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Date: 06/09/2010

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Tea drinking and Ovarian Cancer research (15/12/2005 @ 16:16:56)

Tea drinking halves ovarian cancer risk - December 14, 2005
Drinking more than two cups of tea a day could cut the risk of ovarian cancer by half, reports nutraingredients.com.

The finding emerged from a large Swedish survey, which studied 61,057 women over a 15-year period. Commenting on the study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Susanna Larson and Alicja Wolk said: “We observed a 46% lower risk of ovarian cancer in women who drank two or more cups of tea per day compared with non-drinkers.”

Both green tea and black tea contain significant amounts of the antioxidant polyphenols, which have been shown to stop carcinogenesis in laboratory-based cell studies. In the Swedish study most of the tea consumed by the participants was black tea.

According to researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm: “Tea consumption was inversely associated with the risk of ovarian cancer. Each additional cup of tea per day was associated with an 18% lower risk of ovarian cancer.”

Green Tea Protects The Heart (19/08/2005 @ 09:51:37)

Green Tea Protects The Heart

A new study has found that green tea may help protect against the damage caused by heart attacks and strokes. Researchers from the Insitute of Child Health in the UK carried out the study which was published in the Journal of the Federation of Experimental Biology.

The scientists carried out tests on heart cells which found that a major chemical component of green tea known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) can reduce cell death after a heart attack or stroke. EGCG is also thought to speed up the recovery of heart cells, allowing the tissues to recover and alleviating damage to the organs.

Commenting on the results Dr. Stephanou said: “We're extremely encouraged by these findings and hope to implement them in the clinical setting to minimize cell death activation levels in patients with acuted coronary artery disease. However until we have carried out we cannot advise patients to drink green tea in these circumstances.”

According to a new report from drinks sector analysts Zenith International consumption of green tea products rose by 87% between 2000 and 2003, which contrasts with a downward trend in hot drink consumption across Europe.

“The health issue is probably the most important factor behind this growth, but deyond that consumers are looking for something different and the health benefit is a bonus,” Zenith analyst Anya Bourke told NutraIngredients.

Source: Natural Products April 2005

Tea improves memory (11/08/2005 @ 09:45:02)

Tea improves memory

(Natural Products, December 2004 issue)

Researchers at the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne found that green and black tea inhibit the activity of enzymes in the brain which are associated with memory loss and the development of Alzheimer's disease. Green tea in particular was found to inhibit harmful enzymes by as much as 38% with its effects lasting for a week, as compared to one day for black tea. The finding suggests tea could be used in the development of treatments for Alzheimer's, which currently affects 10 million people worldwide and for which there is currently no known cure.

You can't beat a good cuppa (10/08/2005 @ 19:38:52)

You can't beat a good cuppa

(The Daily Telegraph, Health & Wellbeing Section, Monday 14th February 2005)

New research suggests that the nation's favourite brew might deliver a range of health benefits reports Barbara Lantin

Despite intense competition from other drinks, tea remains Britain's favourite beverage. Each day we consume 165 million cups - 38% of our daily fluid intake. So it's good to know that brewing up can bring health benefits.

Black tea has endured a bad press - and declining sales - over the past few years, owing partly to its caffeine content. Now, the industry is fighting back with the new “tea4health” campaign, designed to get us drinking four cups per day.

Meanwhile research by Minitel shows that sales of herbal teas rose by 30%, and speciality tea by 50%, between 2000 and 2002.

So which brew is best?

Camellia sinensis - conventional teas

All non-herbal tea comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. Whether it is black, green oolong or scented depends on the treatment it receives after picking. Black tea is exposed to the aire for longer than oolong or green; scented tea is mixed with flowers or other leaves.

The tea of the moment, white tip, consists of plant buds only, which are then dried without oxidation to impart a delicate flavour.

“|Picking white-tip tea is labour intensive, fiddly and hugely expensive,” says Bill Gorman, executive director of the Tea Council. “It sells for up to $70 a kilo, compared to $2 a kilo for quality black tea. But it's like good-quality champagne compared to vin de pays.”

Medical research has tended to focus on the antioxidant benefits of green tea as a defence against cancer and heart disease. But a recent review of scientific studies, carried out for the Tea Council, suggests that black tea might have similar properties.

“Both have similar amounts of polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties,” says Dr Carrie Ruxton, the public health nutritionist who carried out the review.

“The evidence for the protective effect of black tea in coronary heart disease is quite robust, but more research is needed before we can be clear about its effect on cancer.”

Another review carried out for Brooke Bond, found that the caffeine in tea was unlikely to cause dehydration unless five or more cups were drunk in one sitting.

However, anybody who wants to avoid caffeine altogether could try rooibos, or redbush tea, a South African leaf high in antioxidants and low in tannin.

Tea can reduce the absorption of iron from plant sources (for example, in fortified breakfast cereal). You can counteract this by drinking your tea with lemon, rich in vitamin C which increases iron absorption.

