The Health Benefits of Tea on Longevity

Increased Life Span Through Tea Consumption

Age and Prosper is a reader supported publication created for anyone looking for healthy longevity.  If you enjoy it, please consider supporting it financially for $5 a month (and/or sharing it). Becoming a paying subscriber supports us in producing this newsletter and bringing you wisdom to help you live a longer and healthier life.

---

Drinking a cup of tea is like a warm embrace, soothing and comforting. The aroma fills your nostrils and the steam rising from the cup warms your face. The first sip is like a hug from an old friend, familiar and inviting. You can feel the stress of the day melting away with each sip, and the warmth of the tea and its flavor lingers in your mouth, making you feel relaxed and peaceful.

Tom had the opportunity to photograph and interview Wayne Ashford, a tea sommelier (yes, a tea sommelier) of Ashford Tea Company. Wayne is 62, looks 50, and has the figure of a healthy 30 year old. Wayne does ride his bike to and from work, eats mostly fruits and vegetables, runs, and drinks a lot of his own tea. Some of the knowledge that Tom gained from Wayne is astonishing and changed his conception of the tea plant in terms of health and longevity. 

Above, portrait of Wayne Ashford by Tom.

True tea as in green tea, black, oolong, and white tea and are all made from the leaves of the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis (mind blowing noise). Anything not made from the tea plant is technically not tea. It is how the tea leaves are processed that turns the tea into green, black, white, and oolong tea.  

One major tip that Tom learned from Wayne was that tea is meant to be steeped for only a certain amount of time, generally between 3-5 minutes. Some people feel nauseous after drinking tea and that's usually because they have left their teabag in for too long. The longer the tea steeps, the more nutrients you'll get from the tea but if it steeps for too long, you'll get these additional tannins that can make some people feel nauseous (Tom included, he has a sensitivity tummy): 

Above, portrait of Wayne Ashford by Tom.

Here are some of the top benefits to drinking tea (you should always choose organic tea when possible to enjoy the full benefits):

1. Tea has also been linked to better skin health, as the antioxidants and polyphenols found in tea can help to reduce inflammation and protect the skin from UV damage.

2. Research has shown that drinking tea can have a positive effect on cardiovascular health. Tea has also been linked to lower risk of stroke and heart attack.

3. Studies have found that drinking tea is associated with reduced risk of depression and anxiety. 

4. Tea may also have anti-cancer properties. Studies have found that compounds in tea, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, can protect cells from DNA damage. Studies have also found that tea consumption is associated with lower risk of certain types of cancer, such as breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer.

5. Tea can help with weight loss, if you are working from home and anxiously snacking, make a cup of green tea instead. It will reduce your hunger and help burn fat.

Until next week, Age and Prosper!