Green Tea drinkers live longer, research shows!

A new report has revealed evidence that strongly suggests that people who drink at least five cups of green tea daily could face a dramatically-reduced risk of dying from heart disease and from other natural causes.

Published in the Sept. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Japanese study, led by researcher Shinichi Kuriyama at Tohoku University , showcased the stunning results after Kuriyama's team followed more than 40,000 people for 11 years. The team found that those who consumed green tea regularly were 16% less likely to die of all causes and 26% less likely succumb to heart disease.


Women fared even better, with a 31% less chance of dying from heart disease and stroke. These findings are encouraging in light of previous studies that were inconclusive, especially in a research area that is hotly debated. The one clear message: Drink tea, and lots of it.

The naturally-occurring antioxidants found in green and black tea leaves are said to be the main reason for preventing so many of today's ills from wreaking havoc on drinkers' health.

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Less Processed Green Tea may be the healthiest tea of all!

Being less processed, green teas have been found to have higher levels of the disease-fighting phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables than other forms of tea, making it the subject of much research and debate in recent years.

With antioxidant properties, phytochemicals such as those in tea (flavonoids and polyphenols) are substances widely believed to protect against cancer and heart disease. Green tea also contains the highest amount of epigallocatechin gallate, a powerful antioxidant thought to reduce psoriasis, colon tumors and prostate cancer. For its potential cancer-fighting abilities, some researchers believe green tea should carry a label acknowledging this property. The FDA, however, has found no credible evidence supporting the claim.

Although the health studies remain inconclusive, the popularity of tea and green tea in particular, however, continues to rise among consumers. In the past four years alone, analysts estimate the tea industry has seen "a tenfold growth."

Three main types of tea are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant: black, oolong and green. Once picked, leaves quickly wilt and wither, a process known as oxidization or fermentation (though no yeasts or bacteria are used). Then, at a predetermined stage, tea growers stop oxidation by heating the leaves. For black teas, the most processed variety, the leaves have been completely oxidized; oolong teas are only partially oxidized; green teas are not at all oxidized. Instead, growers steam the freshly picked leaves, which stops oxidization immediately.

For over 4,000 years, tea has been enjoyed for its flavor and prized for its medicinal properties. It is used to treat depression and headaches and is believed to prolong life.

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Green Tea linked to better Asian health rate!

Researchers at Yale University writing in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons are offering a body of evidence linking green tea to better heart health and a lower risk of cancer.

Researchers indicated that the high concentration of antioxidants called catechins in green tea may offer a range of health benefits, especially for smokers, according to Dr. Bauer E. Sumpio and his colleagues at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.

In Asian countries, it is a social custom to drink green tea, which is less processed and richer in catechins than the black tea commonly consumed in the West. The results are that, even with Asia 's high rate of smoking, only half as many die each year from coronary heart disease than their American counterparts.

Lab studies also suggest that EGCG and other green tea antioxidants may block tumor formation or growth in a number of ways, explaining why the lung cancer death rate in Korea is so surprisingly low.

The rate of lung cancer death among Korean men is less than 40 per 100,000, versus 67 per 100,000 among U.S. men, and among women 13 per 100,000 in Korea compared with 45 per 100,000 in the U.S.

Only 37% of Korean adults smoke compared to 27% of Americans.

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Tweet Green Tea Effect on Chemotherapy Yield Mixed Results, Studies Suggest

Green tea and chemotherapy have long been viewed in various spheres as potential weapons against cancer. While green tea's prospective abilities in preventing and even combating cancer have gained a certain traction among practitioners of natural and herbal healing, the effectiveness of chemotherapy against cancer has long gained the acceptance and approval of the scientific medical healing field.

But can these two seemingly diverse agents possess points of convergence that may make the war against malignant neoplasm even more potent and effective? Or do they essentially operate in their own respective areas, working their so-called magic independently of each other?

Green tea comes from the lightly fermented leaves of the tea plant camellia sinensis. It is known to possess high levels of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants are materials that help fight free radicals - compounds in the body that alter cells, damage DNA, and give rise to abnormal growth of tumors that lead to cancer. EGCG or epigallocatechin-gallate is the most important green tea polyphenol and is believed to help protect against cancer development by aiding the self-destruction of these cells, and by affecting enzymes and the communications between cells, thereby slowing the growth and multiplication of cancerous cells. 

