The North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) and the Indian Tea Association (ITA) have welcomed the FDA’s certification of Camellia sinensis tea as a healthy beverage. This landmark verdict supports the global tea industry’s assertions about the beverage’s myriad health benefits.

Tea manufactured from Camellia sinensis is now eligible for the “healthy” label

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On December 19, the FDA issued a final regulation revising the “healthy” nutritional content claim to assist consumers in identifying items that comply with dietary recommendations. As part of this upgrade, tea manufactured from Camellia sinensis is now eligible for the “healthy” label.

Peter F. Goggi, President of the Tea Association of the United States, described the certification as “fantastic news” for the worldwide tea industry, emphasising the opportunity to market tea as a health-promoting beverage.

Bidyananda Borkakoty, NETA advisor and former Vice-Chairman of the Tea Board of India, shared his excitement, “We are overjoyed with the FDA’s acknowledgement. Tea’s health advantages have been highlighted in research conducted around the world. “We urge the Indian government to promote tea as a wellness and lifestyle beverage,” he stated.

In a statement released by NETA, the FDA acknowledged previous research tying Camellia sinensis to potential health advantages, such as its association with certain malignancies.

The government stated that the “healthy” claim does not apply to herbal teas manufactured from other plants, such as chamomile, peppermint, ginger, lavender, hibiscus, butterfly pea flower, or masala tea.

The Indian Tea Association hailed the FDA’s decision

The Indian Tea Association (ITA), the country’s oldest organisation of tea producers, hailed the FDA’s decision as a watershed moment for the industry.

“The Indian Tea Association is pleased that the FDA has officially recognized tea as a ‘healthy’ beverage under its updated criteria. This allows manufacturers to voluntarily label tea products with the ‘healthy’ claim, provided they meet the specified standards,” the ITA stated.

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The group also cited the FDA’s Executive Summary, which stated that liquids including water, tea, and coffee with fewer than five calories per Reference Amount Customarily Consumed (RACC) and per marked serving automatically qualify for the “healthy” label.

“This decision validates the nutritional value of tea and enables consumers to make informed choices. Tea’s richness in antioxidants and its association with numerous health benefits make this recognition especially significant” the ITA further added.

Also read: Sip Some Green Tea, For Your Good Health

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California Assembly Bill 899 requires manufacturers of baby food to test samples for toxic elements (arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) at least once per month. Manufacturers must provide test results to authorized department agents and provide information disclosures to consumers on their websites.

AB 899 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom (D) on October 11, 2023. The bill stated that any baby food products sold or made in California will require testing for specific toxic elements beginning January 1, 2024. The heavy metal disclosure requirements are slated to go into effect January 1, 2025. Until recently, the bill was thought to impact only baby food sold in California that is marketed for children under two years old.

‘Clarification’ in the 11th hour

Speaking to NutraIngredients-USA, Jaclyn Bowen, executive director at Clean Label Project, said food brands have had 14 months to prepare for the new requirements. However, in late November, the California Department of Health clarified that the bill also includes dietary supplements, leaving nutraceutical brands clambering for guidance on how to implement the new requirements in a matter of weeks.

“We’ve been actively involved since the regulation passed in 2023,” said Bowen. “We’ve had a pretty good working relationship with assembly member Al Muratsuchi, the author of the program, as well as his legislative aides have been pretty helpful in terms of providing guidance and feedback. But this latest clarification around inclusion of dietary supplements is definitely something that’s happening at the 11th hour.

“I just think it’s going to be interesting for the dietary supplement industry, you know, here we are over the holidays, trying to figure out how to navigate this. Definitely the time is now to start figuring this out.”

And that’s exactly what the United Natural Products Alliance’s Loren Israelsen has been trying to do.

“I have written to the department twice and said, so how does it work now for DS? First of all, we’re not convinced that supplements were intended to be included by the authors of this legislation in California. The definition of food in California is a little different than the federal definition. And there is now an open debate whether or not California can legally require supplements to be included under their definition of food. So that may end up being litigated early next year,” said Israelsen, UNPA’s founder and president.

“So that’s problem one. Problem two is what are some of the companies supposed to do on virtually no notice. They can’t possibly come into compliance on January 1.”

