Go Green: Health and Environmental Benefits of Organic Tea

Go green and improve your health with the benefits of adding organic tea to your daily diet. Organic tea is full of powerful ingredients for your health including high antioxidant and vitamin C levels. These ingredients along with a 100% organic product keep you healthy and give you the energy you need to complete your daily activities. You also do your part for the environment by purchasing organic tea which is processed without pesticides or artificial fertilizers. Buying organic tea keeps these harmful chemicals out of the environment and just as important, out of our bodies. The soil used in the production of organic tea includes natural compost and a layer of mulch which captures the moisture and provides extra nutrients to the tea.

Along with the high levels of vitamins and minerals organic tea provides, organic tea has high levels of polyphenols and catechins in the tea leaves. Polyphenols help fight free radicals which are molecules in the environment that cause damage to our cells. Why does this matter? Free radicals are thought to lead to heart disease and cancer. Scientific research and studies have concluded that these beneficial compounds are usually found in higher concentrations in organic, premium quality tea. Therefore, organic tea not only improves your daily life, it protects you against harmful diseases that may develop over the course of your lifetime. Green and black teas in particular are both known for their antioxidant benefits for your health. Antibacterial benefits from organic tea include preventing tooth decay and halitosis.

There are many types of organic tea including green, black, herbal, oolong, white, and rooibos, also known as red tea. Although most of these tea's can be found in major grocery stores nationwide, finding the organic versions of each type of tea can take more work. The best place to search for organic tea is your local farmers markets and flea markets, tea shops, gourmet shops, or local organic shops. Mother Earth, Wild Oats, and Whole Food are national or regional health food chains which carry larger selections of organic tea. To help find a local organic whole foods store in your area, try visiting OrganicConsumers.org which provides a list of whole food stores alphabetically by state.

How can you tell if the organic tea you purchase is really "organic"? This is a question often asked by new consumers interested in trying organic tea for the first time. There are agencies both government and private which monitor and examine the growing plantations of organic tea suppliers. These organizations include the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement, also known as IFOAD, and the USDA. These organizations must certify the organic tea and approve it for sale in the United States. When in doubt, read reviews of the company in question online, or perhaps locate their website or phone number and contact them directly with your concerns.

Promote green living, choose organic tea that is processed without harmful chemicals and protect the environment for generations to come.

Sources:

Forestel Design, "Organic Tea." Organic.org

Paul Dickson, "Organic Tea." Learn About Tea

"Health Food Stores and Organic Food." Organic Consumers Association