Tea Polyphenols: Powerful Health Guard
Onions, fruits and wines supply 37% of the daily needs for polyphenols in the typical European diet, while the remaining 60%+ comes from tea (3).
Plants’ gift to human health
Polyphenols are naturally occurring biochemicals found mostly in plants. Of all the polyphenols, those that belong to the family called “flavonoids” are of particular interest to those who concern about the health effects of their diet. That is because flavonoids are a most powerful group of antioxidants and can be contributive to various aspects of human health. Maintaining a good daily intake of flavonoids is conducive to good health and a longer life.
Over 4000 varieties of flavonoids have been discovered in the plant kingdom. Some most commonly known ones are anthocyanidins (1) in grapes and berries, and flavonols such as kaempferol in capers and Chinese cabbages, and quercetin (2) in onions, peppers and some other vegetables. Tea contains flavonols, as well as a very powerful group of flavonoids called catechins (flavan-3-ols).
Tea: crucial in the daily diet
In the European diet, tea contributes 63% of a person’s daily flavonoid intake, while dairy products, onions, fruits and wines supply the remaining balance (3). That is not because Europeans drink a lot of tea, but rather tea contains a most abundance of flavonoids. Scientists presume that the diet of the North American should be rather similar (4). It is therefore important for the Western reader to understand the flavonoid nature of tea.
Keeping healthy with a few cups of tea a day
Readers in other parts of the world shouldn’t be neglecting this either. As the world’s diet and food source are increasingly “Westernized”, and certain people more prone to specific types of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular problems and obesity, it is wise to start a healthy tea habit early than expensive remedial medicine later. The frequently seen pollutions in certain areas of these parts of the world also calls for more daily reinforcement of the body defense. Naturally occurring tea polyphenols in a delicious cup of tea with all tea’s other potent health substances are irreplaceable and economically available by adding hot water to a few tealeaves.
Tea Flavonoids: staying healthy with a few cups of tea
Tea’s health potency is covered in this site in articles under the “Tea Health” subsection listed in the above menu bar. From weight control, cardiovascular health to protection from cell mutation (tumors/cancers) or bowel regularity, the flavonoids in tea, in particular the catechin EGCG, have shown their potential repeatedly in independent studies by reputable institutes and scholars. Some of these are described in articles in this site, some in future ones.
We shall focus in this article on the nature of these flavonoids and their availability, hopefully this could help the reader to formulate their tea menu with an added perspective.