Israelsen said at this point, he has more questions than answers, noting that the California’s Department of Health has been slow to respond and nonchalant when they do.

“I also said, by the way, there is nothing on your website. We had a webinar on this and our members went and looked at the California website trying to get details. They can’t find anything. And in fact, it’s not there. And so the response from California was, ‘well, yeah, it’s the holidays and we’ll do it first thing next year.’ So after it’s effective, basically, you’re going to give us some sense of how this is supposed to work?”

Vagaries and mystery

“I’m baffled. I’m really baffled at how the state, just the whole process, their reasoning, not discussing it, providing no notice. And now we ask and we’re trying to get some substantive answers. We’re really not getting much,” Israelsen said. “So that’s where we are. It’s really kind of a Kafkaesque moment here.”

Israelsen said the lack of clarity is leaving him in a tricky situation, unsure of how to properly advise companies.

“On one hand, it would be a lot of work, obviously, if you have products, you now have to go into rapid testing. Well, do you? Since we really don’t understand what we’re supposed to do, and it’s now the holidays, you can’t really begin any meaningful testing program,” he said. “It ought to be discussed within the company and decide, is this something where we need to join a litigation group to formally raise these issues?”

He added that the issue at hand comes down to whether the two sponsors of the bill, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and Senator Akilah Weber, originally intended to include supplements in the bill. Israelsen is convinced they did not.

“If the sponsors had wanted dietary supplements to be included, they easily could have explicitly just added those two words,” he said. “So all the way around, there’s just vagaries and mystery about how this came to be and the situation we find ourselves in.”

New Year, new clarification?

In the New Year, Israelsen hopes the bill’s sponsors and California’s Department of Health can get on the same page and come to an accord.

“And if it turns out that they say supplements are included, we would reserve the right to challenge that in court if we think that they really don’t, that they have misinterpreted the definition of food in California as it relates to dietary supplements,” said Israelsen.

“I just hope it doesn’t end up being an expensive, protracted litigation when it really shouldn’t be. There just needs to be some reasonable agreement. And then if it’s decided by all parties that we are included, give us a year. Like the real food side, they got a year to do the testing and change their labels.”

Eating a balanced diet supports everything from your bone health to immune system. Getting enough nutrients becomes especially important for older adults at a higher risk for low vitamin consumption, according to a paper published in Clinical Interventions in Aging.

Though your diet is where most of the essential nutrients you need come from, your doctor may recommend supplements or multivitamins to help fill in the gaps. For instance, people who take certain medications that deplete the body of a particular nutrient or those with dietary restrictions will need extra help to ensure they’re getting the essential nutrients.

We spoke to experts to figure out which vitamins and minerals you need for healthy aging.

1. Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that provides several key functions in the body. It keeps your muscles strong, regulates blood sugar levels and contributes to heart health. Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, a board-certified internist in integrative medicine, told us that “magnesium is critical for well over 300 reactions in the body.” He said an unprocessed diet has about 600 mg of magnesium daily, but the average American diet has less than 250 mg of magnesium after processing. For reference, the daily recommended amount of magnesium is 400 to 420 mg per day for adult men and 310 to 320 mg for women, but more is needed for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Dr. Teitelbaum warned that the effects of low magnesium may include an increased risk of metabolic syndrome. This can lead to heart attacks, strokes and dementia. You may also feel exhausted or experience widespread muscle pain if you’re not getting enough magnesium.

You can find magnesium in a wide range of ingredients. Dr. Peter Brukner, a specialist sports and exercise physician, said you can find magnesium in nuts, seeds, whole grains and leafy green vegetables like spinach. In extra yummy news, you can also get magnesium from dark chocolate.

“Some older adults or those who take specific medicines (such as diuretics or drugs for acid reflux) may not receive enough magnesium from their diet and might need a supplement,” he said. “However, too much magnesium can cause stomach issues, so be careful.”

2. B vitamins

You also need a range of B Vitamins, including B12 and folate (also called folic acid), to maintain your health as you age. Vitamin B-12 works with folate to help your body make new cells, including blood cells and nerve cells. While you don’t usually require more B12 as you age, your body cannot absorb it as well when you get older. Dr. Brukner said this is because “stomachs make less acid, and this acid is necessary to take the vitamin from food into the body.”

