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Wine, Tea and Chocolate Improve Mental Performance
Scientists find that a diet rich in all three works best for elderly study participants.

Jacob Gaffney
Posted: Thursday, January 08, 2009

A team of researchers at Oxford University, working with colleagues at the University of Oslo, say that a combination of wine, dark chocolate and tea, in moderate amounts, enhances cognitive performance in the elderly.

According to study co-author David Smith, a founding director of the Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Aging, the study's findings, published in the January issue of the Journal of Nutrition, suggest people should regularly consume low levels of wine, dark chocolate and tea. All three are rich in polyphenolic compounds called flavonoids found in grapes, tea leaves and cocoa beans.

Smith warns, however, that it's best not to get carried away—too much chocolate and too much wine are both known to be bad for the health. "The key thing is: How much wine?" said Smith. "We found that the effect was maximal with as little as a small glass of wine."

Previous research on wine, tea and chocolate found that each product contains relatively high levels of flavonoids, and all three are also associated with a lower risk of dementia and greater cognitive performance. The scientists wanted to see if a yearlong diet that included low levels of all three could lead to better brain activity.

To test their theory, the researchers pulled data on 2,031 Norwegian men and women, ages 70 to 74, who had taken part in a previous Norwegian study. In that research, participants filled in information about their habitual food intake and underwent a battery of cognitive tests.

The Oxford and Oslo team found that participants who consumed combinations of between 1 to 3.5 ounces of wine, 10 grams of chocolate and up to 200 milliliters of tea, preferably green, per day had a 41 percent to 53 percent lower risk of performing poorly on cognitive tests than other participants. The different foods had different effects. Those who only drank wine regularly did better than those who only consumed chocolate. Those who consumed all three performed best.

The results did not tend to improve for those participants who consumed greater quantities of wine, tea or chocolate. And the authors warn that the test is observational and not clinical—they did not recruit participants who naturally consume much more of either ingredient. Only four of the volunteers drank more than three glasses of wine per day, for example, so the effects of heavy drinking could not be examined. The study notes that such levels of drinking are associated with lower cognitive performance.

Smith added that the results could be partially explained by factors other than dietary choices. The study notes that participants who are moderate wine consumers may have "a healthier diet or a complex set of favorable social and lifestyle factors." Smith said that future research could address some of the limitations of the study.

Tea halves the risk of dementia, study shows.

Telegraph News (London, UK) 07/17/2008.

Drinking a couple of cups of tea a day can halve the risk of dementia, according to new research.

Scientists found those who drank two or three cups of black tea a day were less than half as likely to exhibit early signs of dementia as those who never or rarely drank it.

But drinking coffee had no protective effect on the brain, the study found.

The scientists concluded that it was not the caffeine in tea that had a beneficial effect, but compounds called polyphenols.

Previous studies have already suggested polyphenols in green tea can protect against dementia and Alzheimer's, which affect an estimated 750,000 in Britain today.

That number is set to double over the next 40 years as Britain's population ages.

But this is the first time a comparative study has been made on the protective effects of black tea, by far the most popular variety drunk here.

Britons drink 168 million cups of black tea a day, although most of us put a splash of milk in it.

While laboratory studies have hinted black tea might protect the brain against age-related decline, there has been limited evidence from human studies to support the theory.

In the latest study, experts at the University of Singapore studied the lifestyle habits of 2,500 people aged 55 or over and recorded how much tea they drank.

Each volunteer also underwent a test to measure their cognitive function, or the 'fitness' of their brain.

When the experiment was repeated two years later, the researchers found those drinking the most black tea were least likely to have suffered cognitive decline, an early warning sign for dementia.

Drinking two to three cups daily reduced the risk of illness by around 55 per cent, while in heavy tea drinkers – those on six to ten cups a day – it was 63 per cent, according to a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Coffee drinkers, on the other hand, saw either no benefit or a tiny increase in their risk of dementia.

