Chemical Composition and Health Benefits:

Caffeine : Caffeine is known to stimulate the central nervous system and respiration. Other desirable effects of caffeine include relief of fatigue, increase of alertness and aiding digestion. Excessive caffeine is said to have adverse effects on the human system however tea has only half the caffeine levels of coffee and research proves that the presence of caffeine in tea does not produce unhealthy results due to it’s combination with tea polyphenols.

Polyphenols : The polyphenols present in tea act in many beneficial ways to human health. A cup of tea contains about 1000 ppm (parts per million) polyphenols. The catechins available in tea polyphenols has the capacity of suppressing the excessive rise of cholesterol, inhibiting hypertension, reducing glucose levels in the blood, preventing cardio-vascular diseases, lowering high blood pressure and keeping intestines in good order.

Theanine (Amino Acid): Tea is also is a natural source of an amino acid called theanine. Early research suggests that theanine promotes the production of alpha brain waves which can help to create a state of deep relaxation and alertness, the same that you might achieve through meditation. Leaving all the science aside, if you choose a tea that suits your taste buds and your pocket you can drink and enjoy safe in the knowledge that it really is doing you some good.

Fluorides : In density, a level of 1 ppm of fluoride in potable water is identified as having a prophylactic effect against dental decays. A tea infusion contains about 1 ppm fluoride which is of benefit in the prevention of dental caries.

Calory : Many beverages are high in calories yet it is essential to replace body fluids especially in hot weather. Tea is the natural choice - it is a low calorie drink and a great thirst quencher. A glass of iced tea contains only 3 calories against a glass of cola with 70. 100 calories a day more than the body needs will cause a 4.5kg weight gain in one year, while 100 calories less per day can bring about a 4.5kg weight loss.

Minerals : The nutritional value of tea, apart from it being a low calorie drink is attributed to its mineral content. Tea contains the elements of manganese zinc, potassium & magnesium which the human body needs daily. Tea contains minerals which have following functions:
-Calcium is vital for the formation of bones and teeth. It also has a role at the cellular level where it is important for activities such as muscle contraction, blood clotting and nerve transmission
- Zinc is present in many enzymes and is required for growth, tissue repair and for sexual maturation
- Potassium is important in the regulation of fluid balance as well as for the proper functioning of cells, including nerves and muscles
- Manganese is essential for the development of enzymes, as well as being an important component for bone and cartilage

Antioxidants (Flavanoids) : Tea can reduce the risk of death from coronary hear disease and the chances of having a first heart attack. Tea has a high content of a natural group of chemical antioxidants known as flavonoids. According to research published in the British medical journal, The Lancet, tea drinkers who consumed 4 cups of tea per day or more saw their risk of dying reduced to 45 percent compared to people who consumed little or no tea. The role of tea in reducing cancer risk is also widely recognised.

Vitamins : Tea contains thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, Niacine, Folate, Pantothenate etc. which plays very important role in metabolic activity of body such vitamins are :
- Thiamin is needed to release energy from carbohydrate
- Riboflavin is required to release energy from protein, carbohydrate and fat
- Vitamin B6 is involved in the metabolism of protein. Vitamin B6 dependent enzymes are also involved in the metabolism of glycogen and lipids and the synthesis of haem
- Folate is essential for the synthesis of DNA and therefore plays a crucial role in cell division as well as the formation of blood cells
- Niacin is involved in the release of energy in tissues and cells
- Pantothenate plays a central role in energy metabolism
- Vitamin B12 is necessary for the proper formation of blood cells and nerve fibres

Health Benefits of Tea :

Cardio Vascular Disease Benefits : Research is highlighting that there maybe a beneficial relationship between tea drinking and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. It helps in inhibition of oxidised LDL cholesterol, attenuation of the inflammatory process in atherosclerosis, Reduction in thrombosis, Promotion of the normal endothelial function, Blocking of adhesion molecules, Reduction in plasma total and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C)

Cholesterol Reducing Benefits : Having potent antioxidant activity, tea is important for a healthy heart. Recent research has discovered that fresh tea has upto 22% more antioxidant potential than tea that has aged or been stored for long periods of time. In the sphere of heart disease, antioxidants prevent oxidation of cholesterol (a precursor to the formation of artherosclerotic plaque in blood vessels) and in this way promote better cardiovascular health.

