Making Tea from Bulk or Loose Leaves to Get Maximum Health Benefits

The Antioxidants in Tea May Target and Repair Damaged DNA, Stop or Prevent Malignancies--a Natural Cure

Green tea reduced arterial plaque (cholesterol buildup) in animal models, according to Dr. Chyu in his study published in Circulation (May 25, 2004;109(20):2448-53) . This means that the antioxidant activity of green tea actually reversed atherosclerosis. Green tea performed as a natural cure in this lab test.

Which tea is best?
Green tea is the most potent with antioxidants, possibly because it is less processed, followed by black tea, oolong tea, and white tea, all made from camellia sinensis. The antioxidants in these teas are able to target and repair damaged DNA to prevent or stop malignancies, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, on the contrary, instant iced tea contains only trace (if any) antioxidants and may have a very limited ability to stop or prevent a cancerous growth or malignancy from metasticizing. The low level of antioxidant in instant tea prevents it from being considered a natural cure.

Best way to brew tea for maximum health benefits
Tea leaves that have steep in hot water for five minutes release 80% of their antioxidants into the water, according to the National Cancer Institute. These antioxidants can stop or prevent cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute, which describes green tea as a natural cure.

The most economical and efficient way to brew tea (with the least waste) is to use loose tea (also called bulk tea). With tea bags, much of the tea gets thrown out, resulting in a higher cost per glass of tea. Leaving the tea leaves loose in water, allows the maximum level of antioxidant to escape from the leaves, making the tea more potent with anti-cancer catechins, thus giving tea a better chance to stop or prevent cancer, according to Wikipedia.com. Specifically, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicatechin discusses how the antioxidants in tea can actually stop cancer before it has a chance to metasticize. Green tea is described therein as a natural cure for many ailments, including cancer, bacterial and viral infections, and fungus.

Recipe
Place 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons of loose tea into a one quart of water. Bring to a boil, and let the tea steep for a minimum of 5 minutes before drinking. Makes 4 to 6 cups of tea.