Red tea health from red tea

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Rooibos Red Tea

Japanese Research into Red Tea
Perhaps the highest testimony of the benefits of this pure and natural beverage comes from Japan, a society famous for its age-old devotion to the art of tea making. Here, Red Tea has been promoted as a healthy alternative to other cold and warm beverages.

Japanese scientist Matatoshi Nakano, has discovered that the effect of free radicals -- a by-product of normal cell function -- in the process of aging and decline of the immune system is limited by the anti-oxidants in Red Tea. If the product is brewed/boiled for longer than 10 minutes, the anti-oxidant activity becomes much higher

They also found Red Tea to be beneficial in the treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes, mellitus, atherosclerosis, allergic diseases, various dermatus diseases, liver diseases and cataracts.

Red Tea as a likely Health Food Supplement

Prof Daneel Ferreira (D.Sc./H.O.D./D.I.C.), Mev. Charlene Marais (M.Sc.), Dr Jacobus A. Steenkamp (Ph.D.) and Elizabeth Joubert (Ph.D.).

a) Department of Chemistry, University of the Orange Free State, P O Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300 South Africa

b) Infruitec, Private Bag X5013, Stellenbosch, 7599 South Africa.

ABSTRACT
Red Tea contains a variety of substances possessing the functional groups that are required for these compounds to act as antioxidants, i.e. scavengers of active oxygen species that adversely affect human health. In addition some of these compounds also exhibit other physiological and therapeutic properties which are beneficial for a healthier life.

1. INTRODUCTION
Aspalathus linearis is a leguminous shrub indigenous to the Cedarberg mountains around Clanwilliam near Cape Town in South Africa ^1-3. Its leaves and fine stems are used for the manufacture of Red Tea by cutting into 5 mm length, rolling fermenting by leaf enzymes and solar drying in a process similar to that for black tea or oolong tea. The Rooibos plant is increasingly recognized as one of the relatively few economic plants that has made the transition from a local wild resource to a cultivated crop in the 20th century. In South Africa Red Tea is mainly used as a substitute for Oriental black tea by people who enjoy it either hot or cold, or by those who regard it highly as a healthy drink. It is a unique beverage with a characteristic sweet flavor and that is rich in volatile compounds ^4,5, minerals and ascorbic acid, is caffeine-free, and is claimed to have a low tannin content (as gallic acid) ^2,4. Owing to the absence of deliterious effects of the beverage on human health ², Red Tea is rapidly gaining in popularity as a health beverage. Clinically, Red Tea is often prescribed against nervous tension, allergies and various stomach and indigestive problems.

The Anti Aging Tea?
It has been found that Red Tea contains a substantial amount of a very special enzyme, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) which is a prime preventer of Free Radical Damage. SOD also has the capability of preventing fats from changing into harmful lipid peroxide. As Red Tea also contains natural antioxidants, which help to remove or neutralize these toxins, there is growing acceptance that Red Tea could assist in countering the aging process and boost the immune system. Red Tea is also rich in Quercetin, the flavonol that has beneficial effects on numerous ailments. It is well known for increasing capillary strength, which aids in circulation, prevents hemorrhaging, and protects against infections.

In the late 1920's, Dr. Nortier, a well-known medical doctor and nature lover, discovered the Red Tea and began to promote its value. Since then, Red Tea has gone from strength to strength and is currently being exported to several countries such as Germany, Switzerland, England, and even Japan, a country renowned for it's almost sacred regard for the art of tea making.

Red Tea is a Tea of Purity
Red Tea contains no additives, preservatives or colorants. It is completely pure and natural and contains no caffeine.

Red Tea contains little tannin, a substance that affects the metabolism by decreasing absorption of certain nutrients like iron and protein. Growing children and especially women require added iron, so the decreased tannin can play an important role in improving the iron level of the diet.

Nutrients in 200ml. of Red Tea

Iron (Fe)	0.07mg
Potassium (K)	7.12mg
Sodium (Na)	6.16mg
Calcium (Ca)	1.09mg
Copper (Cu)	0.07mg
Zinc (Zn)	0.04mg
Magnesium (Mg)	1.57mg
Fluoride (F)	0.22mg
Manganese (Mn)	0.04mg

Benefits and Uses of Red Tea