Dr. Teitelbaum said B vitamins are critical for energy production, and suboptimal levels can affect your health. He warns that B vitamin deficiency has been associated with “a marked increase of dementia (especially folic acid) and increased risk of heart attack and stroke (especially in those with elevated homocysteine levels).” Symptoms of B12 deficiency include weakness or poor balance, loss of appetite and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.

B12 is found in animal proteins like meat, fish and eggs. Dr. Brukner said that if you don’t eat these foods, you may want to turn to foods like cereals and nutritional yeast with added B12. “Older people, especially those having certain stomach issues or taking medicine that lowers stomach acid, might need to take a B12 vitamin supplement,” he explained.

Amelia Ti, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator in New York City, who is also part of CNET’s medical review board, adds that people taking medicine that blocks B12 absorption, like omeprazole or metformin, may also need a vitamin B12 supplement.

3. Calcium

The National Institute on Aging says that calcium is especially important for older people at risk for bone loss. The Institute recommends 1,000 mg each day for men between the ages of 51 and 70, and 1,200 mg per day for men 71 and older. Women aged 51 and up are recommended to take 1,200 mg each day.

“Calcium is well-known for making bones strong, but it is also crucial for muscles to work right,” Dr. Brukner said. “As people become older, their bodies take in less calcium from food, which can cause bones to become weaker.” You can get calcium naturally from sources like milk, yogurt and cheese. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health notes that calcium is also available in kale, salmon, tofu, almonds and spinach.

As for supplements, Dr. Brukner said, “If you are at risk for bone troubles or don’t get enough calcium in your food, taking supplements might be useful. But too much calcium can cause other issues like kidney stones, so talk with your doctor first.”

4. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is often called the sunshine vitamin because you typically absorb it through the skin just by being outside. However, during winter months, if you live in a cloudy climate or avoid natural sunlight as you age, you may not get enough. Your body needs vitamin D to properly absorb calcium, making it an important nutrient for bone health.

Dr. Brukner says that in addition to sunshine, you can get vitamin D from fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, fortified milk and cereals. Your doctor may also recommend a supplement if you’re experiencing bone loss or at risk of osteoporosis.

In addition to bone health, Dr. Teitelbaum said vitamin D can help you fight off disease. He said, “Suboptimal vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity, higher risk of severe infectious diseases (Dr. Fauci noted that he took vitamin D during the COVID [pandemic]) and increased cancer risk.”

5. Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to many of your body’s functions. They play a role in both heart and brain health. However, as Cleveland Clinic points out, your body isn’t able to produce enough omega-3s on its own. This means you need to get more from the foods you eat or supplements you take.

“Omega-3 fatty acids are very good for heart health and can help lessen swelling, which is important for older people,” Dr. Brukner explained. “They are also beneficial for brain well-being and might help guard against memory loss and diseases such as Alzheimer’s.” Ti adds that omega-3s help lessen swelling by reducing inflammation.

Fatty fish like salmon are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Dr. Brukner said you can also turn to flaxseeds, chia seeds and walnuts but added a warning: “These give a different type of omega-3 that the body does not use so easily.” Fish oil and algae oil can serve as supplements, too.

6. Zinc

A 2015 paper, published in Pathobiology of Aging and Age-related Diseases, calls zinc an “essential micronutrient for human health in general, and particularly for the elderly.” The authors say zinc plays “an important role in the aging process” and that zinc deficiency may be connected to several age-related chronic illnesses, which include hardening of the arteries, degenerative diseases of the nervous system, age-related changes to the immune system and cancer.

“When we get older, our immune system becomes weaker, and if we don’t have enough zinc, this can make it even worse,” Dr. Brukner explained.

You can find zinc in shellfish, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts and seeds. Dr. Brukner said oysters are particularly zinc-rich. He added, “Some older people might find zinc supplements helpful, especially if they often get sick or do not eat enough foods high in zinc. But taking too much zinc can cause problems with other minerals in the body, so it’s important to follow advised amounts.”

The bottom line 

Eating well can help boost your bones, immune system and more as you age. Along with exercise and other good habits, getting the right minerals and vitamins may improve your health. Try to get ample magnesium, B vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, omega-3s and zinc in your diet each day. Make sure you talk to your doctor before you take any supplements to find out how they may interact with your existing medications and health conditions.