Tea Prices Likely to Rise as Techies Switch From Coffee to Tea

Tea Prices Likely to Rise as Techies Switch From Coffee to Tea

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Register before 3/31 and receive $2 coupon

auraTeas is giving away $2 coupons to new registers!

Tell your friends and come join us.

After registration, you'll receive an email with one activated $2 coupon ready for use.

Register NOW!!

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auraTeas boxing week sale!

Happy Holidays!!!

This is the hugest sale we've ever done. More than 40 teas are on sale, and more are coming during this week. Sale ends 1/3.
Extra 10% discount code: BOXING

Have a healthy new year~~~

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Study Shows Hibiscus Tea Eases Hypertension

Study Shows Hibiscus Tea Eases Hypertension
Monday, 17 November 2008

by Heidi Kyser

A recent clinical trial indicates that regular consumption of hibiscus tea may help those at risk of developing hypertension to lower their blood pressure.

Diane L. McKay, Edward Saltman, Chung-Yen Chen and Jeffrey B. Blumberg conducted the study through Tufts University's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging.

Departing from previous in-vitro and animal studies that have indicated the herb Hibiscus sabdariffa has antioxidant and anti-hypertensive properties, the team "hypothesized that daily consumption of H. sabdariffa tisane (hibiscus tea) has a beneficial effect on blood pressure (BP) in pre- and mildly hypertensive adults," according to an abstract of the work.

The researchers selected a group of 65 of these pre- and mildly hypertensive adults, ages 30 to 70, for a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. They split the subjects into two groups and, over a six-week period, gave one group three cups of hibiscus tea per day and the other a placebo, "essentially a flavored water containing artificial hibiscus flavoring and color," McKay told WSN.

The group that drank the hibiscus tea experienced a decrease in mean systolic blood pressure of 7.2; the two groups experienced approximately the same drop in diastolic blood pressure. When the results were examined by sub-groups, however, they indicated that the effects of drinking hibiscus tea were greater across the board among subjects whose systolic blood pressure was higher to begin with.

The overall conclusion? "Daily consumption of three cups of hibiscus tea, an amount readily incorporated into the diet, lowers BP in pre- and mildly hypertensive adults and may prove an effective component of the dietary changes recommended for people at risk of developing hypertension."

McKay said this was not the first study of hibiscus in humans, but it was the first placebo-controlled trial. She added, "It was also the first study conducted in generally healthy people (with mildly elevated blood pressure) who were not already taking any blood pressure-lowering medications."

McKay said she wasn't really surprised by the results, because of previous, related research. But, she added, "we weren't sure if we would see the degree of change that we did with such a reasonable dose. It is also interesting to note that our subjects were told to consume their usual diet, and not change their level of physical activity for the duration of the study."

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More evidence for tea's anticancer potential

More evidence for tea's anticancer potential
By staff reporter, 21-Dec-2006

Related topics: Research, Phytochemicals, plant extracts, Cancer risk reduction

Teas, both green and black, have potent anti-cancer effects against a wide range of tumours, says a new study led by the US Department of Agriculture that adds to an ever growing body of science behind the compounds.

"These findings extend related observations on the anticarcinogenic potential of tea ingredients and suggest that consumers may benefit more by drinking both green and black teas," wrote lead author Mendel Friedman from the USDA.

The health benefits of tea ranging from a lower risk of certain cancers to weight loss, and protection against Alzheimer's, have been linked to the polyphenol content of the tea. Green tea contains between 30 and 40 per cent of water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) contains between 3 and 10 per cent. Oolong tea is semi-fermented tea and is somewhere between green and black tea.

The four primary polyphenols found in fresh tealeaves are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin.

Friedman and his co-workers from Keimyung, Uiduk, and Yeungnam Universities in South Korea investigated the ability to induce cell death in human cancer and normal cells nine green tea catechins, three black tea theaflavins, and theanine extracted using either an as aqueous and or an ethanol(80 per cent)/water method.

"Because tumour promotion may be the only reversible event during cancer development, its suppression is regarded as an effective way to inhibit carcinogenesis," said Friedman.

The researchers report that the majority of the catechins, theaflavins, theanine, and all the general tea extracts decreased the numbers of human breast (MCF-7), colon (HT-29), hepatoma (liver) (HepG2), and prostate (PC-3) cell lines, with the ethanol/water extracts found to contain higher levels of flavonoids and to have a higher activity.

"The anticarcinogenic effects of tea compounds and of tea leaf extracts varied widely and were concentration dependent over the ranges from 50 to 400 microg/mL of tea compound and from 50 to 400 microg/g of tea solids," wrote the researchers.

However, the flavonoid levels of the teas were not found to correspond with the anti-cancer activities.

The researchers did not undertake a mechanistic study, but state that previous studies have suggested the flavonoids can induce programmed cell death (apoptosis), stop P450 enzymes that activate pro-carcinogens, stop the transmission of signals by tumour promoters, bind to damage DNA usually involved in cancer promotion, or inhibit the formation of new blood vessels in the tumour (angiogenesis).

Whether the tea compounds work independently, additively or synergistically merits further study, said the researchers.

"Because it may be too risky to translate results from cell assays to in vivo effects, the observed destruction of a broad range of cancer cells suggests the need for animal and human studies designed to ascertain whether the observed wide variation in potencies of tea compounds and teas can predict corresponding effects in vivo," they said.