The researchers said: "Because tea is cheap, non-toxic and widely consumed, it has huge potential in promoting cognitive health and perhaps delaying the onset of dementia."

It is believed polyphenols could work in two ways: firstly by preventing oxidation of brain cells; and secondly by blocking the build-up of brain deposits, called plaques.

These are thought to inhibit proper brain function and lead to dementia and Alzheimer's.

Once the humble cuppa was prized mainly for the stimulant effect of its caffeine.

But numerous studies recently have found it has a myriad of health benefits.

Research has shown it can help lower cholesterol, reduce blood clots, and lower the chance of developing certain cancers.

Thirty Degree North Latitude — High Quality Tea Production Belt

Compiled by Ankit Lochan of Lochan Tea, Ltd., India.

30° north latitude is a peculiar parallel at the earth. Near this parallel, There is mysterious Bermuda Triangle, world-famous Pyramid of Egypt, heavy west continent that sink in the legend, world highest peak Everest and world deepest trench --Maliana in West Pacific Ocean .It runs through four major ever- civilized countries such as ancient China, ancient India, ancient Babylon and ancient Egypt. Meanwhile, there are a lot of famous supernatural civilization sites; groups of Pyramid of ancient Egypt, the Sphinx, " garden in the sky " of Babylon, civilization of ancient Mayan and civilization of ancient Szechwan people China. The Mississippi of U. S. A. , the Nile of Egypt, Euphrates River of Iraq, the Changjiang River of China etc. , they all meet ocean just at 30° north latitude. The driest Sahara Desert of Africa and such pleasant landscapes as Mount Huang, Mount Lushan, Zhangjiajie, etc. are also at this latitude.

In China, it is still a high-quality tea producing belt.

1. The main producing area of famous tea brands in China

Tea origins from China, and its vastitude territory is fit to plant tea. From 18° north latitude in San Ya of Hai nan province to 38° north latitude in Wuyue village of Linshou county around Taihang mountain area. We can say the producing region is changeful. We've discovered that most of our famous tea and high-quality tea origin from about 30° north latitude area.

Absolutely, the famous tea's quality are approved. The traditional famous tea brands is a mixture of favorable environment, profound cultural significance and ingenious processing skill. But some so-called famous tea are compared and assessed out through one or two this meetings, that festival, which can not withstand test of history and time.

We have found a interesting phenomenon after we analysed the producing area of the generally acknowledged ten traditional famous tea: West Lake Longjing which originates from Hangzhou lion peak mountain, Mei Jia Wu, Weng Jia mountain, Yun Qi, Hu Tiao and LingYing area of Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, lie in 30° north latitude; Bi Luochun (a green tea) originates from the Dongting mountain which lies inside Tai Lake of Wu County of Suzhou Jiangsu Province, is located in about 31° north latitude ; The producing area of Junshan Silver Needle--Hunan Yueyang Junshan island of Dongting Lake, is located at 29°15' of north latitude; Sichuan Ya'an Mingshan county --the producing area of Mengding Ganlu, lies in 29°58'of north latitude; Huangshan Maofeng originate in Anhui Province as famous Huangshan scenical spot and Tangkou, Gangchun, Fangchun, Sancha, Tangjiaqiao, Jiaochun of Huang Shan district, Fuxiyang village of HuiZhou district, Qianjintai of Xiuning county, etc. happen to be in 30° of north latitude. Liuan Guapian originates from adjoin mountain area of Liu'an, Jinzai, Huoshan county in Anhui Province. The producing area can be distinguish as two producing region, the Neishan Guapian and the Waishan Guapian. For Neishan Guapian, "Qi Shan Ming Pian" is considered as the highest grade. Qituo mountain which originally belongs to Liu An County, belongs to the Jinzai county now, lies in 31°38' north latitude. Lushan Yunwu produced in Jiujiang of JiangXi Province. Lushan mountain abut Changjiang River on its north side, and face Boyang Lake on the south side, lies in 29°35' north latitude. Taiping Houkui produced in three village Houcun, Hougang and Yangjia of Taiping County Anhui province, lies between 30° and 30°26' of north latitude. Besides Xingyang Maojian produced at 32°13' and the producing area Anxi Teikuanyin lies at 25°07' north latitude. We can get a conclusion on the producing area of the ten traditional famous tea: Xihu Longjin, Junshan Silver Needle, Huangshan Maofeng, Mending Ganlu, Lushan Yunwu and Qimen black tea are produced in the vast area between 29° and 31° north latitude; the producing area of Dongting Biluochun and Liuan Guapian fluctuate between 28° and 32° north latitude and Xinyang Maojian origins near 30° north latitude is at 32°18'. No other than the famous Oolong tea --Anxi Tieguanying, its producing area doesn't lie in this area.

