Tea: good and good for you
October 10, 2007
It’s no secret that enjoying a cup of tea has healthy benefits. Tea is full of antioxidants, has less caffeine than coffee, and is just darn tasty. An article in USA Today reminds us all of just how good it is for us.
The article talks about numerous studies done over the years documenting the health benefits of tea drinking.
One study showed that ingesting tea polyphenols, chemical substances found in plants that have antioxidant characteristics, can protect against cancer. Mice were given tea instead of water and the results were the inhibition of prostate cancer cells. The polyphenols were also able to protect against skin cancer in tested mice.
Another study found that when 100 mg of theanine, an amino acid found in tea, is ingested along with 60 mg of caffeine a person is more able to focus on difficult tasks. That amount of theanine and caffeine can be found in four cups of green tea.
The article warns about taking supplements with green tea extract, saying that people have suffered from liver damage as a result of taking tea extracts.
Now go out there and drink some tea, because it’s not just good but good for you.
