The "Tea" on Fresh Breath
“Where there’s tea, there’s hope…and fresh breath.”
Okay, so this isn’t EXACTLY how the Arthur Wing Pinero quote goes, but it’s true! Tea can freshen your breath.
In 2003, a group of scientists from the University of Illinois in Chicago presented their findings to the American Society of Microbiology about how the compounds in tea can stop the bacterial growth that causes halitosis. Just one cup of black tea has the amazing ability to suppress odors and stop the growth of the bacteria that cause bad breath! Tea, specifically black tea, keeps your breath smelling fresh because it has a high number of polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that prevent plaque from adhering to our teeth.
So, what are polyphenols? They’re antioxidants that work by eliminating free radicals (uncharged molecules) in the body, which are known to cause several health problems. Flavonoids are a group of polyphenols that are produced naturally in tea. Some researchers believe a high amount of these polyphenols in the body can fight viruses, as well as different types of cancers in the pancreas, colon, bladder, prostate, and breast.
As a matter of fact, another study showed that green tea also assists mouthwash and toothpaste by killing bacteria, allowing these two products to fight viruses! Alone, neither one proved to be effective fighting against viruses, but with a little green tea extract, the bacteria was nearly eliminated, which allowed the mouthwash and toothpaste to fight off viruses!
Here’s a great natural black tea recipe we think you and your family will enjoy this fall!
Blood Moon Tea with Pomegranate
Ingredients:
- 1 whole pomegranate
- 4 cups cold water
- A sprig of fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon black tea
- 5 black peppercorns
- 8 whole cloves
- 2 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions:
- Rinse the pomegranate well and cut into quarters. Place in a saucepan and cover with the cold water.
- Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add the sprig of rosemary for 3-7 minutes, depending on taste. Remove the rosemary and simmer for another 5-15 minutes until the water is darkly colored and flavorful.
- Combine all other ingredients in a tea bag or infuser. Pour pomegranate tea over the bag or infuser. Top with hot water to taste. If needed, and a cinnamon stick!
Alternatively, you can use dried pomegranate arils and dried rosemary to mix this recipe as a dry tea blend.
So, the next time you aren’t sure if you are minty fresh or not, grab a cup of tea instead of coffee and enter that meeting or interview with confidence!