On the other hand, chemotherapy refers to a standardized regimen of cancer treatment involving either a single neo-plastic drug or a combination or cocktail of such drugs. Active agents in these drugs act by killing cells that divide and replicate rapidly. However, this method also involves harming cells that divide rapidly even under normal circumstances. This results in the most common side effects of chemotherapy: the decreased production of blood cells, the weakened state of the immune system, the inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, and the loss of hair.

Taken hand-in-hand, do green tea and chemotherapy complement each other in the crusade against their common enemy? Well, the findings have decidedly been mixed.

A study conducted on mice by the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Shizuoka in Japan showed that the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin against carcinoma tumors appeared to have more than doubled when green tea was used as an adjunct. The tumors showed a higher concentration of the doxorubicin in the tumor tissue when the mice ingested green tea.

Interestingly, only the cancerous tissue reflected a higher concentration of the drug as a result of the addition of the green tea and not the normal ones. This may suggest promising implications on the issue of side effects as it implies that the drug's side effects may not increase when used in tandem with the green tea.

Another study showed that the chemotherapy drug adriamycin was likewise found to be more effective at treating ovarian sarcoma when it was paired with green tea. The mice in this study became very responsive to the treatment when they were given green tea alongside the adriamycin while another group of mice not given the green tea proved unresponsive.

However, another research study involving a different chemotherapy drug yielded a different result.

Laboratory and live mice experiments undertaken by the University of Southern California 's Keck School of Medicine found that taking green tea alongside the chemotherapy drug bortezomib against multiple myeloma and the malignant brain tumor glioblastoma showed that the antioxidants in the green tea may possibly negate and cancel out the therapeutic effects of the bortezomib.

The scientists subsequently found that the boronic acid component in bortezomib allowed the EGCG to latch on directly to the drug's molecules, thereby inhibiting the anti-cancer actions of both the chemotherapy agent and the green tea compound. The effect of this is that instead of killing more cancer cells, the treatment allowed almost all of them to survive and multiply.

The researchers in this study consequently concluded that "the current evidence is sufficient enough to strongly urge patients undergoing bortezomib therapy to abstain from consuming green tea products, in particular the widely available, highly concentrated green tea and EGCG products that are sold in liquid or capsule form."

There have likewise been reports of green tea extracts affecting a gene in prostate cancer cells that may make them less responsive to chemotherapy drugs.

However, the same scientists hastened to add that the same adverse reaction did not occur when EGCG was combined with several other non-boronic, acid-based proteasome inhibitors, including the HIV treatment nelfinavir or Viracept.

It is worthwhile to note that these studies have so far only been conducted on mice and in laboratory experiments. These results have not yet been confirmed in studies on people. As with many other early results, further research is warranted.

It may be gleaned from these divergent findings that green tea appears have different interactive effects with certain specific chemotherapy drugs. Green tea appears to complement the therapeutic effects of some anti-cancer drugs while negating and being adverse to those of other anti-cancer medication. It is for this very reason that individuals undergoing chemotherapy treatment ought to talk to their physicians before drinking green tea or taking tea extracts.

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Pomegranate Tea Benefits

Pomegranate Tea Benefits are believed to help ward off a considerable array of ailments and diseases. This is due to the effects of both the fruit and a corresponding tea base, each of which is individually known to be a store of healthy properties.

Pomegranate tea may refer to either a type of flavored tea or an herbal tea. The pomegranate flavored tea typically consists of a black, rooibos or oolong tea base combined with bits and pieces of pomegranate fruit and pomegranate juice or flavoring. On the other hand, pomegranate herbal tea is typically made using bits of dried pomegranate fruit that have been directly infused in hot water.

The pomegranate is a fruit that has been consumed and cultivated since ancient times. It grows mainly in the areas of the Mediterranean and the Middle East . It is a bulb to round-shaped fruit that is comparable in size to an orange. It has a hard outer peel, and has numerous seeds. Each of the seeds is enclosed in a deep-red, sweet-tasting liquid and this is called the aril. The arils are embedded in a white pulp.

