How to Shop the Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen
(Health Secrets) Is tea bad for you? Health enthusiasts swear by the many health benefits of regular tea consumption and I stand behind them. In order for tea to be healthy, however, it must be the right type and consumed the right way. If not, this otherwise healthy beverage may lead to unforeseen medical problems.
Hidden Ingredients in Pre-Packaged Tea
Many popular store-brand teas contain hidden ingredients that could be potentially harmful to your health.
These ingredients include:
Soy Lecithin
Soy lecithin is an emulsifier used to keep the leaves from clumping in the bag. Soy is not the health food you’ve been lead to believe it is. First and foremost, 90% of soy is genetically modified. This means each time you eat or dink any product containing soy, you’re consuming pesticides. The goitrogenic and estrogenic properties of soy have also been shown to interfere with healthy thyroid and endocrine function.
“Natural Flavors”
When it comes to drinking tea, “natural flavors” could mean anything from more soy to wheat to synthetic sweeteners. Those trying to avoid processed food ingredients and those with food allergies would do well to steer clear of any product containing this misleading preservative.
Dioctylphthalate
Commonly found in imported green tea from China, this additive is very dangerous for your health. All phthalates have both endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic properties.
Fancy Plastic Teabags Could Cause Cancer
Have you seen the new “silk”tea bags put out by commercial tea companies? This latest marketing ploy to sell more products could cause serious harm to your health. These soft, creatively-shaped bags are made from plastic, which means endocrine-disruptors such as BPA and phthalates leak into each teacup as it steeps. These endocrine-disruptors have been linked to the development of breast and endometrial cancer.
Skeletal Fluorosis – A Serious Disorder
The fluoride contained in tea bags can lead to a rare but serious disorder called skeletal fluorosis. In skeletal fluorosis, calcium is almost completely depleted from the body, causing excessive bone thickening and increased risk of fractures. To develop skeletal fluorosis as a result of tea-drinking would require drinking an excessive amount over a period of years or decades but it has happened and could happen to you.
Enjoy a Safer Cup of Tea
The safest type of tea you can buy is organic, loose-leaf . All you need to drink this is a steeping ball and a wide-mouthed cup. Simply scoop out one teaspoon of tea into the ball and submerge it in a cup of boiled water for 3-5 minutes. Remove the ball, sweeten to taste, and enjoy.
If brewing loose-leaf tea isn’t your thing, be sure to read the labels on pre-packaged options very carefully. For optimum health benefits, the tea you select should be 100% organic and preservative-free. It should also be packaged in unbleached bags.
The sweetener you select for your tea is just as important as the kind you drink. Raw honey, raw sugar or Stevia are your best options. Avoid table sugar and synthetic alternatives as they are not good for your health.
When you choose the right type of tea and the right type of sweetener, you reap all the health benefits of tea with none of the possible health dangers. Tea shouldn’t be bad for you. It’s one of the healthiest drinks in the world!
Published with permission from AlignLife. Original article link is here.
