NEW YORK - Can imbibing tea affect brain waves - or perhaps more astonishingly, thwart the development of lung cancer?A growing number of scientists, including a team on Long Island, theorize that tea is far more complex than most people might think. As a result, they are exploring new ways to uncover the chemical secrets nature has tucked into the leaves of green and black teas."People have been drinking tea for 5,000 years, and many cultures have used teas for medicinal purposes for just about that long," said John Foxe, a professor of neuroscience and biology at the Nathan Kline Institute in Orangeburg, N.Y. Foxe studies the effects of tea on the brain. He presented data at a tea conference at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington.Foxe has found that an amino acid present in green, black and oolong teas has dramatic physiologic effects.

'Relaxation' Drink Launched in L.A.

Blue Cow Relaxation Drink, an anti-stress beverage, recently gained an exclusive distribution deal with Haralambos Beverages, a beverage distributor in Southern California. The relaxation beverage that was launched in late 2005 will join the Haralambos distribution family, which includes, vitaminwater, Snapple, Gatorade, Arizona beverages and Nestlé Waters and Campbell's beverages as a result of the deal.Anthony Haralambos, president of Haralambos Beverages, and George Smart, chairman/founder of Blue Cow jointly made the announcement Aug. 21. Blue Cow is beginning to launch its products starting in Southern California where it is currently in select Ralphs, Albertsons, 7-Elevens, AM/PM's and other stores, according to the company."The deal with Haralambos represents the opportunity for our company to enter 16,000 markets, stores, in Southern California.