Welcome to the Family Chiropractic & Massage blog! Here, we will discuss anything and everything that has to do with chiropractic care and wellness. We will share helpful information and hopefully answer any questions you have through our articles. We are a chiropractic clinic that began in 1997 and has since grown to locations in North Charleston, Summerville, and Moncks Corner, South Carolina. We are dedicated to providing tailored care and treatment with traditional and new techniques to help our patients reach their wellness goals. We treat a variety of conditions including neck pain, back pain, injuries, sciatica, scoliosis, and more. Besides chiropractic care, we also offer physiotherapeutic care, rehabilitative care, and massage therapy. Our licensed massage therapist offers all types of massage from deep tissue to compression massage and more. We are strong believers in natural healing! Check out our website to find out more information about the services and care we offer, and contact us today to schedule an appointment with our experienced doctors!
In our last post, we talked about ways to manage and reduce stress. Stress is a natural response that our bodies are equipped to handle in small doses. However, if stress becomes chronic, it can have serious effects. Long-term or chronic stress can keep muscles in a constant state of tension, and this can lead to other reactions in the body and even stress-related disorders. If you are interested in learning more about how stress can affect the body and ways you can manage and reduce stress, we encourage you to check out our last post.
Today, we’ll be discussing different teas and their benefits. Tea is made by steeping the leaves and leaf buds of a tea plant in boiling water. It has long been a staple of Eastern medicine, as well as herbal and holistic medicine, and has been regarded as a key to good health and happiness. In fact, tea can be traced back to ancient China, almost 5,000 years ago, when it was found to have a number of medicinal properties. These ideas spread to the Western world, where studies have shown that some teas can help with heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer, among other health benefits. At first, tea was strictly a medicinal beverage, but around the 3rd century CE, it became a daily drink. If you are interested in learning more about teas and their benefits, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.
Although the word “tea” covers many different brews, we will be focusing on five general types of tea today. These types are black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, and pu-erh tea. All of these teas are derived from Camellia sinensis, a species of evergreen shrubs. This plant produces leaves and leaf buds that are used to make tea, therefore it is sometimes called a tea plant. The plant is native to East Asia, specifically China and India. The tea derived from these plants also contains antioxidants called flavonoids, which have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects. Flavonoids can also prevent injury from free radicals that can contribute to cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries. These types of teas also contain caffeine and theanine, both of which act as cognitive enhancements that heighten alertness. Let’s take a closer look at these types of teas.
Black Tea
Black tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and the most common type produced. It is stronger in flavor and contains more caffeine than other teas, but less caffeine than coffee. Black tea is made with fermented tea leaves and is often blended with other plants for different flavors, such as Earl Grey or chai. It has antioxidant properties, including polyphenols, which are a category of plant compounds with various health benefits. Studies have shown that regularly consuming polyphenols may boost digestion and brain health and protect against heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Additionally, black tea contains flavonoids, which benefit heart health. A large review of studies found that for every cup of tea consumed daily, there was a 4% lower risk of death from heart disease and a 2% lower risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular events. Incorporating black tea into your diet is an easy way to consume antioxidants and potentially reduce your risk of future health issues.
Another review of studies found that a regular intake of black tea helped lower systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Those who drank black tea regularly for more than three months experienced greater decreases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Research also suggests that drinking black tea may help lower your blood sugar following a meal or snack. Some studies even suggest that black tea can help enhance the use of insulin in the body. Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas when you consume sugar.
Green Tea
Green tea is made with steamed tea leaves and has been widely studied. It is widely regarded as one of the healthiest beverages in the world. It contains catechins, substances that help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG is one of the most powerful compounds in green tea that can reduce inflammation, aid in weight loss, and prevent certain chronic diseases. Free radicals are atoms or molecules with an odd, or unpaired, number of electrons. They can cause damage to cells by taking their electrons. According to research, EGCG is one of the main compounds that gives green tea its medicinal properties. Research has also shown that green tea can increase fat burning and boost metabolic rate. Your metabolism describes all the chemical reactions in your body that keep your body functioning. It is responsible for converting nutrients from the foods you eat into energy. The higher your metabolic rate, the more calories you burn at rest. With that being said, green tea may help reduce body fat, helping you lose weight.
Green tea can also improve brain function in both the short and long term; It may help protect your brain as you age. The bioactive compounds found in green tea can have various positive benefits on the brain and may reduce the risk of dementia, one of the most common neurological disorders in older adults, as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
White Tea
White tea is made by picking the leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant before they are fully opened, when they are covered in fine white hairs– Which is where the tea gets its name! White tea is less processed than black and green tea, which means it retains a high amount of antioxidants. In fact, it is packed with antioxidants, which protect cells from damage. Free radical damage is often linked to aging, chronic inflammation, and a weakened immune system. White tea seems to be one of the best teas for fighting free radicals. Some compounds found in white tea may also protect against osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and brittle, and it is estimated that this condition affects more than 200 million people. Studies have shown that free radicals and chronic inflammation can accelerate osteoporosis. However, the catechins found in white tea can fight these risk factors.
Additionally, the compounds in white tea can help prevent skin aging. As we age, it is inevitable that skin wrinkles and becomes looser. However, the compounds found in white tea can help protect your skin from both internal and external aging. One study found that applying white tea extract to the skin helped protect against harmful UV rays.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, but is processed differently than black and green tea. Oolong tea is partially oxidized, produced through the process of withering the plant. This tea contains many vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Like other types of tea, oolong tea contains antioxidants. The antioxidants found in oolong tea may help keep your bones and teeth strong. In fact, one study found that people who drank black, green, or oolong tea daily over a 10-year period have a 2% higher bone mineral density. A higher bone mineral density can lower the risk of fractures. Additionally, research has linked tea consumption to better dental health, including decreased plaque and gingivitis.
The antioxidants found in oolong tea may also help relieve skin conditions, such as eczema. A small 2001 study examined oolong tea’s ability to help manage eczema and found that individuals with severe eczema who drank 1 liter of oolong tea per day saw moderate improvement in their conditions.
Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh tea is a type of fermented tea traditionally made in the Yunnan Province of China. Made from the leaves and stems of the Camellia sinensis plant, it is processed differently than black and green tea. The leaves themselves are fermented, rather than the brewed tea itself. This type of tea is often used as medicine. Like other teas, pu-erh tea contains antioxidants that can be beneficial to overall health. There has not been as much research done on this type of tea, but limited evidence supports the use of pu-erh tea for weight loss. One animal study showed that animals given pu-erh had less weight gain and reduced LDL cholesterol. Since pu-erh is fermented, it can introduce healthy probiotics into your body. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial to the gut. These probiotics may improve blood sugar levels, which can play a role in weight management.
These are just a few of the most popular types of teas and how they can benefit your body. Keeping your body healthy is just one step toward a healthy lifestyle, and can also maximize the results of chiropractic care! We hope you found this article informative, and we encourage you to reach out to us if you have any further questions or concerns. It would be a pleasure to assist you. Here at Family Chiropractic & Massage, we offer chiropractic care as well as massage services and heat and cold therapy. We have doctors who have studied a variety of chiropractic techniques to render care to patients with different types of conditions. As people vary, so do the techniques chosen to help each patient get well. We use evidence-based treatment methods to help patients get better faster. If you are suffering from any type of back pain, contact us today to set up an appointment so we can assess your needs and create an effective treatment plan. One of our experienced doctors would love to help get you on the right track to living a healthy, pain-free life! Thank you for reading, and we hope you’ll check back for more articles about chiropractic care and all it has to offer!
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