The Best of Tea

You may know that tea is good for your overall health, but you may not realize just how powerful its effects can be on your body. Every week scientists are discovering additional benefits. Here we present just a few of those uncovered in recently.

• For You Teeth.

  Tea has been shown to protect teeth in several ways. First, it contains small amounts of naturally occurring fluoride. This strengthens the enamel of the teeth and prevents demineralization. But drinking tea also prevents the bacteria that lead to decay from sticking to the teeth.

• For Your Immune System.

  Tea has been recognized for its ability to support the immune system by protecting against viral and bacterial assaults. But remarkably, new research shows that tea, when ingested with antibiotics, may double the drug’s effectiveness. This research also revealed that tea may help the antibiotics work on previously drug-resistant strains of pathogens. Other research has demonstrated that tea may aid in the prevention of autoimmune disorders.

• For Your Skin.

  Tea has been shown to have remarkable anti-inflammatory, anti-aging properties. These are particularly useful when applied to skin care. Free-radical fighting compounds in tea appear to protect against sun damage and also have the ability to revitalize and extend the life of aging skin cells.

• For Your Mind.

  Tea appears to have a number of beneficial effects on the brain. One interesting study points to the possibility that green tea may fight the production of beta-amyloid proteins, or those that are implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. Other studies have demonstrated tea’s ability to improve memory and to protect against some forms of dementia.

• For Cancer Prevention.

  Perhaps the best news about tea is its ability to induce cell death in cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. Lab results have shown promise in treating colon, breast, prostate, and skin cancers. Work is just beginning in this area, but the results so far are very promising.

• For Your Heart.

  Tea appears to help the heart in a number of ways: It has been shown to increase the function of heart endothelial cells and to reduce cholesterol.