The arils of the pomegranate are consumed raw or are made into pomegranate juice. These also form the main ingredient of the grenadine syrup that is commonly used to flavor some drinks, pastries and desserts.


The pomegranate has been used as a medicinal item for thousands of years. The Roman author and naturalist Pliny had noted as early as the 1 st Century AD that the fruit had therapeutic properties. For its part, Indian Ayurvedic medicine prescribed the use of the rind for dysentery.

These are due primarily to the wealth of nutrients and phytochemicals found in the fruit. Pomegranate is rich in vitamin C, vitamin B5, potassium and antioxidant polyphenols such as tannins and flavonoids. Other phytochemicals include polyphenolic catechins, gallocatechins, and anthocyanins, such asprodelphinidins, delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin.

When combined with either black, rooibos or oolong tea base, the antioxidant and nutrient content of the tea may further enhance and complement the health benefits found in the pomegranate.

The following are the pomegranate tea benefits that may be derived from this brew:

• Pomegranate tea may help fight kidney and bladder disorders.
• Pomegranate tea may have potentials in lowering blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels, thereby also potentially reducing the risk for heart and cardiovascular ailments.
• Pomegranate tea may have anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties.
• Pomegranate tea may help fight diabetes.
• Pomegranate tea may help fight infection.
• Pomegranate tea may help contribute to protection of the neonatal brain from injury damage.
• Pomegranate tea may help fight osteoarthritis.
• Pomegranate tea may help fight Alzheimer's Disease.

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Passionfruit Tea Benefits

Passionfruit tea benefits are plentiful and are derived from both its tea component and its passionfruit fruit component.

Passionfruit tea is the term used to refer to a type of flavored tea that is typically made up of a black tea base that has been infused with the essence and flavor of passionfruit. It is sometimes accompanied by dried passionfruit pieces and possibly other berries, spices and blossoms. Passionfruit tea is quite astringent and has a slightly sweet and fruity taste.

The passionfruit comes from a vine species that is native to the northern and central portions of South America.


Known either by its scientific name of passiflora edulis or by its alternative common name granadillas, the passionfruit has a round to oval shape. Its color is either yellow or dark purple at maturity. It has a soft to firm, juicy interior and is strewn with numerous seeds. The fruit can be eaten as is and its juice can be extracted.

Passionfruit tea can be made by placing about 1 teaspoon of loose-leaf tea or 1 passionfruit teabag in a mug of newly-boiled water. Allow it to steep for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the leaves/teabag and drink. Adding a hint of honey or sugar can be made to sweeten the tea. The tea can be enjoyed both hot and cold.


Passionfruit tea benefits are derived from the healthy constituents of the black tea leaves as well as from its passionfruit constituent. Black tea is high in antioxidants like catechins and quercetin. It is also abundant in amino acids, minerals (such as magnesium and potassium) and vitamins (like vitamins B, C and E).

Meanwhile, the passionfruit is similarly rich in antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. It is quite rich in vitamin A and C, fiber, and iron which contribute substantially to the health benefits of the entire brew.

The following are the potential passionfruit tea benefits that may be derived from this flavorful brew:

• Passionfruit tea may help lower the risk for developing cardiovascular diseases as it may help lower blood pressure.
• Passionfruit tea may help in lowering the risk for developing tumors and cancer due to the antioxidant content of both the tea leaves and the passionfruit.
• Passionfruit tea may help fight skin and tissue damage.
• Passionfruit tea may help strengthen the bones.
• Passionfruit tea may help cleanse the colon and improve digestion.
• Passionfruit tea may help relaxation.
• Passionfruit tea may help enhance the immune system by combating microbes and viruses.

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Orange tea benefits

Orange tea benefits are believed to be quite potent and these are derived from both its tea component and its orange fruit and juice components.

Orange tea is the term used to refer to a type of flavored tea that is made up typically of a black tea base that has been infused with orange flavor (usually from orange juice), and garnished with dried orange pieces and orange peel. Orange tea has a citrusy aroma and has a slightly tangy taste.

