The Miracle of Green Tea
For 4,000 years, the Chinese people have been using green tea as treatment for everything from headaches to depression.
Today, studies are conducted in Asia and the west in order to produce hard evidence of the health benefits of green tea. In the 1994 edition of the Journal of National Cancer Institute, the results of an epidemiological study stated that one of the health benefits of drinking green tea is that it can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by up to 60%.
The rich presence of catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the reason why green tea has so much health benefits. A powerful antioxidant, EGCG can not only inhibit the growth of cancer cells but can also destroy them without harming healthy cells.
A study by the University of Purdue has also concluded a research project on how a certain compound present in green tea can stop cancer cells from growing. Yet another health benefit of green tea is its ability to decrease cholesterol levels and improve the ratio between good HDL cholesterol and the bad LDL cholesterol.
The EGCG in green tea is a health benefit substance that can lower down LDL cholesterol levels and stop blood from forming abnormal clots (thrombosis), a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Green tea has more health benefits than other teas like oolong and black tea, even though they come from the same Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea is different because of the process by which it is made. Green tea gets much of its health benefits from how the Camellia sinensis leaves are steamed. The steaming process keeps the EGCG health benefits from oxidizing. With oolong and black teas, the leaves are fermented instead of steamed, which causes the EGCG be less potent.
Aside from medicinal value, green tea can also offer other health benefits, especially in the fitness field. Drinking green tea can cause a person to burn down more calories. A recent study on the health benefits of green tea shows that the drink can help dieters. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1999, men who take both caffeine and green tea burn down more calories than men who only take caffeine or a placebo.
Another exciting thing about green tea is that it even has bacteria-destroying properties. Studies have shown that green tea can help prevent food poisoning and even tooth decay. The compounds found in green tea can even kill the bacteria that cause food poisoning and dental plaque to form.
Green tea can almost be considered a miracle in a cup.
Posted under Tea
