Tea as a Natural Therapeutic...Part 2...
There are Two Ways Tea is a Natural Therapeutic....
In Part 1, we explored the first way...Psychologically...
In Part 2, we will discuss the other way tea is a natural therapeutic...Physiologically...
Physiologically?... Yes, and it's all about what are called Bioactive Compounds...
That's right, tea does a whole lot more than just taste good and make us feel satisfied.
Tea actually contains hundreds, if not thousands, of microscopic organic elements referred to in food science as Bioactive Compounds. These ingredients in tea - amino acids, lignins, proteins, caffeine, xantheines, and flavonoids - perform many beneficial functions within our body and are important ingredients that occur naturally in our diets.
Here is a simplified version of what you should know about these compounds. More detailed information is available at the linked sources:
Amino acids are the molecular structures that make up proteins. Most amino acids are made inside the body, but nine "essential" amino acids - those that can't be made within the body - must be consumed through our diet for proper body function.
Lignins are organic materials in the cellular walls of plants. Lignins function in many ways to protect plant cells, including strengthening the cellular wall, waterproofing to facilitate the osmosis that transports water from the soil to the rest of the plant, and antifungal properties.
Proteins are large and complicated models with a huge range of structures that play many vital roles in the body, from immunity to muscle function and cell growth. Proteins are made up of amino acids, which need to be replaced through our diet.
Caffeine, probably the most familiar of these compounds, is a natural stimulant for the body and nervous system.
Xanthines are purines (basic compounds used to form DNA and RNA) that make up substances like caffeine. Chemical derivatives of xanthines are used in some respiratory medications.
Flavonoids, a class of polyphenols, have numerous uses and health benefits, from immune support and anti-inflammatory properties to reducing oxidative stress.
These bioactive compounds make tea a natural therapeutic, and here is how they work in our body...
The flavonoids in tea do their work at a cellular level...
Flavonoids have specific cellular targets related to health benefits, including cardiovascular, chemopreventative, metabolic, neuroprotective, and other benefits.
Bioactive components in tea are extra-nutritional constituents, meaning they provide health benefits beyond the basic nutritional value of the product.
The ancient Chinese concept of tea as 10,000 medicines speaks to the volume of studies done on tea over the past several decades. The Tea Council of the USA's Tea & Health report, an overview of research on the Health Benefits of Tea, states, "Throughout history, tea has been believed to purify the body and preserve the mind."
Today, thousands of studies have been published in leading medical journals that provide the proof to support ancient health claims, evidence that tea really is a natural therapeutic.
Tea IS a natural therapeutic, ready to enhance our lives continually...
Sip after sip, cup after cup, throughout the day and the night, bioactive components from tea are making their way into our system and reducing the demands on our natural systems, supporting our health & wellbeing, all while providing us limitless pleasure when enjoying the tea.
When I think about bioactive components in tea that have natural therapeutic properties, the first things that come to mind are:
- EGCG, Epigallocatechin gallate, the antioxidant that so effectively supports our immune system
- Theanine, or L-theanine, which only naturally occurs in the tea plant, provides a plethora of benefits, from improving cognitive function to lowering blood pressure, improving immunity, supporting healthy sleep, and so much more
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Alkylamine Antigens, found in some bacteria, tumor cells, parasites, and fungi. Tea works sort of like a vaccine…Drinking tea helps our body build up defenses against these compounds.
Tea is a full-body tonic, good for us in countless ways...
During photosynthesis, the DNA of the tea plant combines with solar energy and nutrients in the soil to create the bioactive compounds that have proven to be so beneficial to humans.
When we steep our tea, we extract the tea's powerful ingredients into our broth, and when we enjoy our tea, we infuse ourselves with them, sip after sip, cup after cup...the more the better.
In reality, we are simply transferring the bioactive compounds Mother Nature has engineered and provided from the plant to our bodies. We enlist the bioactive compounds as natural therapeutics to delight us with taste and to help us maintain well-being.
Knowing how great the tea is for us, what it is doing inside our bodies, and enjoying the sensation and tea character when drinking tea brings us pleasure and satisfaction...becoming a Psychological Natural Therapeutic.
The rest is up to the Bioactive Compounds working around the clock to safeguard our wellbeing as a Physiological Natural Therapeutic.