Dr. Mercola July 24 2008 41,172 views
some variaties of oolong actually have more polyphenols and antioxitants that green teas. there's a lot of marketing hype and low-quality research coming out of japan promoting greens.
Dear Chainsaw,
One way that fluoride, aluminum, DDT, and Dursban can get into one batch of green tea, and not another is from the source of water that is used to water the plants with.
It would be cost prohibitive for farmers or growers to have to distill or filter the water used to water the plants with.
This goes across the board to other plants too.
In areas where these chemicals are in the water, you can see how they are on and in the plants.
I doubt that the source of tea that the Mercola site sells, comes from an area where there is much pollution in the water... However, I would hope, and ask, that the Mercola people run their own independent testing on any products that they sell, prior to listing it, for possible contamination along the chain from production to distribution, and put their own certification on the site page. It would go a long way towards making me feel more comfortable with some of the products that are being sold here, or anywhere for that fact.
For a thought provoking look at the green tea issue, you might want to pick up a copy of the book: "Politically Incorrect Nutrition" by Michael Barbee, C.D.C.
Barbaee states in that book that many batches of green tea have been tested positive for the contaminents above, and with at the recommended dosages, can cause health problems, instead of providing health benefits. Something to consider when purchasing green tea, and especially non organic green tea, no matter how visible the company is on health food store shelves.
The book also covers many other issues that Dr. Mercola does, and most times are in agreement with what is said on this site.
With the high cost of buying organic food in these days of a deflated dollar, and the always present danger of payoffs to inspectors, it would be nice to have a site that only sold products that are independently tested and certified by people that can be trusted.
Great idea.
"...it would be nice to have a site that only sold products that are independently tested and certified by people that can be trusted."
That's why most of us are here. We trust Dr. Mercola, especially when he says that he independantly tests all of the products he offers. I'm not sure what more we could ask of him.
Where does this tea come from? If it comes from China, then forget it.
"Another thing to watch out for is purity. High-quality teas should be free of the potentially high levels of fluoride, lead, and aluminum that can be found in inferior green tea."
OK, I've read this sort of statement time and again on this site, but I have yet to read how to evaluate the purity of the tea. How does the fluoride, lead and/or aluminum get into one batch of tea and not into an other? Is this a result of processing methods, the soil it's grown in, is it inherent to some varietals of the plant Camellia sinensis and not to others?
One day soon I'll try Dr. Mercola's macha tea; for now I'm drinking sencha from http://www.peets.com. The people there take pride in the quality of their products too. I'd like to further the cause for wholesome food and drink, I would like educate others as well as myself. Please help me fill in the blanks. Thanks.
I do know that it has to do with the fluoride levels of the region the tea is grown in. Also, always avoid instant teas. Instant teas are processed with water during their manufacturing, and they pick up more fluoride that way.
My favorite tea is yerba mate. Less bitter than green tea, and still lots of benefits. I don't think there's ever been a study on its fluoride levels though, like what was done with green and black teas a few years ago.