

Farsinet.com - A good general overview of tea's medicinal benefits.

About.com: "The Miracle of Green Tea."

Green Tea and the "The Asian Paradox."
Not smoking is STILL the best way to prevent cancer and heart disease!

USA Today: "Put the kettle on: Tea is steeped in health benefits"

TeaUSA.com:"Tea Consumption and Health."

Wiki's article: "Potential effects of tea on health."

National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet on Tea and Cancer Prevention.
The antioxidants found in tea--called catechins--may selectively inhibit the growth of cancer. In laboratory studies using animals, catechins scavenged oxidants before cell damage occurred, reduced the number and size of tumors, and inhibited the growth of cancer cells. However, human studies have proven more contradictory, perhaps due to such factors as variances in diet, environments, and populations. NCI researchers are investigating the therapeutic and preventive use of tea catechins against a variety of cancers.