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THE WHOLE LEAF STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRUCE RICHARDSON Scientists probe tea's health benefits RECENT FINDINGS: Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg chaired September's symposium on tea and health in Washington, D.C.; attendees included tea sommelier Michelle Hamilton (right). e are all looking for that magic bullet—that super food that will melt off pounds, make us look 10 years younger and deter every cancer cell that might erupt in our bodies. Scientists are searching for that bul- let as well, and hundreds of research labs across the globe have set their sights on tea. Tea's role in a healthy lifestyle was reiterated and then explored at the Fifth International Scientific Symposium on Tea & Human Health, held Sept. 19 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. The list of prestigious spon- sors included the American Cancer Society, the Linus Pauling Institute and the American College of Nutrition. Presenters came from five American universities as well as research labs in Italy, Scotland, Germany and the Netherlands. This year's event was again chaired by Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University in Boston. Ten years ago, green tea—with its super catechin EGCG—was in the spotlight because of the promising effects it had on cancer cells. Scientists today are broadening their studies to examine the relationship of both green and black teas to several health issues. 56 Fresh Cup Magazine freshcup.com Here are a few of the newest findings pointing to the ways tea can help our health. WEIGHT LOSS According to Dr. Rich Hursel from the University of Maastricht, "Consumption of tea throughout the day may lead to a 4.7 percent increase in energy expenditure." He described that as an average of 102 extra burned calories per day. That surely is not a monu- mental number, but he added that the effect would jump up to around 350 calories if a person substituted unsweetened tea for a daily sugary soft drink or second glass of wine. Dr. Hursel did also point out that decaffeinated tea is not as effective because caffeine plays a major role in this increased metabolic rate. DIABETES Type 2 diabetes is on the rise across America. Blumberg explained one recent European study that showed a 23 percent reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes when the participants