Our Upcoming Speakers section is designed to inform you of the speakers that are scheduled to present at our monthly TASC meetings. Speakers and events are subject to change without notice.

Are you looking for Dr. Becker's lecture on TEA?  See bottom of this page!

JANUARY 26, 2007      Lecture of "The Role of Plumage Color" by Jason Crean
 

2006 LINE UP

JANUARY MEETING:  Ben Neiburger, Atty at Law.  "Setting up a trust for your birds"

FEBRUARY MEETING:  Kathy Pingry, Lead Zookeeper, Brookfield Zoo  "Bird Species at the Zoo"

MARCH MEETING:  Amanda Villacreses  "Bird Grooming"

APRIL MEETING:  "Penguins, Pasta, & Popcorn Party!"

MAY MEETING:  Chicagoland Wild Quaker Rescue

JUNE MEETING:  Willowbrook Wildlife Center.  "Raptors"

JULY MEETING:  Karen Becker, DVM   "The Truth about Avian Flu"

AUGUST MEETING:  Melynda Baker-Schnee  "Safe Toy Workshop"

SEPTEMBER MEETING:  Jean Dubach, PhD  "DNA Sexing Clinic"  (at Brookfield Zoo!)

(NOTE:  Don't forget to check out the NIPS Seminar this September!   www.nipsparrot.org)

OCTOBER MEETING:  Mary Hennen  "The Peregine Project"

HOLIDAY PARTY:  December 9th  at  6pm  at our usual meeting place!  5101 Belmont Road   Downers Grove, IL

*Speakers for 2006 and 2007 are booking now. If you are interested in speaking or know someone that you feel may be beneficial to invite to speak at TASC, please email TASCCHICAGO@aol.com
 

The Importance of Tea
Benefits for Humans & Other Animals

Karen Shaw Becker, DVM, NMD

Types of teas

n    Green

n    Black

n    White

n    Herbal

Tea plant: Camellia sinensis

n    Small, evergreen shrub

n    Habitat: primarily grown in Japan, China

n    The harvested leaves produce green, black, oolong and white teas

n    Variance in flavors due to processing

What’s the difference?

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

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

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

n    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:

n     Polyphenols (potent antioxidants):

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

n    Vitamin C: strengthens immune system

n    Lowers LDL cholesterol

n    Increases HDL cholesterol

n    Reduces blood pressure

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

Other benefits

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

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

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

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

Black Tea Health Benefits:

n    Antioxidants keep blood vessels supple, promote healthy blood flow

n    Flavonoids reduce incidence of atherosclerosis (narrowing of arteries)

n    Tannins: Chelate heavy metals, mainly lead and iron (used at Berlin Zoo with rhinos, Ramphastids, mynahs and tanagers for iron flushing)

White Tea Health Benefits:

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

n    Abundant polyphenols (antioxidants)

n    Aids the body in metabolizing carcinogens

Caffeine

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

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

n    Herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free

Herbal Teas:

n     Chamomile:

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

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

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

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

n    Digestive tonic, IBD

Herbal Teas:

n     Rose hips

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

n     Peppermint

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

n     Ginger root

n    Improves circulation,  anti-nausea, good for arthritis

n     Anise seed (parsley family)

n    Aids digestion, soothes cough, bronchitis

Herbal teas:

n     St. John’s Wort

n    Mental calmness, anti-anxiety, anti-OCD

n     Raspberry

n    Rich in calcium, magnesium

n    Considered a “female” tonic (used at Berlin Zoo for pregnant Babirusa and other animals to aid in uterine contraction)

n     Echinacea

n    Immune stimulation (interferon and T cell activity)

Herbal Teas:

n     Essiac

n    Founded in 1922 by Canadian nurse Rene Caisse

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

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

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

Herbal teas:

n     Rooibos (“Red” tea)

n    Grown high in the mountains of South Africa

n    Mineral rich (low tannins)

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

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

n    Contains alpha-hydroxy acid, antioxidants and SOD

n    Potent anti-mutagenic components that inhibits chromosomal breakdown

n    Abundant oligosaccharides that are anti-viral

Brewing hints:

n    Use hot, not boiling water to make tea

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

n    Remove the tea bag before serving

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

n    Substitute tea for water when making soft foods, pasta, rice, etc.

n    Never replace water with tea!  Suggests a fresh water source daily.