Thursday, July 2, 2015

Learn About The Benefits Of Mamaki Tea

By Jordan Schmidt


The Mamaki tree is indigenous to the Hawaiian islands and is a member of the nettle family, though it lacks the stinging hairs found on its relatives growing on the mainland. Sometimes called Waimea, the plant produces leaves that range between two and twelve inches long, depending on the origin and variety. Native Hawaiians consider it a sacred plant and they have used it for thousands of years to promote good health. Now people everywhere are starting to talk about the benefits of drinking mamaki tea.

The centuries-old art of making fabric, known as kapa, is being revived in Hawaii and the wood and sap of the mamaki tree is used in this process. Sap is useful for keeping the fabric moist during processing while the wood is used to make tools that break down the fibers. Hawaiians call these tools kapa beaters. Ancient Hawaiians would make clubs out of the bark.

Pregnant Hawaiian women would consume the fruit and seeds beginning in the fifth month of their pregnancy as a way to prevent thrush. Mothers would feed the fruit to their children to treat oral thrush or constipation. The berries may be used to dress wounds and sores.

In modern times, fresh or dry mamaki leaves are used to brew tea. The beverage has a mild flavor and some say it helps eliminate listlessness. Individuals with digestive disorders consume the fruit, which has mild laxative effects. The leaves are helpful for treating other internal problems with the bladder, bowels, liver, and stomach.

The tea made from mamaki leaves may be prepared as a hot or cold brew, depending on personal preference. Cold tea is sweeter and has a lighter color and milder taste than hot tea. The process for preparing hot tea involves placing the leaves in boiling water for approximately five minutes. After removing the beverage from the heat, it should sit for 15 more minutes for flavor development. Steeping it for longer will produce a richer infusion. To make cold tea, add leaves to cold water and refrigerate for a minimum of 12 hours.

The beverage produced by these leaves is all natural. It can be consumed by people of all ages and contains no undesirable ingredients such as caffeine, gluten, and cholesterol. Some people enjoy drinking this tea before going to bed while others drink it first thing in the morning or even throughout the day.

The leaves of this plant contain chlorogenic acid, rutin, and catechin, all of which are powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants are important for battling the natural aging process. These naturally occurring substances can eliminate free radicals in the human body and help all cells maintain their structural integrity. Catechins also play a role in cardiovascular health by helping brachial arteries to expand and reducing the risk of clots.

Like other types of tea, mamaki offers overall health benefits beyond reducing the levels of circulating free radicals in the body. The chlorogenic acid found in the leaves can help individuals lose weight by slowing down the absorption of glucose by the circulation system. Individuals are less inclined to overeat because they feel satisfied for longer after eating a meal. Chlorogenic acid also helps speed up the body's metabolism, which burns more calories and decreases the production of fat tissue.




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