I'm not trying to change anyones mind about if one should drink Green Tea or not, but it is interesting to know some of the following...
Looks like Green tea benefits mostly males but since you share some of the problems that Green Tea has been proved to ease then you may want to talk to a doctor about it. It seems that it has an effect on reducing the risk or prostate cancer and can lower the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood (the kind that causes heart attacks). It also has been found to fight the onset of rheumatoid arthritis in rats.
For all of you Mormons (I am one too) it should be said that the Word of Wisdom (or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Wisdom) seems kinda questionable when it comes to tea... it talks about "Hot Drink" but never tea by name. Joseph Smith said, "I understand that some of the people are excusing themselves in using tea and coffee, because the Lord only said 'hot drinks' in the revelation of the Word of Wisdom .... Tea and coffee ... are what the Lord meant when He said 'hot drinks.'" citing Joel H. Johnson's (1881). Voice from the Moutains (Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office) p. 12; cited in Church Educational System... Remember that the time of this quote the tea that was most prominent in the US was Black Tea, not Green Tea which is processed much differently, the latter keeping the antioxidants that are removed during the processing of the former, Black Tea.
The current version of the "Church Handbook of Instructions" (page 185) says, "The only official interpretation of 'hot drinks' (D&C 89:9) in the Word of Wisdom is the statement made by early Church leaders that the term 'hot drinks' means tea and coffee. Members should not use any substance that contains illegal drugs. Nor should members use harmful or habit-forming substances except under the care of a competent physician." Saying that things that can cause a habit should only be used with doctor supervision (go ask a doctor about Green Tea, if he/she says drink as much as you want then I guess that is your "pass", just don't ask about drinking Wine, he/she may say it's good for you). What is the difference between a manufactured drug that must be recommended by a doctor and the food that the drug is derived from being recommended by doctors as a good part of ones diet?
Here is the best statement (in my opinion) about meat consumption not tea, "Apostle George Teasdale taught the same thing [eat meat sparingly], and held that eating pork was a more serious breach of the Word of Wisdom than drinking tea or coffee." - Thomas G. Alexander, "The Word of Wisdom: From Principle to Requirement", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 14:3 (1981) pp. 78–88. Looks like no more Ruth's Chris Stake House, or Black Angus... and doesn't this mean that the Jews were right about pork? I wonder what other things can be learned from the Kosher laws?
And lastly Heber J. Grant said, "I am not going to give any command, but I will ask it as a personal, individual favor to me, to let coca-cola [sic] alone. There are plenty of other things you can get at the soda fountains without drinking that which is injurious. The Lord does not want you to use any drug that creates an appetite for itself." He was talking about Coke specifically but I think says it best with the part about no habit forming foods... that would include chocolate (Peanut M&Ms) sugar, fats, etc... all are habit forming and lead to shorter lives! I only like the taste of Coke once in a while, so good thing for me, no habit there!
Looks like Tannic Acid is bad stuff but seems only tied to Black Teas and tree bark... and along with two other ingredients can guard against SARS! Cool, Black tea to help fight terrorism?
Tannic Acid is a form of Polyphenol which is found to have health benefits but only when consumed in moderation (as much as is in 5-10 cups of tea) and caution should be used when taking supplements with concentrate Green Tea extract as large doses of Polyphenol can mess up your liver. Notable sources of polyphenols include berries, tea, beer, grapes/wine, olive oil, chocolate/cocoa, coffee, walnuts, peanuts, pomegranates, yerba mate, and other fruits and vegetables. High levels of polyphenols can generally be found in the fruit skins."
Remember, I'm not trying to say Tea drinking is right or wrong, I'm just pointing out that it seems if Tea is something that should be shunned based on the "Word of Wisdom" then maybe some of those other things like meat consumption or anything that can cause a habit, should also be shunned and personally "enforced" with the same gusto as the personal enforcement of not drinking Tea.
Food for thought.
- Ivan Lawrence | Eco-Conscious Antiestablishmentarian -