Cancer Benefits : Antioxidants neutralise the effect of 'oxygen free radicals' which are known to be a major contributory factor in aging and in ailments of the human body, including cancers. Free radicals can cause DNA injuries, resulting in DNA mutations and possible pathogenesis of cancer. An ingredient present in green and black tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, which killed cancer cells. Risk of pancreatic cancer decreased with increasing tea consumption.

Asthma Treatment Benefits : A number of studies have explored the effects of tea in asthma in caring asthma and caffeine appears in tea improves airways function modestly in people with asthma for up to four hours after consumption.

Central Nervous System Benefits. A moderate Tea taking intake can cause mild stimulation that maybe beneficial in terms of increased alertness, concentration, improved performance and decreased fatigue. However, higher intakes may affect sleep, cause nervousness and an irregular heartbeat.

Conception and Fertility Benefits : a strong relationship between consumption of tea and fertility in women. Those who drank half a cup of tea each day doubled the chances of conception, compared with non tea drinkers

Headaches Relief Benefits : In headache, researchers found that a combination of medicine alongwith tea was better than either drug alone in relieving pain

Pregnancy : Caffeine in tea crosses the placenta and achieves blood and tissue concentrations in the foetus that are similar to maternal concentrations. For this reason advice published in several journals, recommends that pregnant women should limit their intake of Tea caffeine consumption to less than 300mg/ day (equivalent to 6 cups of tea/ day). At this level there is little evidence to suggest that the health of the unborn child or mother is affected.

Stress Controlling Benefits : People who drank black tea four times a day for six weeks were found to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than a control group who drank a fake tea substitute, researchers said in a study published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

The tea drinkers also reported a greater feeling of relaxation after performing tasks designed to raise stress levels. Although it does not appear to reduce the actual levels of stress we experience, tea does seem to have a greater effect in bringing stress hormone levels back to normal.”

Memory Boosting : Drinking regular cups of tea could help improve your memory, research suggests.

A team from Newcastle University found green and black tea inhibited the activity of key enzymes in the brain associated with memory.

The researchers hope their findings, published in Phytotherapy Research, may lead to the development of a new treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.

They say tea appears to have the same effect as drugs specifically designed to combat the condition.

Alzheimer's disease is associated with a reduced level of a chemical called acetylcholine in the brain.

In lab tests, the Newcastle team found that both green and black tea inhibited the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which breaks down this key chemical.

They also found both teas inhibited the activity of a second enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), which has been discovered in protein deposits found in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's.

Green tea went one step further in that it obstructed the activity of beta-secretase, which plays a role in the production of protein deposits in the brain which are associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The scientists also found that it continued to have its inhibitive effect for a week, whereas black tea's enzyme-inhibiting properties lasted for only one day.

Diabetes Control : Tea is once again being heralded as something more than a refreshing brew as research suggests it may prevent diabetes and complications associated with the disease. The report in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry supposes that drinking tea may be a simple and inexpensive means of preventing diabetes and the complications that may ensue, including cataracts.

Cataract Control : Researchers from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, found that green and black tea significantly inhibited cataract formation. The researchers found that both teas decreased glucose levels, which in turn affects other biochemical pathways that accelerate diabetic complications such as cataracts.

Bone and Calcium Balance: The data to suggest that caffeine potentially adversely influences bone metabolism includes epidemiological studies investigating the relationship between caffeine and the risk of osteoporosis (as characterised by low bone mineral density) and increased susceptibility to fractures, as well as metabolic studies examining the effect of caffeine on calcium homeostasis.

Dental Heath Benefits : Epidemiological surveys have reported that some populations who drink tea on a regular basis have a reduced number of carious teeth i.e. teeth affected by bacterial acid production in tooth plaque. Proposed mechanisms for tea’s oral health benefits include:-

Fluoride. The tea plant extracts fluoride from the soil, which then accumulates in its leaves. For this reason tea is a very rich source of fluoride.

Tannins. Tannins found in tea, along with other components such as catechin and tocopherol have been shown to be effective in increasing the acid resistance of tooth enamel.

Hydration Benefits : Tea is also good for hydration. Our whole body from our skin to our vital organs needs fluid to operate efficiently. Lack of fluids can lead to dehydration which causes lethargy, headaches, constipation and possible kidney problems, yet most of us don’t drink enough fluid to keep us hydrated.
We should drink at least 8 glasses of fluid a day. A cup of tea as one of the fluids that can be drunk to achieve the recommended intake. A cup of tea can count towards the body’s daily fluid requirement when one cup is consumed per sitting.

Parkinson’s Disease. : Observational studies have suggested that tea may play a role in protecting against Parkinson’s disease although further research is going on.