Tea (aka Camellia Sinensis), traditional beverage of the Brits has three main varieties, green, black and oolong. The black variety is the stronger flavoured one we drink the most of in European counties and the USA, either with, or without milk. Its full of antioxidants and is said to lower LDL Cholesterol amongst other things The oolong variety we hear little of, is beloved of Japan and China, and said to have obesity controlling properties as well as a generous dose of antioxidants.
But its the green tea variety that I want to cover here. The green varieties, taken without milk, are the traditional favorite of the far eastern countries, Japan, China and the Russia's being avid consumers, although I must say that its now becoming very a fashionable beverage for the health aficionados of the West. And there is a reason for that. When it comes to preventative health care, this is one of natures finest.
The list of health benefits derived from this simple source is quite amazing. I am only going to cover a few of them below, but you can clearly see that its amazing properties are beneficial to animals and humans alike. A lot more research goes into the benefits of each type of tea nowadays but its still in its infancy, so you can expect to hear a lot more about these wonderful substances. But starting right now I am adding more green tea into my daily tea consumption – which I am afraid to say is quite significant, and yes most of it is black (I am a tea caffeine Queen rather than a coffee one!). Writing about the health benefits for animals has reminded me to take a bit more care of myself as well. I would encourage you to do the same, but please do take the time to read my little warning at the end about mixing tea with some medicines or health complaints.
There's one more thing I want to explain before we look at the health benefits because its what makes the biggest distinction between the types and I didn't know what it meant, so you might not either: oxidization. Black tea is fully oxidized before drying, green tea is unoxidized; and Oolongs are somewhere in the middle. To oxidize tea, the leaves are put into troughs or laid out on tables. Oxidization occurs when enzymes within the leaves react with the air and takes from between 30 minutes and two hours at about 26 degrees centigrade. It is during this process that the tealeaf changes from green, through light brown to a deep brown. Once the tea has reached the desired level of oxidation, light for a light liquoring tea and dark brown for a stronger liquoring tea, the leaves are dried (otherwise known as 'firing the tea'). Phew, that is the science bit over.
By the way, about 78% of all the tea we drink is black, 20% is green and Oolong makes up the rest.
So, what about those health-giving properties for animals? I do not think this list is exhaustive, but here are the main conditions it can help.
High cholesterol
Green tea has demonstrated an ability to lower total cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol in both animals and people. Results from one animal study suggest that polyphenols in green tea may block the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and promote its excretion from the body.
Cancer
Recent animal and clinical studies are beginning to suggest that substances in green tea known as polyphenols may play an important role in the prevention of cancer. These substances act as powerful antioxidants. Researchers also believe that polyphenols help kill cancerous cells and stop its progression.
Breast cancer
Studies in animals (and believe it or now some animals, like mice, are prone to breast cancer) and test tubes suggest that polyphenols in green tea inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.
Esophageal cancers
Several animal studies have found that green tea polyphenols inhibit the growth of esophageal (throat) cancer cells. However, results of studies in people have been conflicting, so more work is needed here. However I would say some of the conflict, it was suggested, could be down to the heat at which green tea is consumed. This of course would not affect animals because it would be given cold, so I think it is worth a try.
Diabetes
We know that some animals are very prone to diabetes, especially if we have been over feeding them! Green tea has been used traditionally to control blood sugar in the body. Animal studies suggest that green tea may help prevent the development of type 1 diabetes and slow the progression once it has developed. Therefore, Green tea may help regulate glucose in the body.
Liver disease
Animal studies have shown that green tea helps protect against the development of liver tumors in mice. Results from several animal and human studies suggest that one of the polyphenols present in green tea, known as catechin, may help treat viral hepatitis (inflammation of the liver from a virus). In these studies, catechin was isolated from green tea and used in very high concentrations.
