Tea and longevity

The news that Habib Mian, believed to be the oldest living person, has passed away apparently at the age of 138 after a bout of stomach flu in his hometown Jaipur in India, has saddened all the members of the XPRESS team.

The grand old man is dear to us because he was one of our earliest human interest stories and our condolences extend to all the 140 grandchildren and great grandchildren he has left behind.

No one really knows when he was born. He retired from his job as a clarinet player in the Jaipur State Forces Band in 1938 and his pension book notes his date of birth as May 20, 1878. However, others have claimed that he is actually eight years older and that lack of official proof has kept him out of the Guinness Book of World Records.

Well, whether he passed away at 130 or 138 is not the point. The fact that he lived a healthy life for this long despite his going blind almost 60 years ago is a miracle of sorts.

In May 2006, when he spoke candidly to our Leisure Editor, Mazhar Farooqui, about his loves, his depressions, his sadness and his joys, Habib Mian confessed that the secret of his longevity was down to the fact that he drank a lot of tea – 15 cups a day, to be exact.

Tea drinking started in 2737BC in China and Chinese medicine has for centuries subscribed to the conclusion that "Tea is good for your health". Researchers have also suggested that along with a low fat diet, fruits and vegetables at least five cups of tea a day will help fight heart disease and cancer.

In September 2007 scientists from around the world gathered together in Washington DC for the Second International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health to present new findings that the antioxidant qualities of tea may rival that of broccoli, carrots and even Vitamin E.

Also, in a series of studies at Rutgers University skin tumours in mice were treated with green and black tea to reduce carcinomas and skin lesions very successfully.

Tea, whether green, oolong or black is a favourite beverage with us at XPRESS and we take this opportunity to raise our steaming cups to Habib Mian.

Farewell, friend. May we live long, youthful lives in your memory.

Nirmala Janssen
editor@alnisrmedia.com

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