Besides, there are countless famous teas, take for example Laozu Dafang (between 30°11' and 30°07' north latitude), Enshi Yulu (29°50' north latitude), Ningbo white tea, Guzhang Maojian, Dongshan Xiufeng produced in Shimen county and Caihua Maojian for example, their producing area just all lie by 30° north latitude.

2. Pierce through two high-quality tea producing area of China

In our country's tea producing area, 30° north latitude geological belt not only abounds in famous tea, but also pierce through two traditional high-quality tea producing area as upper reaches of Xinan River tea producing area and the rising high-quality tea producing area in Wuling Mountain area.

As we all know, Qimen, Kuangxian, Tunxi in Anhui province, Wuyuan in Jiangxi province and Kaihua, Chun'an in Zhejiang province present the delta region of upper reachs of Xin'an River. They are familiar with domestic and foreign people as the producing area of Qimen black tea, Tun Lu, Wu Lu, Sui Lu. Among these famous tea, Qimen black tea has the tight thin and beautiful shape, the black and greasy luster, the so called "Qimen aroma" which is honey and cymbidium, the tea water tastes pure and full-bodied, the aftertaste is lasting and nice, has been ascribed to the four world famous rich aroma black tea, and got a reputation of "prince in tea world". The panned green tea produced in this region has tight thin shape, is consistent and heavy, is of green color, high and lasting aroma, chestnut odor and thick and pure favor, is the main sort for domestic and overseas market and beloved by customers. For multitudinous tea experts have draw conclusions on this situation, we here omit it. The Wuling mountain area is regard as a outstanding high quality tea producing area only in recent years, and didn't perceive by ampliate people. The concept of Wuling mountain high quality tea producing area is confirmed by famous tea expert and specialist Huang Zhongxian, and the author agrees with the parlance too. We here give this area a short introduction:

Wuling Mountain tea producing area lies in about 30° north latitude, and covers with Hunan province, Hubei province, Guizhou province and Chongqing. It's about 100,000 sq. km. Wuling Mountain is a pleat mountain, as long as 420 kilometers, its average altitude is above 1,000 meters. The highest peak named Fenghuang mountain located in Guizhou province is measured 2,570 meters. The Wuling mountain is of east-west trend, presenting karst physiognomy. Its main peak is Fangjinshan Mountain, which locates in Tongren county of Guizhou province. It mainly includes Jishou, Luxi county, Fengfang county, Huayuan county, Baojing county, Guzhang county, Yongshun county, Longshan county of Western Hunan Autonomous Region; Wulingyuan district, Yongding district, Cili county, Sangzhi county of Zhangjiajie; Shimen county of Changde, Yuanling county of Huaihua; En'shi, Lichuan, Jianshi county, Badong county, Xuan'en county, Xianfeng county, Laifeng county, Hefeng county, Wufeng county; Qiuyang county, Xiushan county, Pengshui county, Shizhu county of Chongqing; tongren, Wanshan Special District, Dong autonomous county of Yu Ping, Miao Autonomous county of Songtao, Tujia Autonomous county of Yinjiang, Tujia Autonomous county of Yanhe, Sinan county, jiangkou county, Shigan county, Dejiang county, ect. Of Guizhou, more than 40 cities, counties, autonomous county ect. Tujia, Miao, Dong, Yao, Bai and Han people live there.

