PREMIUM JAPANESE KYOTO RICE LEAF TEA 200g

 
Drinking tea not only provides an intoxicating sensory and flavorful taste experience, but helps promote good health. Since ancient times, the Chinese and others in the East have valued tea’s medicinal properties and praised its many health benefits. In China and Japan, tea drinking is a daily ritual – people dedicate themselves to preserving their health and well being by consuming tea throughout the day.
 
Today, scientific research and modern medicine affirm that tea, whether Black, Green, White or Pu-erh, may provide an impressive list of health benefits. We encourage you to learn more about the potential health benefits of tea and hope that you, too, like many others before you will get infused!

General Health Benefits of Tea
Antioxidant Properties of Tea: Tea contains an abundant source of natural plant-derived antioxidant compounds called polyphenols. Included within the broad antioxidant polyphenol class are flavonoids and catechins. At 15% of the weight by dry leaf, tea boasts one of the highest total flavonoid contents of all plants. For many years, tea flavonoids have been thought to provide protective antioxidant action against harmful free radicals that can damage DNA, cell membranes and other cell components. Most plants including fruits and vegetables contain natural antioxidants that help combat these free radicals.

Tea’s Role in Preventing Cancer and Heart Disease
It’s believed that free radicals can cause heart disease, some kinds of cancer and increase the risk of strokes. Recent research has shown the following:
 
▪ Drinking tea with its high antioxidant levels may help protect the body from cancer by combating dangerous free radical activity and inhibiting uncontrolled cell growth
 
▪ Anti-oxidants may have curative properties that inhibit the development of heart disease and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack
 
▪ Tea flavonoids may increase coronary flow and promote healthy blood vessel functionality
 
▪ Consuming tea lowers cholesterol levels.

Tea’s Role in Naturally Combating Anxiety and Stress
L-theanine, a unique amino acid, accounts for over 50% of the free amino acids in tea leaves and less than 2% of the total weight of dry leaf in both black and green teas. Studies show that L-theanine may promote relaxation and calm by influencing particular chemicals in the brain. Japanese researchers discovered that L-theanine is derivative of glutamic acid, a neurotransmitter located in the brain. Easily absorbed by the brain, it influences chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin, which affect mood. Studies show that the amino acid, without causing drowsiness, enhances overall concentration and focus. The effect of L-theanine in combination with caffeine may contribute to the feeling of increased energy and overall calm that many tea drinkers experience.

Tea and the Immune System
Research performed at Harvard University and the Bringham and Women’s Hospital indicates that drinking tea helps strengthen the immune system. Tea contains an amino acid substance, L-theanine, as discussed above that also aids the immune system in combating and naturally resisting infection, bacteria and viruses.

Tea and Weight Management
Some preliminary research shows that drinking Green tea may help decrease body weight and speed up insulin activity.

Tea’s Role in Oral Health
Tea may have oral health benefits. Tea flavonoids may help reduce plaque, which lowers the chance of cavity and gum disease, and the fluoride (extracted from the soil) in tea may aid in protecting against tooth decay by supporting healthy tooth enamel.

Tea and Bone Health
Research indicates that tea flavonoids may strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis.

Tea and Hydration
Drinking tea positively contributes towards your daily fluid intake. It is a misnomer that tea should be avoided altogether as a fluid replacement due to caffeine’s diuretic properties. Studies show that tea fails to have a diuretic effect due to caffeine unless the amount of tea drunk during one sitting contains more than 250-300mg of caffeine, equivalent to between 5 and 6 cups of tea.

The Nutritional Value of Tea
In addition to valuable antioxidant properties and enhancing overall fluid intake, tea contains many vitamins, minerals and amino acids that include the following:
 
▪ Vitamins: C, K, B12, B6 and E
 
▪ Minerals: Trace amounts of potassium, manganese, magnesium, calcium ; Tea provides 70% of our daily fluoride intake
 
▪ Amino Acids: Tea is provides a strong source of amino acids including L-theanine. See above for further details.