Then you increase the caffeine and you lose some of the polyphenols. He acquired much of his knowledge about teas and herbs through self-training, spurred by his own success in treating a botched knee operation. He recovered several weeks before his doctor said he would, and became convinced of the merits of herbs. He has since acquired the titles of master herbalist and certified nutritional consultant, through correspondence courses, and won an award in 1995 from a trade journal for an energy supplement he formulated. Other herbal teas can provide some of the benefits of green teas, he said.
Brown seaweed has a number of anti-carcinogenic properties, as do pau d'arco and cat's claw.
But green teas are getting much of the press. With an increase in popularity, and more funding for studies, other benefits are showing up. That may be due to the fact that green teas can reduce the effects of pathogenic bacteria in the digestive system, while increasing the levels of beneficial acidophilus bacteria, according to the 1995 book, Your Guide to Standardized Herbal Products . Contents copyright 2000, the Durango Herald. All rights reserved.