A mass of precipitous mountains are located in Wuling Mountain area, and the road system there is very inconvenient, the economical condition is not very good, but it has a longstanding tea producing records. In recent years, under the support of government, the tea producing has made quite great progress. The emergence of rising high-quality tea producing counties in this area, such as Shi Men, Gu Zhang, Yuan Ling in Hunan province, He Feng, Li Chuang, Wu Feng in Hubei province and Rong Chang county in Chong Qing. It has become the main producing area of superior green tea and black tea and the producing capacity has reached 80 thousand tons. Green tea produced in this area was always drying in a basket and rotating in a dryer. The products are famous for its straight slip, green color, strong and lasting fragrance, and most of them have chestnut odor, the tea water is clear and light orange-yellow, the taste is brisk, mellow and sweet. The famous jasmine tea factory authorities--Changsha tea factory has mainly adopted tea produced in Wuling Mountain area as raw material. Its famous jasmine tea called "Monkey King" is popular with people who live in the northern part of China and has become the first brand in competition. In these years, one of our company's chummee tea brands that was always exported to Europe and Africa is called "Boat in Desert", which packed in small packages, its raw material also origins from Wuling Mountain area. The customers there try to drink our tea then accept and dote on our brand. A large number of customers were so firmly believe in the quality of "Boat in Desert" that they didn't intend to buy any other brand. A stable and increasing consuming group has taken shape in this region. When the author observe and study in northern Africa, a faithful young customer of our chummee tea brand--"boat in desert" ?since his drinking, he has not buy any other tea brand. Just because of the shortage of transportation, "boat in desert" was out of stock there. Being heard of our coming, he made a special trip and driven more than 800 kilometers to express his appreciate on our tea quality. Meanwhile, he gave us the following advice: "first, please maintain a steady supply, don't be out of stock; second, keep a firm quality; unremitting, it must be effective. " In fact, through a few years' steady efforts, Chunmee tea boxes of "boat in desert" have become the first sales volume of Chinese tea brand in partial countries in northern Africa. In domestic market, because of its strong aroma and pure and sweet flavor, the marketing share of green tea produced in Wuling Mountain area, is expanding day by day inclined to replace tea manufactured in other producing areas. This trend proves the tea produced in the Wuling mountain area is suitable for a lot of consumers' taste and have reliable quality.

3. Quality character of tea produced in this region

The tea quality in this producing region has several following characteristics. First, the appearance is beautiful. The bud leaf is moderate in thickness. The fresh leaf is better plasticity in course of processing, and different various kinds of modeling, so that it shows different poses and different expressions on the appearance, just like a hundred flowers blossoming. There are flat-cut type such as West Lake Longjing Tea, Lao Zhu Da Fang (a Green Tea); Pearl type like blackish green round pearl, such as Pingshui Gunpower; needle type like pine needle, compact and straight in leaves, such as "Nanjing yuhua Tea"; sword type such as Junshan Silver needle; type of melon pieces, the leaves is stuck up a little and the color is jewel green, such as Lu-an Guapian, etc. Are numerous. Ordinary Fried Green Tea is compact and straight in leaves. Keemun Black Tea is compact and elegant in leaves, jewel light in color, so it takes the top of world of Black Tea. Second, it is good in fragrance. Whether faint scent of Huangshan Mao Feng, whether trip fragrance of JunShan Silver Needle, whether tender fragrance of West Lake Longjing Tea, whether chestnut fragrance of Fried Green Tea from the upper reaches of Xin'an River Tea Area and Wuling Mountain Tea Area, whether honey fragrance with orchid fragrance of Keemum Black Tea, (such special fragrance is called Qimen Fragrance) …, the great majority of them are of last and high fragrance. Third, flavour is moderate, dense but not bitter, mellow and well-tasted. Compared with tea of high latitude, it's stronger; Compared with tea of low latitude, it's mellower. It's suitable for most people's taste.