The orange is a citrus fruit with finely-textured skins whose thickness differs according to the variety. The fruit has a pulpy and juicy flesh. The diameter of the orange fruit typically ranges from two to three inches.

Orange tea benefits can be derived and enjoyed through these methods:

• Simply place about a teaspoon of ready-made loose leaf orange tea in a cup or mug of newly-boiled water and allow to steep for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the leaves and then drink. To sweeten the tea, add a hint of honey or sugar.
• Dunk one orange teabag into a mug of newly-boiled water and allow to steep for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the teabag and then drink.

Orange tea benefits come from the healthy constituents of the black tea leaves as well as from its orange flavoring and fruit constituents. Black tea is abundant in antioxidants like catechins and quercetin. It is likewise rich in amino acids, minerals (such as magnesium and potassium) and vitamins (like vitamins B, C and E).

Meanwhile, the orange fruit also possesses countless health benefits that come from the wealth of nutrients that are found in its flesh, and even in the peel.

Some of these nutrients include:

• vitamin C
• fiber
• folate
• thiamine
• potassium
• vitamin A
• calcium

Apart from these nutrients, oranges also contain antioxidants and other phytonutrient compounds such as citrus flavonones (e.g. herperidin), anthocyanins and other polyphenols. Together, these healthy components in fruit are believed to be responsible for its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetes and anti-cholesterol properties.

The following are the potential orange tea benefits that may be derived from this flavorful brew:

• Orange tea may help lower the risk for certain cancers.
• Orange tea may help lower the risk for various heart and cardiovascular diseases.
• Orange tea may help ward off viruses and bacteria.
• Orange tea may be helpful against asthma.
• Orange tea may help fight osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Orange tea may help prevent kidney stones.
• Orange tea may help control blood sugar levels and thus may be helpful for those with diabetes.
• Orange tea may help fight ulcer.

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Mango Tea Benefits

Mango tea benefits are quite considerable and are derived from both its tea component and its mango fruit and flavoring components.

Mango tea is generally used to describe a type of flavored tea made up of a black tea base that has been infused with mango flavor, and accompanied by dried mango pieces and other complementary-tasting fruits. Mango tea is quite aromatic and has a slightly tangy taste.

The mango is a fleshy fruit that belongs to the genus Mangifera, in the family Anacardiaceae.The ripe mango fruit comes in different sizes and colors. The most common color of a ripe mango is bright yellow, but various cultivars also yield fruits that are orange, red or green. The fruit bears a single flat, oblong-shaped pit that has a fibrous surface. In some cultivars, the pit is surrounded by a thick coating of soft, pulpy flesh that typically tastes sweet. Other cultivars have a firmer and harder flesh. This seed or pit contains the plant embryo.

Mango tea benefits can be derived and enjoyed either of several ways:

• Simply place about a teaspoon of ready-made loose leaf mango tea in a mug of newly-boiled water and allow to steep for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the leaves and then drink. To sweeten the tea, add a hint of honey or sugar.
• Dunk one mango teabag into a mug of newly-boiled water and allow to steep for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the teabag and then drink.
• Home-made mango tea can also be made by placing 1 teaspoon of loose-leaf black Ceylon tea or one black tea bag in a mug of hot water for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the leaves or the bag then add fresh mango juice to the mix. The strength of the mango flavor will be dependent on the quantity of the juice. This is ideally served iced on a hot, humid day.

Mango tea benefits come from the healthy constituents of the black tea leaves as well as from its mango flavoring and fruit constituent. Black tea is rich in antioxidants like catechins and quercetin. It is likewise abundant in amino acids, minerals (such as magnesium and potassium) and vitamins (like vitamins B, C and E).

Meanwhile, the mango fruit has traditionally been used as a source of beneficial nutrients for the body. It is quite rich in vitamins A, B6, C, E, as well as in the antioxidant beta-carotene, fiber, and minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc which contribute greatly to the health benefits of the entire brew.

Combining the fruit and the black tea base into mango tea has become quite widespread in the last several years due to the exploding popularity of cold tea drinks among the general public, the improvement of tea-mixing technology, and the jump in "coolness" factor for flavored teas in general.