Source: Journal of the Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Published on-line ahead of print: ASAP Article doi: 10.1021/jf062276h S0021-8561(06)02276-X

"Structure-Activity Relationships of Tea Compounds against Human Cancer Cells"

Authors: M. Friedman, B.E. Mackey, H-J. Kim, I-S. Lee, K-R. Lee, S-U. Lee, E. Kozukue, and N. Kozukue

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Flavanol improves memory in mice, study

Flavanol improves memory in mice, study
By Philippa Jones, 01-Jun-2007

Related topics: Research, Antioxidants, carotenoids, Cognitive and mental function

A plant-derived flavanol found in blueberries, tea, grapes and cocoa improved memory in mice. It could have the same effect on humans, according to research published in the Journal of Neuroscience, and funded by the food company Mars.

Memory improvement increased further when the mice exercised regularly, concluded Henriette van Praag and colleagues from the Salk Institute.

"This finding is an important advance because it identifies a single natural chemical with memory-enhancing effects, suggesting that it may be possible to optimize brain function by combining exercise and dietary supplementation," said Mark Mattson from the US' National Institute on Aging

Scientists found that when mice were fed the flavanol known as epicatechin and then exercised, they experienced structural and functional changes in the dentate gyrus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory.

These findings suggested that a diet rich in flavonols could help reduce the incidence or severity of neurodegenerative diseases or cognitive disorders related to ageing.

Van Praag and her team compared mice fed a typical diet with those fed a diet supplemented with epicatechin. Half the mice in each group were also allowed to run on a wheel for two hours each day.

After a month, the mice were trained to find a platform hidden in a pool of water. Those that both exercised and ate the epicatechin diet remembered the location of the platform longer than the other mice.

When studying their brains, van Praag and her colleagues found that the mice supplemented with epicatechin had greater blood vessel growth in the dentate gyrus and had developed more mature nerve cells.

Further analysis showed that the epicatechin and exercise combination had a beneficial effect on the expression of those genes that are important for learning and memory.

The researchers found that sedentary mice fed epicatechin showed enhanced memory, blood vessel growth and gene activity, but these benefits were even more evident in mice that also exercised.

"A logical next step will be to study the effects of epicatechin on memory and brain blood flow in aged animals and then humans, combined with mild exercise," said van Praag

Epicatechin has been shown previously to improve cardiovascular function in humans and increase blood flow in the brain.

The work was a supported by a grant from the US Defense Department's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Mars, which markets a flavonol-rich line of chocolate, supplied the epicatechin.

Source: Journal of Neuroscience (Society for Neuroscience)

May 30 2007, Volume 27, Issue 22

"Plant-Derived Flavanol (-)Epicatechin Enhances Angiogenesis and Retention of Spatial Memory in Mice"

Authors: H van Praag, MJ Lucero, GW Yeo, K Stecker, N Heivand, C Zhao, E Yip, M Afanador, H Schroeter, J Hammerstone, and FH Gage

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EGCG from tea may prevent arthritis - study

EGCG from tea may prevent arthritis - study
By Stephen Daniells, 30-Apr-2007

Related topics: Research, Phytochemicals, plant extracts, Bone & joint health

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) extracted from green tea may inhibit the production of inflammatory molecules associated with and joint damage in people with rheumatoid arthritis, scientists have reported.

Salah-uddin Ahmed, from the University of Michigan Health System, told attendees at Experimental Biology 2007 in Washington, D.C. yesterday that the tea extract may also suppress the inflammatory products in the connective tissue of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

"Our research is a very promising step in the search for therapies for the joint destruction experienced by people who have rheumatoid arthritis," said Ahmed.

The results add to an ever-growing body of science linking consumption to a wide range of health benefits, including lower risk of certain cancers, weight loss, heart health, and protection against Alzheimer's.

Green tea contains between 30 and 40 per cent of water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) contains between 3 and 10 per cent.

The four primary polyphenols found in fresh tealeaves are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin.

The research, which has not been seen in its entirety by NutraIngredients.com, focused on synovial fibroblasts - cells that form a lining of the tissue surrounding the capsule of the joints - from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These fibroblasts were subsequently cultured in a growth medium and incubated with EGCG.

The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) was then added to the culture medium. IL-1beta is an immune system protein reported to play an important role in causing joint destruction in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Ahmed told attendees that when untreated cells were stimulated with IL-1beta, a cascade of events occurred that resulted in production of the bone-destructive molecules interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). However, when the cells were incubated with EGCG the production of IL-6 and COX-2 was not observed.

The scientists revealed that work is ongoing with lab tests focusing on the inhibitory role of EGCG in gene expression. Animal studies will be used to test if EGCG can provide similar therapeutic or preventive effects against rheumatoid arthritis. Positive results could form a strong foundation for future testing of the green tea extract in humans with rheumatoid arthritis, said Ahmed.

This study could be good news for the tea extract market. European demand for tea extracts is currently surging, having reached 500 metric tonnes by 2003.

This has seen companies such as DSM, with its Teavigo boasting 95 per cent purity of EGCG, and Taiyo International, with its Sunphenon claiming more than 90 per cent purity, position themselves firmly in specific catechin markets.

Approximately seven million people in the UK alone are reported to have long-term health problems associated with arthritis. Around 206 million working days were lost in the UK in 1999-2000, equal to £18bn (€26bn) of lost productivity.

Source: Experimental Biology 2007, Washington, D.C, 29 April 2007

Authors: S.-U. Ahmed, A. Pakozdi and A. Koch

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