The history of tea may possibly date back to 2737 B.C. The commonly held story in China states that the emperor Sheng-nung discovered green tea accidentally while boiling water near a tea plant. Some of the leaves fell into the water and the emperor liked the taste!

Green tea has become one of the most well researched natural foods. There has actually been over 1000 studies conducted with green tea to find evidence of its health-promoting properties. The research has found that green tea contains powerful antioxidants called catechins that are very powerful in protecting us from oxidative stress.

Even though Britain, by far, is the most famous tea drinking country in the west, the Dutch are actually attributed with being the first nation to export tea to the west. The Dutch East India Company sent the first shipment of tea to Europe in 1606. It was a big hit, so by 1610 the Dutch were shipping tea back home on a regular basis.

The other common story is of prince Siddhartha during the 6th century. After denouncing his claim to the throne, Siddhartha vowed to meditate for nine years without sleep. Five years into his vow he became a little drowsy and was drawn to chew the leaves of the Camellia sinesis plant, finding that it helped him become alert.

Siddhartha carried the leaves and seeds with him throughout his travels, eventually bringing them to Japan. The monks there embraced the tea and also used it for their meditation practices to help keep them focused. Eventually this practice of drinking green tea became an art in Japan, evolving into the famous Japanese tea ceremony.

As a result of the Dutch exports, the first teas served up in Britain were done so at coffee houses - at very expensive prices! The popularity of tea in Britain didn't begin until they started receiving exports from the East India Company in the 18th century. This popularity grew even more during the British Colonization of India in 1858, when exports of tea increased further.

It was also the Dutch that introduced tea to the US. Dutch settlers brought tea with them to a colony once called New Amsterdam around 1650, where it became a very popular drink. Dutch trade of tea also expanded to the US by this time, ensuring the supply of tea for the New Amsterdam residents.

These catechins are not just powerful antioxidants, but can also aid weight loss. Many studies show that catechins can somehow speed up our metabolism. One Japanese study suggests that in high doses, green tea can burn as much as an extra 70-80 calories per day!

Joseph Edwards enjoys writing about and drinking tea, especially green tea! He is also an advocate of green living, and, well, all things green! For more information about green tea visit Benefits of Drinking Green Tea .

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According to legends, tea was discovered by a Chinese emperor about 5,000 years ago. This Chinese emperor was boiling water to the belief that it can become more potable and safer to drink. When suddenly a large gust of wind took over and blew the leaves into the water that's boiling. By the combination of water and leaves, a brown mixture was fashioned. Reluctantly, the emperor discovered the mixture making a very fragrant aroma. The moment he tasted it, he described it to be agreeable. From that moment on, green tea was born.

Regardless of how correct this legend is, what's crucial is that green tea have developed into one of the most up to date drink in China. Drinking green tea made two discoveries referring to health benefits. Apart from green tea becoming an antioxidising agent it is also claimed that it can help with cancer prevention, heart protection, osseous rheumatism prevention and liver protection.

Cancer prevention. Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases man has ever known. It has killed a lot of lives in many forms and is continuously killing more. With the discovery of green tea being able to help in cancer prevention and treatment, a lot of studies are trying to support every claim. It is said that through drinking green tea, cancer has shown significant evidences of diminishing cancer cell results. Preliminary investigations have proven that green tea can prevent the growth of cancer cells in organs like the digestive system, urinary bladder, and the pancreas.

Heart Protection. Antioxidants in green tea are one of the main reasons why people are being enticed by it. By reducing incidences of increased cholesterol level in out body, it therefore reduces the body to experience hypertension and cardiac diseases. Studies also show that green tea can help minimize thrombosis formation which is also an associated factor to heart disease. When thrombosis goes into blood circulation, there will come a time when the thrombus will block the way of the blood that is supposed to go to the heart and this will compromise the heart with blood supply. Preventing thrombus formation is one very important effect of green tea.

Arthritis Prevention. Some say it's awfully improbable for green tea to affect bone sicknesses but the tea have proved them wrong because reports have it that green tea can forestall rheumatism. Not only can green tea fend off rheumatism from occurring but also dump the troubling symptoms being gave by the problem too. According to analyze, green tea has a part which has the ability to ease redness. Research also indicates that antioxidants have the capacity to delay any arthritic process that might occur and minimizing argumentative symptoms too.

Live Protection. Because liver is another agent responsible for metabolism, it is seriously influenced by green tea. There's forceful relationship of bonds between liver function and antioxidants. When the liver does it job, it filters the body from poisons and washes it away through excretion.

Poisons are referred to threatening substances that we gather through daily living like digested food, breathed air, consumed water, alcohol intake and even residue of fag smoking. What green tea supplies the body is exciting and fortifying the immunological system making the liver more capable of filtering each single substance that could be dangerous to the body.

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For years people have lauded green tea for a variety of reasons. Many have found it easy to enjoy with a taste that is enjoyable. There are even some health benefits of this drink that have been hinted at over the years. These parts of green tea are all things that make it popular.

The materials used to make the tea are very unique. They are leaves from tea plants in Asia. While this tea works with a harvesting process similar to what works with other options the leaves are unfermented. This is a very vital difference with regards to how the team is made. Oxidation will be reduced because of how the fermentation process on these leaves will not work.

The cholesterol benefits that can be found here are great to check out. Studies have found that general cholesterol levels will decline over time when green tea is consumed. HDL cholesterol, which is the "good" type of cholesterol, can also rise in the body. This is through how polyphenols in the tea can help to prevent cholesterol from being absorbed in the body. These polyphenols are common plant chemicals that can be very helpful.

Because the leaves used for this tea are unfermented more antioxidants are present here. This is an important health benefit in that these can work to remove free radicals. These are materials in the body that can develop from everyday toxins from pollution and foods. With these removed the body will be able to feel less fatigue. The immune system can be improved too.

A great variety of different benefits can be found in green tea. One example is that it can get metabolism improved so fat can be burned faster. Inflammation from inflammatory bowel disease can be handled too. Type 1 diabetes can be prevented or handled as well. This comes from how the tea can work to get glucose levels in the blood regulated.

The last part to see here is the taste of the tea. A nice mint flavor can be found in this drink. Many other herbs can be used as well to help with adding to the flavor. Some fruit flavorings can be used for the drink as well. These flavors, which can help to make it easy for people to drink, include lemon and strawberry flavors.

All of these factors are great ones to see with green tea. It works for improving one's health in all sorts of ways. It is also a good tasting drink.

Drink a healthier beverage by getting some green tea. Finding the different offers out there can be done online. Look for some green tea extract to become more healthy now!

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