Tea Highlighted as One of The Best Foods for a Healthy New Millenium; Americans Celebrate During National Hot Tea Month 

Scientists have found that tea contains antioxidants, substances that can reduce oxidative damage in the body, helping to maintain healthy cells and tissues. The latest epidemiological research suggests that drinking black tea may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Of particular interest are two studies that were published this year:

* A recent study examined 340 men and women who had suffered heart
attacks and found that those who drank a cup or more of black tea daily
had a 44 percent reduction in heart attack risk compared to non-tea
drinkers. The study was conducted by Dr. Howard Sesso et al. at
Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston and
published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in January.

* In a study by Dutch researchers, participants who drank one to two cups
of black tea daily had a 46 percent lower risk of severe aortic
atherosclerosis, one factor contributing to cardiovascular disease.
Those who drank more than four cups of tea a day had a 69 percent lower
risk. The study, published in October in the Archives of Internal
Medicine, examined the association of tea intake and the severity of
aortic atherosclerosis in 3,454 subjects who were free of
cardiovascular disease at the time of baseline.

Earlier epidemiological and laboratory studies suggest a relationship between tea consumption and reduced risk of several types of cancer, including oral, digestive, lung and colorectal, and that tea has greater antioxidant power in vitro than many fruits and vegetables.

``It's no longer a matter of considering just the vitamin and mineral content of our diets. People now need to recognize that foods and beverages can contribute important phytonutrients like the antioxidant flavonoids,'' said Dr. Blumberg. ``Flavonoid-rich and virtually calorie-free, tea is an ideal choice for those looking for a delicious drink that fits perfectly into a healthy diet.'' Other foods and food components on Dr. Blumberg's list include whole grains, brightly colored fruits and vegetables, soy products, omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish like salmon and tuna) and red wine. - SOURCE: Tea Council of the USA