Research
Express News Service reports that the cups of tea you drink all through the day might actually be good for you. According to a health paper published by the Brooke Bond Tea Council, tea is indeed a super food packed with what Dr Gautam Banerjee, a tea scientist with the Bangalore-based Hindustan Lever Research Center, says are a host of goodies with various health benefits. “Tea is one of the richest sources of flavonoids, which are known to be beneficial for the heart. L-theanine, an amino acid, found almost exclusively in both green and black tea is known for its mind benefits.
Apart from having cardio-protective effects and effects on mental and physical lethargy, tea drinking can also contribute to oral health and complement a weight management diet and health regime,” mentioned Dr Banerjee who is also member of the four-month-old Tea Council. Other board members include Dr Anjali Mukherjee, well-known nutritionist, researcher and author; Ishi Khosla, clinical nutritionist; and Dr N Muraleedharan, Advisor, Tea Research Foundation, United Planters’ Association of South India.
The Council aims to be the tea industry’s thought leader looking to take up innovative interventions that can help identify issues, correct misconceptions and spread awareness to make tea a healthy beverage. Citing 17 epidemiological studies on tea consumption held over the last decade, Dr Banerjee said, “Modern medicine has proven tea’s capability in lowering blood cholesterol and maintaining vascular health. Three cups of tea have been associated with decrease in risk of heart disease.”
However, the survey conducted on the Brooke Bond White Paper Study on tea throws up less cheerful facts. The nationwide survey conducted by AC Nielsen for Brooke Bond covering over 1,000 respondents across 12 cities suggests that Indians aren’t happy tea drinkers. “There are so many myths and misconceptions existing around tea, especially among the youth. It seems India is losing a generation of tea drinkers who prefer the caffeine-rich coffee instead,” said Dr Banerjee. The survey reveals that though tea is the most popular beverage in India, 77 per cent of the consumers surveyed actually believe that tea is unhealthy and the cause of various ailments like acidity and nausea. “It’s quite the opposite. We need to change perception to make tea a healthy option and unlock the potential of the beverage by magnifying the inherent goodness and health benefits. It’s a 100 per cent natural drink,” summed up Dr Banerjee.
Article Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/chai-high-three-cups-of-tea-a-day-can-...
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