Mature Life Features

. . . we have time,

otherwise,

everything would happen all at once.

Take Time Out for Tea

Modern science has confirmed the potential health benefits of tea, according to the Mayo Clinic. People have turned to tea to soothe body and soul for more than 5,000 years. In China, tea has served medicinal purposes since ancient times.

Tea leaves contain a mix of substances including antioxidant compounds called polyphenols, and may offer some protection from:

— Cancer: Green tea may help prevent gastric, pancreatic, bladder and ovarian cancers. Research indicates that the reason may be catechins, polyphenols that appear to have cancer-fighting and other health-promoting properties. Green tea is especially rich in catechins.

— Cardiovascular disease: Green tea may lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. And black tea and green tea are linked to a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke.

— Cavities: Green tea destroys bacteria that can contribute to tooth cavities. It also helps prevent plaque formation.

— Parkinson’s disease: Caffeine in tea might help prevent Parkinson’s or slow its development, possibly by increasing mental alertness or by increasing the availability of the brain chemical, dopamine.