Tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves are used for drinking for their flavor. It is the same plant that is used for making black tea (e.g., Assam, Darjeeling, etc.), oolong green tea (Chinese tea), and Japanese green teas (Hojicha, Sencha, Gyokuru, & Matcha). In black tea, oxidation is used in processing the leaves, which are exposed to air, giving them a dark color and smoky flavor. Oolong green tea uses partial oxidation, in which leaves are withered for only a short period.  In Japanese teas, oxidation is prevented, leaving them rich in antioxidants and thus making them more beneficial from a health perspective.

Matcha is a finely ground powder of green tea leaves with a high caffeine content, while hojicha is a roasted green tea with less caffeine. While both offer health benefits, matcha may contain more energy-boosting compounds and antioxidants.

Dr. Manoj Sharma, a Professor of Social and Behavioral Health and Internal Medicine, and President of Health for All, Inc., answers queries on breast cancer.

You have likely heard that walking 10,000 steps a day is beneficial for health.  Is there any scientific evidence or rationale? Are there any firm guidelines by the US Department of Health and Human Services in this regard?  How to monitor our steps? How many of us count our steps?   These are just some questions that arise in our minds, so let us examine them closely.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Dr. Manoj Sharma answers queries on skin cancer and its prevention.

Food additives are so ubiquitous that billions of people knowingly or unknowingly consume them every day. Many food additives offer no nutritional value, but are legal to be used in many countries, including the United States.

Drinking alcohol is widely prevalent in the United States despite its well-recognized deleterious health sequelae. Alcohol comes in various forms (e.g., beer, wine, rum, whisky, etc.), but all of them contain ethanol; thus, the health risks are the same regardless of the form.

A lot of us enjoy eating chocolates and have often wondered if there is any health benefit of eating them, or if they are detrimental to health.