Sunday, June 19, 2011

HOW DANGEROUS IS RADIATION IN GREEN TEA?

We tend to think of green tea as a healthy drink. Initially, I found the taste a little difficult to become used to, but am now drinking a couple of cups a day. I have friends who drink ten cups or more. All those wonderful antioxidants that our bodies need! Not only has green tea been drunk for thousands of years in countries such as China, India, Thailand and Japan, but it has been used as a medicine to treat anything and everything, ranging from flatulence to heart conditions. Besides, it is supposed to be good for your complexion.

Now we are reading reports that some of the tea grown in Japan may be accumulating high levels of radionuclides from the crippled Fukushima Dachii nuclear power plant (see yesterday's post). The tea growers from Shizuoka Prefecture, where much of Japan's tea is grown, say this kind of concern is ridiculous. So do some members of the opposition party.

After all, dry tea is a concentrated product. When tea leaves are fresh, and therefore heavier, testing would show lower levels of unhealthy radionuclides such as cesium-137 and 134. And besides, when you add water to dry tea leaves, it becomes even more diluted, thus lowering levels of radionuclides to acceptable levels.

Yes, all this is probably true, but still, I can't say I like the idea of drinking my "healthy" green tea with a touch of nuclear contaminants.

And you had better not chew on the green tea leaves, just in case! Some people do. Not even in your chewing gum, or those delicious Trader Joe's green tea candies.

To your good health,

TSF

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are no safe levels of radiation. Of course tea growers will tell you their product is safe... they are severely hurting for money right now. I'd avoid ANYTHING from Japan like the plague right now... and for (up to) 2 million years to come.

Anonymous said...

what about tea from china i am hearing reports that china was effected by the radiation to, wondering specifically about the Royal King Green Tea which claims to be organic?

I am not hearing about any recalls or testing on this tea company. does anyone know?

Thanks

B

Anonymous said...

Check out youtube organic slant. They are testing the teas and other foods .

Anonymous said...

You have ZERO idea what radiation does.

I laughed so hard at "when you add water to dry tea leaves, it becomes even more diluted" ROFL...

Anna Schafer said...

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