Herbal Teas

While many people choose herbal teas for their taste, their perceived health benefits have certainly boosted sales. Medical herbalist Trudy Norris says herbal teas are useful for people who want to manage mild symptoms. Where possible, Norris suggests growing your own herbs and making an infusion with boiling water. Cover the pot to prevent the evaporation of volatile oils, and keep in the fridge when cool for no more than 24 hours.

How herbs can help

For the digestive system
Herbalists have long recognized the anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties of chamomile. A new study by scientists as Imperial College shows that volunteers who drank five cups of camomile tea a day for two weeks had increased urinary levels of glycine, an amino acid known to relieve muscle spasms. Peppermint is also known to soothe the digestive system.

For menstrual and menopause symptoms

Motherwort is good for the nervous and endocrine system and may help with hormonal problems says Trudy Norris. Some research suggests sage can alleviate hot flushes. Try rooibos (Redbush) for PMS

For colds and Flu

The Imperial College study also found increased levels of the anti-inflammatory hippurate in the urine of camomile drinking volunteers, suggests it may help to fight infections. Thyme or lemon thyme may also reduce cold symptoms: try gargling at the onset of a sore throat.
Recommended blend: make your own chai tea by boiling tea leaves in a pan and adding cinnamon, ginger, cloves and cardamom to taste. Add milk and sweeten with honey.

For Stress and poor sleep

Lemon balm, valerian and lavender are well known for inducing sleep. Green tea may also help.

Green tea supports anti-cancer activity (10/08/2005 @ 18:47:00)

Green tea supports anti-cancer activity

Drinking green tea may prevent prostate cancer by targeting molecular pathways that shut down the proliferation and spread of tumor cells as well as inhibiting the growth of tumor nurturing blood vessels. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have documented the role of green tea polyphones in minimizing the flow of nutrients flowing to and supporting tumor growth. The report published in Cancer Research gives further support to the anti-cancer properties of green tea and its role as a functional food.

(Reproduced from Natural Products January 2005 issue)

Green Tea could fight autoimmune disorders (10/08/2005 @ 18:00:53)

Green tea could fight autoimmune disorders

Polyphenols found in green tea may help protect the body from autoimmune disorders, according to research published by the Medical School of Georgia's school of dentistry. The study was carried out to find a suspected link between green tea and autoimmunity after it was noted that a dry mouth (xerostamina), an autoimmune disorder only occurs in 1-2% of Chinese people compared to 30% of elderly Americans in the same age group. By studying cells in salivary glands and skin tissue, it was noted that cells exposed to green tea showed RNA and protein levels indicating autoantigen levels were suppressed in normal cells, but not in tumours, reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases.

Reproduced from Natural Products August 2005

Well, well (10/08/2005 @ 17:44:13)

Well, well

(Extracts from organic and natural business August/September 2005)

For so long herbal beverages, fruit infusions, green teas and the like were tucked away in a niche corner of the hot beverages market.

Now they are centre stage.

Herbal and fruit teas are the next big thing, according to a recent report by Minitel. The hot beverage survey looked at how Britain's tea habits are changing and how the market will grow in the coming years.

Speciality premium teas and herbal and fruit teas were the shining stars of the Minitel figures showing a growth of 50% and 305 respectively between 2002 and 2004.

So why has this area of the market experienced such a boom, whilst sales of standard tea bags have declined by 16%?

As people have aspired to healthier lifestyles, a new generation of speciality and herbal and fruit teas are being formulated and marketed as functional, “well-being” teas and have been positioned as remedies for stress, digestion problems and even the common cold. Green tea's high levels of antioxidants has been particularly championed.

“There has been a volume decline in traditional tea as people look for teas that have specific well-known health benefits” stated Keith Garden, director of an herbal tea company.

Another company spokesman, Paul Machin says “I think teas with health properties are and will be a key way to attract new customers. We find that many older people are switching to caffeine-free hot drinks, sometimes on doctor's advice to avoid caffeine or just to try something new. There are also some tea products that appeal especially to younger drinkers, like the Ayurvedic range.”

Keith Garden believes that the decline of traditional tea is also linked to the way it has been marketed to consumers by the big brands.

“The manufacturers have devalued the product quite a lot by the way they have marketed and advertised it. This is in contrast to coffee manufacturers who have advertised in such a way that it seems like a stylish thing to drink. Going back to post-war days tea was pretty much all you had to drink - things have changed now.”

These sentiments are echoes by Ellen Shields, senior market analyst at Mintel: “the traditional English cuppa is fighting a real battle, against coffee as a hot beverage and against increasing competition from tea alternatives such as soft drinks, bottled water and fruit juice.”

Within the tea market, traditional tea has maintained a relatively staid image and is now competing with more exotic and healthier herbal tea options. “There is now a need by manufacturers to make traditional tea more of a fashionable beverage,” says Shields

Focus on Hot Beverages was written and compiled by Julie Ferry and Jennifer Britt

More tisane, vicar? Britons swap tea for infusions (14/11/2004 @ 04:03:44)

By Trevor Datson, European Consumer Goods Correspondent

LONDON, June 16 (Reuters) - Traditionally tea-crazy Britons are setting aside their milky brown "cuppa" for more exotic brews infused with mango, peppermint or camomile, while fresh coffee is ousting instant varieties around the world.