Weight loss
Studies suggest that green tea extract may boost metabolism and help burn fat, but there have been no specific studies of this herb in overweight or obese individuals. Some researchers speculate that substances in green tea known as polyphenols, specifically the catechins, are responsible for the herb's fat-burning effect. You will often see ‘weight loss’ described as a benefit of green tea and there is no reason why, if it is actually true, this would not apply to animals as well.
So, to the dosages
Now there we have a problem because that’s not clear from any of the research I have looked at – because its all based on human consumption. It seems clear that you cant actually overdose on it, so just try to get the animal to take it. Some horses I know are very happy to drink any kind of tea but others are quite reluctant. Serve it cold or tepid and obviously no sugar please (although a teensy bit of honey may make it more palatable and that wont de any harm at all. Also, remember the same warning goes for animals as it does for humans. If the animal is already on medication, check out that the green tea wont interact badly with it.
Finally I promised you a little health warning for my human readers who may be on their way to get some in for themselves.
Adult dosages can look like this. Three cups of green tea per day (3 g soluble components, or 240 to 320 g polyphenols) or 300 to 400 mg per day of standardized green tea extract (extracts should contain 80% total polyphenols and 55% epigallocatechin) is the recommended dosage.
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, either under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine or your own Doctor.
People with heart problems, kidney disorders, stomach ulcers, and psychological disorders (particularly anxiety) should not take green tea. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also avoid green tea. So if you have any of these make sure that you contact your Doctor or medical advisor before even thinking about taking green tea. As herbs do interact with other medicines, if you are taking any other form of medication I would always make sure that you find out possible side effects before you start taking it – especially if you are thinking of taking a concentrated extract of green tea.
From the author:
Roger Bourdon has written a book on Introduction To Horsebackriding. (Article Adapted by All About Horses)
But its the green tea variety that I want to cover here. The green varieties, taken without milk, are the traditional favorite of the far eastern countries, Japan, China and the Russia's being avid consumers, although I must say that its now becoming very a fashionable beverage for the health aficionados of the West. And there is a reason for that. When it comes to preventative health care, this is one of natures finest.
The list of health benefits derived from this simple source is quite amazing. I am only going to cover a few of them below, but you can clearly see that its amazing properties are beneficial to animals and humans alike. A lot more research goes into the benefits of each type of tea nowadays but its still in its infancy, so you can expect to hear a lot more about these wonderful substances. But starting right now I am adding more green tea into my daily tea consumption – which I am afraid to say is quite significant, and yes most of it is black (I am a tea caffeine Queen rather than a coffee one!). Writing about the health benefits for animals has reminded me to take a bit more care of myself as well. I would encourage you to do the same, but please do take the time to read my little warning at the end about mixing tea with some medicines or health complaints.
There's one more thing I want to explain before we look at the health benefits because its what makes the biggest distinction between the types and I didn't know what it meant, so you might not either: oxidization. Black tea is fully oxidized before drying, green tea is unoxidized; and Oolongs are somewhere in the middle. To oxidize tea, the leaves are put into troughs or laid out on tables. Oxidization occurs when enzymes within the leaves react with the air and takes from between 30 minutes and two hours at about 26 degrees centigrade. It is during this process that the tealeaf changes from green, through light brown to a deep brown. Once the tea has reached the desired level of oxidation, light for a light liquoring tea and dark brown for a stronger liquoring tea, the leaves are dried (otherwise known as 'firing the tea'). Phew, that is the science bit over.
By the way, about 78% of all the tea we drink is black, 20% is green and Oolong makes up the rest.
So, what about those health-giving properties for animals? I do not think this list is exhaustive, but here are the main conditions it can help.
High cholesterol
Green tea has demonstrated an ability to lower total cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol in both animals and people. Results from one animal study suggest that polyphenols in green tea may block the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and promote its excretion from the body.
Cancer
Recent animal and clinical studies are beginning to suggest that substances in green tea known as polyphenols may play an important role in the prevention of cancer. These substances act as powerful antioxidants. Researchers also believe that polyphenols help kill cancerous cells and stop its progression.
