Many traditional caffeinated teas are derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, an evergreen bush indigenous to both China and India. However, the way leaves are handled after they are picked drastically changes the impact they have on your health. In the 8th century, Lu Yu, known as "The Sage of Tea," spoke of the inequality of tea's health benefits in his book The Classic of Tea, the oldest surviving guide to tea from traditional China.
"...drinking tea made with leaves that were picked at the improper time, out of harmony with Nature, leaves that were not processed well, or tea adulterated with other plants or herbs can eventually lead to illness." — Lu Yu (roughly translated from The Classic of Tea)
A perfect example of the manifestation of this theory in the modern day is the difference between black and green tea. The disparity between these teas becomes clear when you look up their Blood Type Diet Food Values.
As you can see, black tea is only a viable option for Type B secretors and Type A non-secretors. It's not a Beneficial for anyone. Green tea, on the other hand, is a nutritional superstar. It is beneficial for all blood types, increases microbiome diversity and promotes weight loss.
You may be asking yourself: how can the same leaf from the same plant be so different nutritionally? The answer lies in the oxidation process. Oxidation, in the simplest of terms, is a chemical process that occurs when an ingredient interacts with oxygen. In tea and food in general, this reaction results in the physical browning of the substance and the creation and unlocking of new compounds at a molecular level. It is the process that makes yellow bananas brown over time. Green tea is barely oxidized after it is plucked, keeping it closer to its natural form. Black tea, on the other hand, is exposed to intense oxidation, usually through heat treatments, which causes it to become far darker and different chemically. This is why it is important to always check Blood Type Diet values for foods, even ones you think you know. Processing natural products before consumption can change their health benefits. This is why olives and olive oil have different Blood Type Diet food values, though they come from the same source. A pure and natural starting point, like a tea leaf, does not ensure a healthy end product.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not meant to diagnose‚ treat or cure any disease or medical condition.