The author has discovered a very funny phenomenon: It is generally accepted that high quality black tea always originate from the low latitude region, but the four world famous black tea are: Qimen black tea, Assam black tea, Darjeeling black tea and Ceylon highland black tea. The Qimen black tea origins from 30° north latitude, the others origin from southern area of Himalayan at 27° north latitude in India, Ceylon lay aboard Chinese border. The Assam black tea taste strong astringency, Darjeeling black tea is regarded as champagne in tea world, The Ceylon highland black tea possesses harmonious orchid. They all have unique and excellent quality, most probably has a close relationship with the particular mountain clime in this special area.

4. The unique geological physiognomy is the foundation of high-quality tea

According to the plate theory the earth is made up of seven geological plates, including plate of Eurasia, plate of the Pacific Ocean, plate of the Indian Ocean, plate of North America, plate of South America, the plate of the Antarctic Continent, Arctic Continent plate. The stitches of six plates hand over near 30 degrees in the north latitude. Plate drifts about during the geological period, some underriding, some lift, as well as the function of the volcano and glacier, high mountains and deep valleys came into being in the 30 degrees north latitude district. Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Himalayas is the result of collision of the plate of the Indian Ocean and Eurasia plate. Having brought up such strange physiognomy as Mount Huang, Mount Lushan, Zhangjiajie, etc., it also bring up the forming of the metals ore and the nonferrous metals ore. Elements as the phosphorus, zinc, selenium, etc. as well as the soil which is rich in organic matter, is of great importance in forming of the tea quality. The Wuling mountain area is the main producing area of tea which contains abundance selenium. The variety of the physiognomy has created conditions for variety of tea tree. Studies indicate that there is close relationship between the altitude and the tea quality, especially the forming of fragrance. It is favorable for the forming of fragrance as the altitude rise, so-called "cloud and mist produce high-quality tea". The two large high-quality tea producing regions stated in the front are in the mountain area.

5. The suitable climatic conditions are key to high-quality tea

30 degrees north latitude belt--the transition area in the subtropical zone and tropical zone, is a life zone suitable for most animal and plant to live in. Its mildness temperate, relatively plentiful rainfall, are also suitable for the growth of the tea trees. Take Lichuan of Hubei, which lies in Wuling Mountain tea producing region for example, there is obvious climate difference when the altitude changes, is a typical mountain region climate. There is no severe cold in winter, no oppressive high temperature in summer, the cloud and foggy is heavy, there is less sunshine, the rainfall is plentiful, the air is moist.

The low mountain belts of the elevation under 800 meters, make a clear distinction between seasons, the average temperature of the whole year is 16. 7 degrees, annual rainfall is from 1300 mm. to 1600 mm. Tea trees are under sunshine 1409 hours every year. In the second-class alpine area from 800 meters to 1200 meters above sea level, spring comes early late and autumn arrive early, very moist, sunshine there is in the low level, the average temperature of the whole year is 12.3 degrees, annual rainfall is between 1200 mm. and 1400 mm., and the sunshine time is about 1298 hours. Area where higher than 1200 meters is very cold, and not suitable for the growth of tea tree.

It is generally acknowledged, move in the south, the temperature increases, tea leaf area increase, the inclusion and total amount of Catechines increase, the ratio between tea polyphenol and the amino acid has enlarged. The appearance is thick, the taste is strong and bitterness. On the contrary, with the reducing of the latitude, temperature drops, tea bud and leaf dwindle, the inclusion and total amount of Catechines have reduced, ratio between polyphenol and amino acid drops, the appearance tend to be slip, flavour is pure and mild. And the temperature of 30 degrees north latitude area is suitable, can give consideration to the appearance and interior quality, the ratio between polyphenol and amino acid is about 10, which is regard as the ideal ratio of the high-quality green tea.