The following are the potential mango tea benefits that may be derived from this flavorful brew:

• Mango tea may help in lowering the risk for developing tumors and cancer due to the antioxidant content of both the tea leaves and the mango fruit.
• Mango tea may help lower bad cholesterol levels in the body.
• Mango tea may help improve digestion.
• Mango tea may be helpful for individuals with diabetes.
• Mango tea may be helpful for a healthy immune system.
• Mango tea may be helpful for overall health and well-being.

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Cherry Tea Benefits

Cherry tea benefits are numerous and are gotten from both its tea component and its cherry fruit component.

Cherry tea refers to a type of flavored tea that usually consists of a black tea base, usually Ceylon tea, which has been combined with cherry flavor, and garnished with dried cherry pieces and possibly other fruits and spices. Cherry tea possesses a flavorful aromatic and has a slightly sweet taste.

The cherry is a type of stone fruit that has fleshy tissues. The fruit is succulent and possesses a sweet flavor with certain sour notes. The flesh encloses a stone at its core. There are several different types of cherries. The colors of the cherry fruit range from bright to dark red. It is believed that the darker the color of the cherry, the more nutrients, vitamins, and minerals are enclosed within.

Cherry tea can be enjoyed either of several ways:

1. Simply place about one teaspoon of cherry tea into a mug of newly-boiled water and allow it to steep for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the leaves and drink. Adding some honey or sugar can help sweeten the tea.
2. A home-made cherry tea can also be made using 1 teaspoon of loose-leaf black Ceylon tea or one black tea bag. Place it in a mug of hot water for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the wet leaves or the bag then add fresh cherry juice to the mix. The strength of the cherry flavor will be dependent on the quantity of the juice. This is ideally served iced on a hot, humid day.
3. In place of black Ceylon tea, rooibos tea may also be used to make cherry tea. Just follow the procedure in #2.

Cherry tea benefits are derived from the healthy constituents of the black tea leaves as well as from its cherry fruit and flavoring components. Black tea has an abundance of antioxidants like catechins and quercetin. It is also rich in amino acids, minerals (such as magnesium and potassium) and vitamins (like vitamins B, C and E).

Meanwhile, the cherry fruit is considered by many to be a 'superfood' due to the wealth of nutrients and antioxidants that it possesses. It is very rich in vitamin C and E, fiber, iron, potassium and calcium. It is likewise rich in the antioxidant anthocyanins and substance pectin, which contribute substantially to the health benefits of the entire brew.

The following are the potential cherry tea benefits that may be gotten from this brew:

• Cherry tea may help in lowering the risk for developing tumors and cancer due to the antioxidant content of both the tea leaves and the cherry fruit.
• Cherry tea may help lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels and may in turn lower the risk for heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
• Cherry tea may help fight inflammation and muscle pain, as well as pain from arthritis, gout, and headaches.
• Cherry tea may help strengthen the immune system and keep the health in check.
• Cherry tea may help enhance the mood and vigor.
• Cherry tea may help contribute to detoxification.
• Cherry tea may be promising for the reduction of uric acid levels in the body.

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Blueberry Tea Benefits

Blueberry tea benefits are numerous and are gotten from both its tea component and its blueberry fruit component.

Blueberry tea is the term used to refer to a type of flavored tea consisting of a black tea base that has been infused with blueberry flavor, and garnished with dried blueberry pieces and possibly other berries and even spices. Blueberry tea is quite aromatic and has a slightly sweet and tart taste.

Blueberry comes from shrubs that are part of the heath family. The fruit grows in clusters and are deep blue to black in color. The skin has a waxy streak that serves as its protective coat. Blueberry flesh is transparent and envelops very small seeds.

Blueberry tea can be enjoyed either of several ways:

Simply place about a teaspoon of ready-made blueberry tea or gourmet blueberry tea loose leaf mix in a mug of newly-boiled water and allow to steep for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the leaves and drink. Adding a hint of honey or sugar can be made to sweeten the tea.

Home-made blueberry tea can also be made by placing 1 teaspoon of loose-leaf black Ceylon tea or one black tea bag in a mug of hot water for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the leaves or the bag then add fresh blueberry juice to the mix. The strength of the blueberry flavor will be dependent on the quantity of the juice. This is ideally served iced on a hot, humid day.

