Green tea and herbal teas

[PeteC]

Green tea cuts fatal illness risk. From the BBC

Green tea is a favourite drink in Japan
Drinking green tea can substantially cut the risk of dying from a range of illnesses, a Japanese study has found.
The research, which looked at over 40,000 people, found the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease was cut by more than a quarter.

But British heart experts said the benefits may be linked to the whole Japanese diet, which is healthier than that eaten in the west.

The work is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

It is questionable whether drinking the same amount of green tea a day in the UK would have a significant impact on levels of heart disease, said Ellen Mason, British Heart Foundation.

Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world, aside from water.

Three billion kilograms of tea are produced each year worldwide.

Studies carried out in laboratories and on animals have suggested green tea in particular has extensive health benefits.

Women 'greater benefit'

In this study, which began in 1994, researchers from Tohoku University, looked at how humans could benefit.

They examined data on 40,530 healthy adults aged 40 to 79 in north-eastern Japan, where green tea is widely consumed.

Around 80% of people in the region drink green tea, with more than half consuming three or more cups each day.

The people in the study were followed for up to 11 years (1995-2005), when 4,209 people died from all causes.

The researchers also looked at seven years' worth of data (from 1995-2001) to look at deaths from specific causes,

In that period, 892 people died of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 1,134 participants died of cancer.

Compared with people who drank less than one cup per day of green tea, those who consumed five or more had a 16% lower risk of dying from any cause during the 11-year study.

They also had a 26% lower risk of dying from CVD in the seven years of follow-up.

There was no significant association between green tea consumption and death from cancer.

Throughout the study, the benefits of green tea appeared greater in women.

Those who drank five cups or more of green tea each day had a 31% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared with those who had less than one.

But the study failed to find a beneficial link between drinking black or oolong tea and a reduced risk of dying from CVD.

'Low disease rate'

Dr Shinichi Kuriyama, who led the research, said: "The most important finding is that green tea may prolong people's lives through reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease."

But Ellen Mason, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation said the Japanese diet as a whole was particularly healthy, and the findings may not apply to people eating western diets.

"The rate of heart disease in Japan is already one of the lowest in the world, and the Japanese diet is believed to play a substantial role in keeping this low.

"Drinking 3-4 cups of green tea in parts of Japan is a daily habit."

"The average British diet contains more saturated fat than the average Japanese diet, and our levels of heart disease are relatively high compared to many other countries in the world.

"It is questionable whether drinking the same amount of green tea a day in the UK would have a significant impact on levels of heart disease."

She added: "Clinical trials are now needed to discover whether something as simple as green tea really can prevent deaths from heart disease."

[vincent chang]

Yes, I have heard that japanese guys who smoke a lot do not suffer the same effects of lung cancer because of green tea intake. My grandmother in law chain smoked, but drank lots of green tea, and she lived to be 90. a shot of chinese whisky after dinner did not hurt either. Green tea. lots of anti oxidents. and less caffeine than regular tea as well. I buy the whole leaves, but some people just get teabags. my daughter has the leaves ground up into a powder, japanese style. Its all good.

[naturalskincarer]

Yes Green tea is good for health green tea control cancer,heart beat,weight loss and face glow skin.

[aragon]

The Japanese also claim that Miso (fermented soya bean paste) is effective in combating cancer, however I think you need to look at the overall Japanese diet, particularly the high intake of fish and fresh veggies and the low intake of meat and saturated fats, to get an overall picture.

[buksida]

Is there a decent 'olde tea shoppe' in Hua Hin or somewhere that has a selection? Its health month so I'd like to experiment with a few teas, currently have a pot of Ranong Green every day which is rather pleasant.

[Takiap]

I don't know about fresh green tea, but Mrs Takiap once watched a program on TV here, and they were basically saying the bottles of green tea you can buy in all the shops is totally worthless.

I don't really buy into the "meat is a killer" story. I personally think heart trouble is more to do with lifestyle as a whole. In the west we tend to endure far more stress than they do here. If anything, I think the biggest killer in the west is over indulgence, and obviously obesity which usually follows. My guess is Thailand will soon have the same type of heart failure statistics as we have in the west.


Anyway, back to green tea.............it tastes crap, so I ain't going to be drinking it Okay admittedly, it not nearly as vile as that damn soy milk.

[margaretcarnes]

Is there a decent 'olde tea shoppe' in Hua Hin or somewhere that has a selection? Its health month so I'd like to experiment with a few teas, currently have a pot of Ranong Green every day which is rather pleasant.

You could try Euro Bakery for farang teas. I have the same problem here in the UK finding proper green tea 'on the twig'! There's a good cheap one in the HH supermarkets called Kanchana, and the best UK one I've found so far is Clipper, although it is really too finely ground.

[MrPlum]

Is there a decent 'olde tea shoppe' in Hua Hin or somewhere that has a selection? Its health month so I'd like to experiment with a few teas, currently have a pot of Ranong Green every day which is rather pleasant.

Why not make your own unbleached, ungassed, unradiated, fresh, quality-guaranteed tea? Pick a few Basil leaves or Lemon Grass. Steep in hot water and drink. If you want a plant I have lots.

[Spitfire]

While we are on the subject of healthy tea, perhaps those that like healthy teas should look into drinking white tea. More expensive but generally regarded as more healthy than green tea or any of the others.

[STEVE G]

For a readily available commercial green tea, I like Twinings Gunpowder Green Tea. (Apparently the name comes from the fact that the leaves are rolled into small pellets that resembled black gunpowder.)
Just be careful to not brew it too strong, as the leaves are rolled up, you don't need as much of it in the pot as you think.

[PeteC]

Here's one that may surprise people. Located in Chiang Rai, and an OTOP organization. Some good photos at the site. Teas sold in upper scale tea shops like Central, Robinson and some markets Tops/Villa/Carrefour. The Oolong range from about 280 to 315 Baht per 100G tin. Vacuum sealed into those little explosive balls Steve mentions above. Pete

http://www.thaichouifongtea.com/

[STEVE G]

I buy a Thai green tea from a supermarket in Nang Rong that's from an OTOP concern and it's really very good indeed although I've never seen it for sale anywhere else. The name is in Thai script so I don't know exactly what it's called but it's certainly worth trying these types of teas from small Thai plantations.

[MrPlum]

In the west we tend to endure far more stress than they do here. If anything, I think the biggest killer in the west is over indulgence, and obviously obesity which usually follows. My guess is Thailand will soon have the same type of heart failure statistics as we have in the west.

If they keep eating chillies, I think they are protected. Stress gobbles up Vitamin c and chillies are packed with it as well as being a vaso-dilator. Chilli tea 3x daily.

[MANCRED]

I always drink green tea, I take a bottle of cold water with me and throw 2 tea bags in, apparently boiling the bags kills everything that's good for you.

I do it more for a fitness thing.

[Randy Cornhole]

I have been drinking green tea now for about 6 years. Don't know if it will make me live forever or not? I drink it because I just like the taste...

Milk and sugar =