Breast cancer
Studies in animals (and believe it or now some animals, like mice, are prone to breast cancer) and test tubes suggest that polyphenols in green tea inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.
Esophageal cancers
Several animal studies have found that green tea polyphenols inhibit the growth of esophageal (throat) cancer cells. However, results of studies in people have been conflicting, so more work is needed here. However I would say some of the conflict, it was suggested, could be down to the heat at which green tea is consumed. This of course would not affect animals because it would be given cold, so I think it is worth a try.
Diabetes
We know that some animals are very prone to diabetes, especially if we have been over feeding them! Green tea has been used traditionally to control blood sugar in the body. Animal studies suggest that green tea may help prevent the development of type 1 diabetes and slow the progression once it has developed. Therefore, Green tea may help regulate glucose in the body.
Liver disease
Animal studies have shown that green tea helps protect against the development of liver tumors in mice. Results from several animal and human studies suggest that one of the polyphenols present in green tea, known as catechin, may help treat viral hepatitis (inflammation of the liver from a virus). In these studies, catechin was isolated from green tea and used in very high concentrations.
Weight loss
Studies suggest that green tea extract may boost metabolism and help burn fat, but there have been no specific studies of this herb in overweight or obese individuals. Some researchers speculate that substances in green tea known as polyphenols, specifically the catechins, are responsible for the herb's fat-burning effect. You will often see ‘weight loss’ described as a benefit of green tea and there is no reason why, if it is actually true, this would not apply to animals as well.
So, to the dosages
Now there we have a problem because that’s not clear from any of the research I have looked at – because its all based on human consumption. It seems clear that you cant actually overdose on it, so just try to get the animal to take it. Some horses I know are very happy to drink any kind of tea but others are quite reluctant. Serve it cold or tepid and obviously no sugar please (although a teensy bit of honey may make it more palatable and that wont de any harm at all. Also, remember the same warning goes for animals as it does for humans. If the animal is already on medication, check out that the green tea wont interact badly with it.
Finally I promised you a little health warning for my human readers who may be on their way to get some in for themselves.
Adult dosages can look like this. Three cups of green tea per day (3 g soluble components, or 240 to 320 g polyphenols) or 300 to 400 mg per day of standardized green tea extract (extracts should contain 80% total polyphenols and 55% epigallocatechin) is the recommended dosage.
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, either under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine or your own Doctor.
People with heart problems, kidney disorders, stomach ulcers, and psychological disorders (particularly anxiety) should not take green tea. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also avoid green tea. So if you have any of these make sure that you contact your Doctor or medical advisor before even thinking about taking green tea. As herbs do interact with other medicines, if you are taking any other form of medication I would always make sure that you find out possible side effects before you start taking it – especially if you are thinking of taking a concentrated extract of green tea.
From the author:
Roger Bourdon has written a book on Introduction To Horsebackriding. (Article Adapted by All About Horses)
Learn All About Horses Here:
- Learn To Grow Gorgeous Horses! Now You Too Can Grow Long, Thick, Luxurious Horse Manes and Tails and Make Any Horse Stunningly Gorgeous Amazingly Fast!
- The Ultimate Guide To Pampering Your Horse provides a gold mine of ideas and ins
piration. "For grooming, bathing, and hoof-care suggestions to homemade treats, toys, parties, games (and even costumes!) You'll find step-by-step directions for guaranteed horse-pleasers such as: Slop and Slurp Delight, Homemade Bug-Be-Gone, Edible Christmas Wreath, Mad Hatter Birthday Party and much more!
- Think your horse has laminitis? You need to know or at worst your horse could die! Treatment for both Laminitis and Founder are both explored in the content of this one of a kind e-book Liminitis And Founder ExposedLearn Horse Training Breaking Secrets.
Does the green tea relax the horses?
ReplyDelete