6 The good ecological environment is the assurance of tea quality

Suitable climatic conditions and complicated geological diversification in 30° north latitude, have brought up the variety of the biological kind. Shennongjia natural conservation district. Wo Long Mountain, Hu Ping Mountain,and the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon which located in this latitude even known as biological gene pool. In this belt, living fossil as panda in animality and metasequoia in vegetable kingdom leave behind beyond belief.

In this belt, there are numerous national forest parks and natural conservation area, as the national forest park located in Zhangjiajie, which is regard as the first one in our country, the national forest park of Qiandaohu, Caipuxi and Hupingshan natural conservation district. Those parks and conservation districts have formed an ecological belt. The tea producing area just located in this belt. We take the outstanding districts as the upper reaches of Xin'an River tea producing area and the rising high-quality tea producing area in Wuling Mountain area for example, the ecological environment was not bad destroyed, the forest was preserved very well, the soil there is very fertilized, The ability withstand disease and insect is relatively strong, because natural enemy, for example birds and spiders, of those disease and insect is in large quantity. So the tea garden's self-adjustment ability is right, we only need to culture them appropriate and utilize biology technique to prevention and cure disease and insect. Severe tragedy can hardly arises. It has become the main producing area of and organic tea. The pesticide residue in tea produced there is always at a low level. Our company's organic tea and low pesticide residue tea are manufactured in base located in Wuling Mountain area.

The discovery of 30° north latitude high-quality tea producing belt has very significant influence on tea producing of our country, is good to the adjustment of producing area, can promote the process of industrialization.

Meanwhile, there are a series of mysterious cultural phenomenon in 30° north latitude, and this belt is regard as the cradle of Chinese tea culture. We will expatiate this in the near future.

In this belt, there are numerous national forest parks and natural conservation area, as the national forest park located in Zhangjiajie, which is regard as the first one in our country, the national forest park of Qiandaohu, Caipuxi and Hupingshan natural conservation district. Those parks and conservation districts have formed an ecological belt. The tea producing area just located in this belt. We take the outstanding districts as the upper reaches of Xin'an River tea producing area and the rising high-quality tea producing area in Wuling Mountain area for example, the ecological environment was not bad destroyed, the forest was preserved very well, the soil there is very fertilized, The ability withstand disease and insect is relatively strong, because natural enemy, for example birds and spiders, of those disease and insect is in large quantity. So the tea garden's self-adjustment ability is right, we only need to culture them appropriate and utilize biology technique to prevention and cure disease and insect. Severe tragedy can hardly arise. It has become the main producing area of organic tea. The pesticide residue in tea produced there is always at a low level. Our company's organic tea and low pesticide residue tea are manufactured in base located in Wuling Mountain area.

Meanwhile, there are a series of mysterious cultural phenomenon in 30° north latitude, and this belt is regard as the cradle of Chinese tea culture. We will expatiate this in the near future.

Appendix: Best Ten Chinese teas:

Longjing (Dragon Well): Produced at Longjing village near the West Lake, Hangzhou, Zhejiang.

Biluochun: Produced at Wu County, Jiangsu.

Huangshanmaofeng: Produced at Mt. Huangshan in Anhui.

Junshan Silver Needle: Produced at Qingluo Island on Dongting Lake.

Qimen Black Tea: Produced at Qimen County in Anhui.

Liuan Guapian: Produced at Liuan County in Henan.

Xinyang Maojian: Produced at Xinyang, Henan.

Duyun Maojian: Produced at Duyun Mountain, Guizhou.

Wuyi Rock Tea: Produced at Wuyi Mountain, Fujian.

Tieguanyin: Produced at Anxi County, Fujian.

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