Everyone needs a little healing right now

To say the least, these are very trying times.  The world seems to have turned upside down and we are all trying to cope with it in our own ways.  

Here on San Juan Island, we are living with stay at home orders, closed restaurants, and mandates to stay away from our family and friends like most everyone in the U.S., if not the world. 

As we navigate through this difficult time, it is imperative that we all try to stay as healthy as possible.  One of nature's health promoting gifts to us is tea.  Drinking tea everyday can be beneficial biologically, mentally and even emotionally.  

What is in tea that attributes to these health benefits:  To name a few powerful elements; Polyphenols is a type of antioxidant that scavenges for cell-damaging free radicals in the body and detoxifies them. Tea has about 8 to 10 times the polyphenols found in fruits and vegetables.  Flavonoids are a diverse group of phytonutrients (plant chemicals) found in tea and in almost all fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits.  Theaflavins and thearubigins, which are two large, complex compounds of antioxidants that combat free radicals, (unstable atoms that can damage cells, causing illness and aging) eliminate toxins, and neutralize harmful chemicals during digestion. Over time, a deficit of antioxidants accelerates aging, raises the risk for chronic illnesses, and causes cellular damage brought by free radicals. Drinking green tea is an easy, delicious and convenient way to prevent this.

There are numerous health benefits attributed to tea and more and more scientific studies that support the claims.  Green tea is believed to improve immune system.  Green tea has Theanine, which can strengthen your immune system, enhancing your body’s response against infections.  It can also help you cope with stress.  Stress is obviously difficult to avoid, but drinking green tea can help your body regulate the production of Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone.  There are countless other benefits from drinking tea not the least of which is the pure pleasure of drinking it.