Doctors now confirm that the humble chai is a mighty disease fighter. Although the medical benefits of tea have been recognised through the centuries, scientific advances have helped identify different compounds in tea that help ensure good health.
Quoting from a study, MR D.H. Pai Panandiker, chairman of International Life Sciences Institute India, pointed out, “Tea has been found to contain ten times the antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help detoxify cells damaging free radicals which are damaging compounds that alter cells and tamper with DNA. Tea also enhances the immune system and helps fight infections.”
Polyphenols found in tea help fight cancer. Panan-diker quoted from a study of smokers and non-smokers undertaken by the Chung Shan Medical Univ-ersity which found that non-tea drinkers showed a five-fold increase in risk of lung cancer as compared to those who drank at least one cup of tea in a day.
Prof. Claudio Ferri with the San Salvatore Hospital in Italy believes the tea helps prevent atheroscierosis, particularly coronary artery disease. Drinking three cups of tea in a day saw a decrease of 11 per cent of those suffering from myocardial infarction.
Dr Yukihiko Hara, a visiting professor of School of Food and Nutritional Science who has devoted himself to the separation of tea catechins from tea. The functions of tea catechins range from being “anti-oxidative, hypo-glemic, anti-tumour, anti-bacterial and anti-viral”.