In place of black Ceylon tea, either rooibos tea or white may be substituted to make blueberry tea. Just follow the procedure in #2.


Blueberry tea benefits are derived from the healthy constituents of the black tea leaves as well as from its blueberry flavoring and fruit constituent. Black tea is rich in antioxidants like catechins and quercetin. It is likewise abundant in amino acids, minerals (such as magnesium and potassium) and vitamins (like vitamins B, C and E).

Meanwhile, the blueberry fruit is widely considered a 'superfood' due to the wealth of nutrients and antioxidants that it possesses. It is quite rich in vitamin C and E, fiber, and the antioxidant anthocyanins which contribute substantially to the health benefits of the entire brew.

The following are the potential blueberry tea benefits that may be derived from this flavorful brew:

• Blueberry tea may help in lowering the risk for developing tumors and cancer due to the antioxidant content of both the tea leaves and the blueberry fruit.
• Blueberry tea may help lower blood pressure and may lower risk for developing cardiovascular diseases.
• Blueberry tea may help lower the risk for developing liver ailments.
• Blueberry tea may help improve brain function and may help lower the risk for developing related diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
• Blueberry tea may help promote gastrointestinal health as it has ellagic acid that may help protect metabolic pathways.
• Blueberry tea may help strengthen the immune system and keep the health in check.
• Blueberry tea may help promote urinary tract health.

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Strawberry Tea Benefits

Strawberry tea benefits are derived from both its tea component and its strawberry fruit component.

Strawberry tea is the term used to refer to a flavored tea type that is typically composed of a black tea base that has been infused with the essence and flavor of strawberries. It is sometimes accompanied by dried strawberry pieces and possibly other berries. Strawberry tea is a delectable brew that has that familiar sweet and fruity flavor of strawberry.

Known by its scientific name fragaria ananassa, the strawberry is a fruit that comes from the flowering plant in the Rose family. While there are more than 600 varieties of strawberries that differ in flavor, size and texture, one can usually identify a strawberry by its red flesh that has small seeds piercing its surface, and a small, regal, green leafy cap and stem that adorn its crown.

Strawberry tea is typically made by placing about 1 teaspoon of loose-leaf strawberry tea or 1 strawberry teabag in a mug of newly-boiled water. Allow it to steep for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the leaves/teabag and drink. Adding a hint of honey or sugar can be made to sweeten the tea. The tea can be enjoyed both hot and cold.

Strawberry tea benefits are derived from the healthy constituents of the black tea leaves as well as from its strawberry fruit constituent.

Black tea is high in antioxidants like catechins and quercetin.

It is also abundant in amino acids, minerals (such as magnesium and potassium) and vitamins (like vitamins B, C and E).







Meanwhile, the strawberry fruit is similarly rich in vitamins and minerals. It is rich in vitamin C, fiber, manganese, iodine, potassium, folate, vitamin B2, vitamin B5 and omega 3 fatty acids which contribute substantially to the health benefits of the entire brew. It is also rich in such phytonutrient substances as anthocyanins, flavonols, terpenoids and phenolic acid which further add to its healthy properties.

The following are the potential strawberry tea benefits that may be derived from this flavorful brew:

• Strawberry tea may help in regulating blood sugar.
• Strawberry tea may help in decreasing the risk for developing tumors and cancer due to the antioxidant content of both the tea leaves and the strawberry fruit.
• Strawberry tea may help in fighting inflammation due to the phytonutrient contents of both the tea leaves and the strawberry fruit.
• Strawberry tea may help enhance the immune system by combating microbes and viruses.
• Strawberry tea may be helpful in improving heart and cardiovascular health as it contains phytonutrient substances which may help decrease overall levels of fat in the system and may help block the activity of enzymes that lead to high blood pressure.
• Strawberry tea may have certain anti-aging properties.

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Apple Tea Benefits

Apple tea benefits are numerous and are basically derived from both its tea component and its apple fruit component.


Apple tea is typically made from robust and brisk black tea enhanced with flavor from apples and sometimes accompanied by dried apple pieces and occasionally some spices. Other fruits such as blueberries, lemon and oranges may also be added to give a zesty tang to the basic apple-flavored tea.


