The bacteria
lurking in your mouth could be doing more than just keeping people away. Mouth
bacteria not only leads to tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath, it can
actually trigger a heart attack.
Researchers found that the same bacteria that leads to gum disease can cause
blood clots, abnormal heart beat, and the makings of a heart attack. Since
there are billions of bacteria in the mouth, the risks are pretty hard to
swallow.
Fortunately, new studies have found that green tea fights bacteria, including
those that cause strep throat and tooth decay.
Tea is a healthful beverage. The custom of drinking tea with meals in the Orient
is considered to be a major reason for the low cancer rate in the region. Tea is
high in tannins, which have numerous protective benefits for the body (their
presence in red wine may be responsible for the French Paradox the phenomenon
that allows French wine drinkers to remain healthy despite a high-fat diet).
These powerful antioxidants, called polyphenols, protect the body from harmful
free radicals.
There are two major types of tea: green tea and black tea. They are from the
same plant, but black tea is fermented to develop a richer flavor and color.
Because green tea is not fermented like black tea, it contains one-third less
caffeine, and a much higher concentration of polyphenols. Polyphenols constitute
15?30% of unfermented dried green tea, and most of its soluble portion. Tea has
demonstrated many benefits in scientific studies, such as:
---Antioxidant activity, including protection from cancer and heart disease.
---Cholesterol reduction
---Blood pressure reduction
---Antibacterial and antiviral activity
