Did you know…?

• Tea has been drunk for longer than any other beverage – except water

• In Japan arm rests are being stuffed with green tea are being marketed because the tea fragrance, relaxes the mind and inhibits bacterial growth

• The typical cup of tea contains less than half the level of caffeine of a typical coffee.

• Tea without milk has no calories. Using semi skimmed milk adds 13 calories per cup, but you also benefit from valuable minerals like calcium.

• Preliminary research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that an extract from green tea may help with weight loss by speeding up fat oxidation. However further research using longer term studies is required before any firm conclusions about green tea and weight loss can be drawn.

• National Cancer Institute in America have recommended tea as the most suitable drink for astronauts on their 8 year mission to Mars.

The antioxidant power of tea

Like fruit and vegetables, tea is a natural source of flavonoids that generate antioxidant activity - in fact, there is more than twice the ‘antioxidant power’ in a cup of tea than there is in one apple.

Flavonoids - what do they do?

The antioxidant nature of flavonoids means that they help to protect the body’s cells against damage, for example during the ageing process and during the development of age-related diseases. The health benefits of the antioxidants in tea are accepted to be far reaching, including:

Anti-bacterial benefits Anti-viral benefits Anti-allergenic benefits Anti-inflammatory benefits

A large body of research indicates that antioxidants can have a protective effect against some cancers and can help prevent heart disease and strokes.

Flavonoids - where are they found?

Tea can be the biggest supplier of antioxidants in the diet and, along with onions and apples, appears to be the most important provider.

Flavonoids - what are they?

Flavonoids are a group of compounds that occur in most fruit and vegetables, as well as in teas. Flavonoids have very powerful antioxidants, with similar properties to vitamins C and E.