Apple tea is particularly popular in Turkey where it is called Elma Çay and is considered somewhat of a national staple drink. Apple tea is almost always available from street vendors, restaurants, tea gardens, and even carpet shops. It is also widely used in households to accompany meals and as drink to be served to guests. It is typically drunk to warm the body during the cold season and served with ice during the hot summer months.

Apple tea can be enjoyed either of several ways:

1. Simply place about a teaspoon of readily-made Turkish apple tea or gourmet apple tea loose leaf mix in a mug of newly-boiled water and allow to steep for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the leaves and drink. Adding a hint of honey or sugar can be made to sweeten the tea.
2. Home-made apple tea can also be made by placing 1 teaspoon of loose-leaf black Ceylon tea or one black tea bag in a mug of hot water for about 3 to 4 minutes. Discard the leaves or the bag then add fresh apple juice to the mix. The strength of the apple flavor will be dependent on the quantity of the juice.
3. Dried slices of apple fruit may also be added to freshly-brewed black tea. Simply brew the tea in the manner mentioned in #2. The fruits should be added while the tea is still hot so that the nutritious benefits of the apple can be unlocked and combined with that of the tea.

Apple tea benefits are mainly obtained from the healthy constituents of the black tea leaves as well as from the apple flavoring and fruit component.

Black tea is rich in antioxidants like (catechin, quercetin), amino acids, minerals (such as magnesium, sodium, potassium) and vitamins (like vitamins B, C and E). On the other hand, apples are also rich in vitamin B and C, fiber, and antioxidants and these contribute substantially to the health benefits of the entire brew.

The following are the potential apple tea benefits that may be derived from this flavorful brew:

• Apple tea may help reduce the risk for certain cancers, particularly those involving the colon, lung and prostate, due to its quercetin content.

• Apple tea may help lower bad cholesterol levels in the body and hence may contribute to lower risk for cardiovascular diseases.

• Apple tea may help prop up the immune system and enhance the body's resistance from bacteria and viruses.

• Apple tea may help in fighting arthritis and other forms of inflammation.

• Apple tea may help in the general maintenance of health and well-being.

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Flavored Tea Benefits

Flavored tea benefits are quite varied. However, almost all of them carry the basic common health benefits of their black or green tea base.


Flavored tea generally refers to tea leaves that have been imbued with additional - mostly fruit - flavoring and oftentimes garnished with dried pieces of fruits, flowers, spices, nuts and herbs. The most popular tea varieties used as base for flavored tea are green tea and black tea, although oolong and rooibos tea leaves are also increasingly used to make these teas.


In many places, flavored teas are enjoyed cold as their fruity essences are thought to be great substitutes for refreshing fruit juice drinks.


Flavored tea benefits are typically derived from the healthy constituencies found in the tea leaf base as well as from the fruit, nut or herb garnishes that are used to accompany and flavor the tea.

The black or green tea base typically contains the following constituents: antioxidants (polyphenols and theaflavin), vitamin C, vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid, manganese and potassium.

The accompanying fruits and herbs also contain some of these nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants. Working in tandem and unlocked by hot water, all of these contribute to flavored tea benefits that are of vital importance to the health of its drinkers.


The tradition of giving flavor to tea leaves goes a long way. According to old Chinese legend, flavored tea started when growers of the tea plant camellia sinensis planted a variety of fruit-bearing trees near tea plants to provide these with moisture and protection from the sun. When the apricot, plums and peach trees bloomed and blossomed, the young buds and sprouts of the nearby tea gardens absorbed their essences and aromas, which were then passed on to those who drank the infusions.


Nowadays, there exists a considerable array of technologies that allow tea manufacturers to make flavored teas using almost any ingredient of their choosing. As such, the collection of flavored teas available in the market at present is quite staggering.

Some of these include:

apple tea
apricot tea
banana tea
blueberry tea
chocolate tea
cherry tea
lychee tea
mango tea
orange tea
passionfruit tea
pineapple tea
pomegranate tea
strawberry tea


Many people who do not particularly like to drink tea in their normal form typically take a liking to flavored tea first as these have fruity tastes that are more palatable to tea beginners. Flavored tea is known to mask the smoky taste of plain black tea or the vegetal and grassy taste of green tea as the leaves absorb other flavors quite easily.