Research published on Monday by market analysts Datamonitor suggested UK volumes of fruit and herbal teas -- once seen as the preferred beverage of unfavourite aunts and new-age eccentrics -- increased by 50 percent between 1997 and 2002.

In the same period, British consumption of "normal" -- i.e. tea-flavoured -- teabags fell by 10 percent to a still impressive 114 million kg, or roughly 2.2 kg per man, woman and child. This is second only to Turkey...

read more at Click here

BBC - Lemon tea 'fights skin cancer' (14/11/2004 @ 04:03:03)

Drinking hot tea with citrus peel could protect the body against skin cancer, US scientists say.
The researchers studied 450 people, half of whom had suffered a particular type of skin cancer, and quizzed them about their tea-drinking habits.

They found that those who developed skin cancer drank significantly less hot tea.

Citrus peel in the tea was found to have more than a 70% reduced risk for skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), whereas black tea alone meant a 40% reduction.

Read more...Click Here

BBC - Caffeine limits for pregnant women (14/11/2004 @ 04:02:51)

Consumer Products and the Environment (CoT) looked at how caffeine affected pregnancy.

This doesn't mean cutting out coffee completely but is about taking a sensible precaution and not having more than the equivalent of four cups of coffee a day.

Suzi Leather, FSA
It found drinking more than 300mg - or four average sized cups of instant coffee per day - could be linked to low birthweight and possibly miscarriage.

Read more Click Here

BBC - Sage herb 'can boost memory' (14/11/2004 @ 04:02:40)

Centuries-old theories that the herb sage can improve memory appear to be borne out by modern research.
Scientists at the Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria tested 44 people, who were either given the herb or a dummy placebo pill.

They found that those given the sage oil tablets performed much better in a "word recall test".

Experts believe the active ingredient may boost levels of a chemical that helps transmit messages in the brain.

The Medicinal Plant Research Centre (MPRC) at the universities are testing many old-fashioned claims about the healing powers of herbs and flowers.

Sage is often referred to in ancient texts - in 1597 the herbalist John Gerard said that it was "singularly good for the head and quickeneth the nerves and memory."

"This proves how valuable the work by the old herbalists was" Nicola Tildsley, MPRC

Researcher Nicola Tildsley said the results of the study proved that, in some cases at least, the herbalists should be taken seriously...

Read more Click Here

BBC - Tea 'good for teeth' (14/11/2004 @ 04:02:29)

"Compounds in tea attack harmful bacteria"

Scientists believe that drinking tea may be a good way to keep your teeth healthy.

They have discovered that compounds found in black tea may attack harmful bacteria in the mouth that cause gum disease and cavities.

Researchers have previously focused on the possible health benefits of green teas.

Dentists feel that drinks such as tea are a good alternative to soft drinks - British Dental Association

But a team from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry studied the black teas more commonly consumed in the West.

They found that compounds in black tea were capable of killing or suppressing growth and acid production of cavity-causing bacteria in dental plaque.

Read more Click Here

BBC - Herbal remedy secret uncovered (14/11/2004 @ 04:02:19)

British scientists believe they may have discovered how the popular herbal remedy arnica works.
Researchers from the Bradford School of Pharmacy say it contains powerful anti-inflammatory agents which can be absorbed into the skin.

Speaking at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Harrogate, they suggested it may protect damaged blood vessels.

Arnica is used in creams to treat a wide variety of ailments, including bruising, muscle ache and sprains...

Read more Click Here

BBC - Herb and drug mix alert (14/11/2004 @ 04:01:43)

Millions may be taking potentially dangerous combinations of herbal and conventional medicines, pharmacists have warned. Researchers told the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Harrogate many people do not view herbal remedies as medicines.

Two thirds did not admit to taking herbal medicines when they collected prescriptions. Phamacists said more awareness was needed of the risks of combining drugs and remedies.

Patients on prescribed medicines perceive complementary and alternative medicines to be natural and safe

Swati Patel, Kings College, London Researchers from the Department of Pharmacy at Kings College, London, questioned 929 people visiting four pharmacies in West London in the study.

They found that, even when people were asked what medicines they were taking, 41% did not mention herbal remedies because they did not class them as medicines...

Read more Click Here

BBC - Tea lotion could stop skin cancer (14/11/2004 @ 04:01:29)

Chemicals found in tea could form the basis of a cream
A nice cuppa may be a treat at the end of the day - but tea could also be the basis for a lotion to fight skin cancer.
Early tests on animals have suggested tea can stop ultraviolet light rays damaging the skin.

The researchers, who presented their findings to a meeting of the American Chemical Society, say drinking tea could give the same benefits as a cream.

But they say people would have to drink 10 cups a day to get the same effect.

Drinking tea may help, but you'd have to drink a large amount to accumulate in the skin, perhaps as many as 10 cups a day

Dr Zigang Dong, University of Minnesota
Tea contains chemicals called polyphenols which the researchers from the University of Minnesota say appear to block the formation of non-melanoma skin cancer.

This type of cancer is the most common in the UK.

Official figures suggest there are around 59,000 cases diagnosed each year...

Read more Click Here

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