Tea for Birds

Everything you wanted to know

about teas for your avian companions

Karen Shaw Becker, DVM, NMD

The History of Tea

¨ Began in China, 5000 years ago

¨ Emperor Shen Nung discovered tea by accident

¨ Brought to the U.S. by the Dutch in 1650

Types of teas

¨ Green

¨ Black

¨ White

¨ Herbal

Tea plant: Camellia sinensis

¨ Small, evergreen shrub

¨ Habitat: primarily grown in Japan, China

¨ The harvested leaves produce green, black, oolong & white teas

¨ Variance in flavors due to processing

What’s the difference?

¨ Green: young leaves picked and dried quickly, minimally oxidized then fired

¨ Black: complete oxidation of the mature leaf prior to firing

¨ Oolong: leaves are rolled after harvesting, allowing the volatile oils to react
with air. Very slow oxidation prior to firing

¨ White: picked before the leaf buds have opened (buds are covered with short, white hairs), leaves are steamed and dried quickly

Green Tea Health Benefits:

¨ Polyphenols (potent antioxidants):

¨ scavenge free radicals (20-30 times the potency of vitamin E)

¨ Vitamin C: strengthens immune system

¨ Lowers LDL cholesterol

¨ Increases HDL cholesterol

¨ Reduces blood pressure

¨ Nutrients: carotene, B1, B2, B6. Folic Acid, Manganese, potassium

Other benefits

¨ American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found green tea significantly increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation

¨ American Association for Cancer Research found green tea has the ability to prevent gene damage (associated with the onset of cancer)

¨ Contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which slows angiogenesis (tumor blood vessel growth)

¨ Clinical studies confirm green tea’s role in reducing heart disease, incidence of stroke

Black Tea Health Benefits:

¨ Antioxidants keep blood vessels supple, promote healthy blood flow

¨ Flavonoids reduce incidence of atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries)

¨ Tannins: Chelate heavy metals (lead and iron)

White Tea Health Benefits:

¨ Strongly inhibits mutagenicity (a result of unrepaired DNA damage), potent anti-cancer properties

¨ Abundant polyphenols (antioxidants)

¨ Aids the body in metabolizing carcinogens

Caffeine

¨ Green, black, oolong and white teas must be decaffeinated for birds

¨ Purchase teas that are decaffeinated by water and carbon dioxide (to retain the polyphenols) NOT ethyl acetate

¨ Herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free

Herbal Teas:

¨ Chamomile:

¨ Significant increases in urinary hippurate (a breakdown product of polyphenols) which has antibiotic properties

¨ Increases in urinary glycine, an amino acid that has been shown to relieve muscle spasms

¨ Contains nerve relaxants (acts like a natural calmative/sedative)

¨ Beneficial for insomnia (and nightmares), pain, stress, hyperactivity, anxiety

¨ Digestive tonic, IBD

Herbal Teas:

¨ Rose hips

¨ Natural source of vitamin C and bioflavonoids. Potent blood, liver and kidney tonic. Use for fatigue, recovery from illness

¨ Peppermint

¨ G.I. upset, antiseptic properties, anti-viral

¨ Ginger root

¨ Improves circulation, anti-nausea, good for arthritis

¨ Anise seed (parsley family)

¨ Aids digestion, soothes cough, bronchitis

Herbal teas:

¨ St. John’s Wort

¨ Mental calmness, anti-anxiety, anti-OCD

¨ Raspberry

¨ Rich in calcium, magnesium

¨ Considered a “female” tonic

¨ Echinacea

¨ Immune stimulation (interferon and T cell activity)

Herbal Teas:

¨ Essiac

¨ Founded in 1922 by Canadian nurse Rene Caisse

¨ Several herbs, including burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm, Indian rhubarb

¨ Used to restore health to thousands of individuals (cancer)

¨ Herbs are used to help cleanse the blood, nourish the immune system

Herbal teas:

¨ Rooibos (“Red” tea)

¨ Grown high in the mountains of South Africa

¨ Mineral rich (low tannins)

¨ Contains natural anti-spasmodics (helps with colic, indigestion, muscle fatigue)

¨ Rich in flavonoids, especially aspalathin, which is anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory

¨ Contains alpha-hydroxy acid, antioxidants and SOD

¨ Potent anti-mutagenic components that inhibits chromosomal breakdown

¨ Abundant oligosaccharides that are anti-viral

Brewing hints:

¨ Use hot, not boiling water to make tea

¨ Let the tea cool completely before offering it to your birds

¨ Remove the tea bag before serving

¨ If your bird is suspicious, steep tea for a shorter period (make tea more dilute)

¨ Substitute tea for water when making Bean Cuisine, etc.

¨ Never replace water with tea!