The all-purpose healer that’ll suit you to a “tea.”
You’ve heard me sing the praises of drinking tea before – both in terms of the health benefits of moderate amounts of caffeine, and because of the cancer-fighting, depression-soothing effects some tea varieties exhibit
But now there’s even more evidence that this millenniums-old delight to the palate and soul can help fight infection, kill mouth bacteria, and even combat that scourge of the ages
BAD BREATH.
The first in a pair of studies recently revealed at a general meeting of the American Society for Microbiology showed that a simple green tea extract was effective in fighting many common bacteria that thrive in the mouth and throat – including those that cause strep throat and tooth decay. This research also revealed that when combined with toothpaste or mouthwash – oral hygiene products with very little antibacterial effects on their own – the green tea extract killed 99 percent of the harmful bacteria!
The second study focused on extracts of black tea. Researchers combined black tea extract with three species of bacteria linked to halitosis (bad breath) in for 48 hours. The result was a 30 percent reduction in the bacterial by-products that cause bad breath.
It is widely believed that at the root of tea’s effectiveness as a healer are compounds called polyphenols – powerful antioxidants occurring naturally in tea that protect human cells from damage. Polyphenols have been shown to fight everything from viruses to bacterial infections to cancer.
So tip a glass of tea or two every day – you’ll be doing your body (and your breath) a world of healthy good
But skip the sugary scones and pastries that sometimes get served with it!
Sounding off against Vitamin “R” – again,
William Campbell Douglass II, MD
