Regular tea, as most people know it, is from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. There are three primary varieties of tea: green tea, oolong tea, and black tea, sorted according to their oxidation levels (known as the fermentation activity). Green tea is steamed, baked, or pan heated to prevent oxidation for that reason the leaves remain green. Not like green tea, oolong tea is partially fermented, and black tea is fully fermented.

So why is green tea getting all the attention in the science world? It's generally because of the antioxidant epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG), the important substance considered beneficial for one's health that is preserved in green tea but lost in oolong and black varieties when fermented. Antioxidants are considered to protect against free radicals.

A scientific explanation: Basically, a free radical is any molecular groups capable of independent existence, which includes one or more unpaired electrons not contributing to intermolecular bonding, and is, in that way, "free". They are caused by oxidation/reduction reactions, in which there is a transfer of only one electron at a time, or when a covalent bond is damaged and one electron from every pair persists with each atom. Consequently, a free radical carries an unpaired electron.

Plenty of free radicals are quite reactive, due to the bias of electrons to couple; that is, to couple by the delivery of an electron from a proper donor or to give an electron to the right acceptor. Once a free radical reacts with a non-radical, a chain reaction is initiated until two free radicals interact and after that stop the distribution with a 2-electron bond, with every single radical giving its single unpaired electron. The free radicals of definite focus in aging are the oxygen free radicals. These free radicals regularly carry an electron apart from a "target" molecule to pair with their single free electron; this is what is generally known as oxidation. The term reactive oxygen species is used to refer to these oxidants and the oxygen free radicals.

Inside the human body, oxidized free radicals are considered to stimulate tissue damage at the cellular level, initiating damage to our DNA, mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell), and cell membrane, and have commonly been mentioned as one of the causal agents attributed to aging, cancer, heart disease, and other human disorders dangerous to one's health. While the green tea ion of free radicals is a normal part of metabolism at the cellular level, things such as extreme alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and many chemical exposures only serve to gain the number of free radicals existent in the body. To evade free radical damage the body has a immune system of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and stop the chain reaction before crucial molecules are harmed (as in Vitamin C), or seek out and scavenge free radicals (as in Vitamin E). This is where it can be pointed out that study has stated that one of the great antioxidants found in green tea (EGCG) has been shown to be much more powerful than both Vitamins C and E. In comparison to other popular antioxidants, EGCG was proven to be 100 times more strong than vitamin C, 25 times more effective than Vitamin E and twice as powerful as resveratrol in neutralizing free radicals.

About Green Tea Extract: Green tea is rich in fluoride and therefore can help reduce tooth decay. Green tea extract has also been successfully used in the relief of respiratory and digestive related conditions and to boost immune system function. Green tea extract helps decrease hormone activity and is an effective treatment for acne. Green tea extract also protects against liver damage. Green tea helps promote healthy gastrointestinal tract (stomach, small intestine, pancreas, and colon) and lungs.

For more information about Green Tea Extract, please visit our website where you can find out all about dietary supplements.

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The botanical name Panax is given to the perennial plant with a fleshy root known as ginseng, the root is used to create a tea which is said to have many healing and energy-giving properties. These benefits are down to the natural chemicals inside the plant called 'ginsenosides'.

The origin of the tea is fairly blurry but it has been in use for over 5000 years. The ancient Chinese called it 'Ren Shen' and placed great faith in its healing abilities and a cure for all ailments. Ginseng became so valuable that it was bartered for silk and even prized above gold. Stocks of wild Ginseng became exhausted and it became commercially cultivated, however the wild variety still maintained an extremely higher value than the cultivated variety.

To make the tea, the root can be used fresh or in a dried form. It can be bought whole, sliced, in powder form or even in tea bags. The average ginseng plant is matured for about 6 years before it is harvested. It is available in a variety of forms across the world and commonly consumed for medicinal value.

It has been scientifically proven that the tea has a natural ability to reinforce the immune system, which can prevent colds, flu and some forms of cancer. Ginseng also has the ability to help lower cholesterol and blood sugar which can help those suffering from type 2 diabetes.

Tests have shown that ginseng was able to relax the muscles of the lungs and airway which provided relief for the symptoms of asthma, constriction of the airways and other lung diseases. Some non-scientific research has also shown a correlation between the use of ginseng and enhanced memory and cognitive ability, but these are not supported by scientific evidence.

The tea not only helps prevent certain types of cancer but also reduces the side effects of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments. It has also been strongly proven to support any other cancer preventatives.

The use of ginseng is widely known to effect men's libido, combating problems such as erectile dysfunction. The components of ginseng act on the central nervous system and the gonadal tissues to effect and improve libido.

You won't find Ginseng tea getting served with paper cup lids or biodegradable cups as there is a traditional brewing and serving process.

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As an oasis is to the dessert, or a cool breeze to a hot summer night, so is green tea to cholesterol.

Millions of people suffer from high cholesterol due to years and years of having a bad diet. Green tea can reverse much of this damage and can actually lower cholesterol.

As western science continues to advance thanks to computers, we now know how triglycerides and LDL contribute to cholesterol. In this advanced age, it seems incredible that a centuries old beverage like green tea can be the source of so much exciting new research.

If green tea was just good at lowering cholesterol, that would be reason enough to drink it. But green tea also has anti-cancer ingredients! Now before you doubt, you need to know the latest research done by credible universities and organizations. At the University of Purdue, researchers found that green tea actually inhibits the growth of cancer cells in the body! At the University of Kansas, researchers found the link between the low levels of heart disease in Japan even though more than half of the population are smokers! It turns out most Japanese drink green tea and that green tea has a chemical called EGCG in it. Researchers found that EGCG helps prevent cancer. But perhaps the most telling study of all was done by the National Cancer Institute. In a medical journal, they reported the results of a study on esophageal cancer in China. Their conclusion was that green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by over fifty five percent!

The benefits of green tea go on with new research that suggests green tea may also lower high blood pressure. The problem with this research though is that they say you need to drink 5 to 10 cups of green tea a day to lower your blood pressure. That is too much tea drinking for most people.

For more that 4,000 years the Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. So it is not just green tea and cholesterol or green tea and cancer; it is also green tea and depression!

Drinking tea also is reported to be helpful with rheumatoid arthritis, Cardiovascular disease, infection, and impaired immune function.

Scientists have determined that green teas healing properties come from catechin polyphenols like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a proven anti-cancer compound. Polyphenols appear to limit and counter some of the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet as seen in the Japanese population.

There's more! It is not just green tea and cholesterol or cancer; it is also green tea and weight loss. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a report that found out that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine.

There are also studies being done on green tea and tooth decay. Green tea has bacteria killing compounds that help prevent tooth decay.

Why is it that it is green tea and cholesterol not oolong tea or black tea? As we all know there are 3 types of tea, green, oolong and black. All of these come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. But why green? Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized while black and oolong tea leaves are made from dried or fermented leaves, which causes loss of EGCG.

The Chinese have certainly contributed to our understanding of the health benefits of drinking green tea.

There is new research coming out all the time about the health benefits of drinking green tea.

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