The following are the potential flavored tea benefits that may be derived from teas using black or green tea as base:

Flavored tea may help lower cholesterol levels

Flavored tea may help strengthen the immune system

Flavored tea may aid in lowering the risk for cancer and tumors

Flavored tea may help in reducing the risk for strokes

Flavored tea is believed to help lower blood pressure

Flavored tea may help facilitate good digestion

Flavored tea may help fight inflammation

Flavored tea may help in the maintenance of overall health and well-being.

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Yucca Tea Benefits

Yucca Tea Benefits have been known and used by generations of native American Indians. The yucca has been used by them to treat a wide array of health disorders such as dandruff, skin sores, inflammation and even hair loss.

The yucca is a species of perennials, shrubs, and trees that belong to the agave family Agavaceae. The yucca is distinctive for its rosettes of evergreen, stiff, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal clusters of white or whitish flowers. The yucca plant is widely cultivated as decorative plants in gardens. The plant also bears edible parts, including fruits, seeds, flowers, stems and roots.

The yucca is native to arid areas spanning the entire continent of the Americas, as well as the West Indies.

The most active constituent of the yucca is its saponins, which are usually soluble in both fat and water. The saponins in the yucca are bitter to taste and have an irritating property. They are derived from steroids. Research suggests that these saponins are a precursor to cortisone, which inhibit the release of toxins from the intestines that restrict the growth of cartilage. As a result, the potentials of yucca in the treatment of such diseases as arthritis and other soft tissue inflammatory diseases are enhanced.

To derive the health properties of the yucca plant, yucca tea can be prepared by boiling ¼ ounce of the yucca root in a pint of water for 15 minutes. Three to five cups of the yucca tea may be taken daily. But if this dosage leads to loose bowel movement, the quantity of the roots in the yucca tea may be reduced.

The following are the health benefits attributed to yucca tea:

Yucca tea may help fight osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Yucca tea may help combat various types of inflammation.

Yucca tea may help in the treatment of asthma.

Yucca tea may help in treating headaches.

Yucca tea may help prevent blood clots.

Yucca extracts, applied topically, may help fight dandruff.

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Yohimbe Tea Benefits

Yohimbe Tea Benefits have long been in the consciousness of Africans as being a potent aphrodisiac. Yohimbe tea made from the bark is commonly sold as an herbal supplement to improve erectile function.

Yohimbe is a small evergreen tree native to the central African nations of Cameroon, Gabon and Zaire. Its scientific name is pausinystalia yohimbe and belongs to the Rubiaceae family.

The main active chemical present in yohimbe bark is yohimbine HCl (indole alkaloid), found in the bark of the pausinystalia yohimbe tree. It also contains pigments and tannins.

To make yohimbe tea, boil about 6 teaspoons of shaved yohimbe bark in 1 pint of water for about 10 minutes. Strain the tea and then sip slowly. The desired effects of the yohimbe tea usually come after 30 minutes. These are said to include pleasant spinal shivers, psychic stimulation, enhanced emotional and sexual sensations and even spontaneous erections.

However, yohimbe tea is very bitter and unpleasant tasting. So chasers like mint leaves or lemon are often recommended after drinking the tea.

A tincture of the yohimbe bark can also be used and a dosage of 5 to 10 drops are often taken three times per day. A typical safe daily amount of yohimbine from any product is 15 to 30 mg.

It is best to use yohimbine, yohimbe and yohimbe tea under the supervision of a nutritionally-oriented doctor. Yohimbe / yohimbine are not recommended for people with high blood pressure, heart problems, kidney disease, peptic ulcer, anxiety and panic attacks. It should not be taken with any stimulant. Pregnant and nursing women are also cautioned against taking yohimbe.

The following are the health benefits attributed to yohimbe tea:

Yohimbe tea is said to stimulate sexual desire.

Yohimbe tea is said to enhance sexual performance.

Yohimbe tea is said to correct erectile dysfunction caused by tension, stress or fatigue.

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