Health Benefits of Green Tea

Green Tea Components and Healthy Effects

There are many university and government studies that suggest green tea may contribute to a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer, as well as to the promotion of oral health and other physiological functions such as anti-hypertension, body weight control, antibacterial and antiviral activity, solar UV protection, an increase in bone density, and nerve protection.

Green tea contributes not only for what health promoting properties it has but also for what it lacks - sugar, artificial sweeteners, calories, phosphates, and artificial colors.
Green tea is generally good for what health dysfunctions you suffer from. Here are several examples:

Heart

The heart is protected by green tea consumption because it helps relax the blood vessels, reduce blood clotting and improve blood-cholesterol levels. The American Journal of Epidemiology in 2001 reported that an estimated 11 percent lower rate of heart attacks among participants who drank three or more cups of tea per day.

Cancer

Green tea is rich in certain minerals and vitamins that increase the antioxidant potential. These disease-fighting antioxidants called poly-phenol can reduce glutathione peroxidase and catalase, which are cancer-causing agents. Researches reveal that a regular sized cup of green tea can have as much potency as the equivalent amount of blueberries, one of the best sources of antioxidant. Studies have also suggested a possible link between the consumption of fresh whole leaf green tea and reduced risk of various cancers, including those of the stomach, colon, skin, and breast.

China has the world’s lowest incidence of prostate cancer due to its high green tea consumption. Those who consume two to three cups of green tea daily in China have found to reduce their Esophageal cancer risk by 60%. In Japan, cigarette smokers are reportedly less likely to develop lung cancer if they regularly consume green tea.

Bones

Green tea contains fluoride and phytoestrogens, which may safeguard against osteoporosis and boost bone density. A study from China, published in a 2002 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that adults who drank tea at least once a week for 6 to 10 years had denser lumbar vertebrae than nondrinkers.

The Immune System

As new infections appear, our ability to resist the onset of viral disease increases and becomes a huge challenge to daily life. We are also vulnerable to attacks from within ourselves such as prolonged stress and a lack of exercise. The best defense is watching closely what we eat and drink. Studies show that green tea (together with black and oolong teas) may fortify the immune system against diseases such as the common cold and the ever-present flu and other conditions we are constantly exposed to.

Radiation

Japanese researchers sampled 200,000 atomic bomb survivors and found that green tea drinkers had less radiation sickness and a stronger survival rate than nondrinkers. In a 1959 report they concluded it was the Polyphenols in green tea that protected the bones from the ever-present strontium.

In today’s hi-tech world we are exposed directly or indirectly to radiation including x-rays, computers, radiotherapy and mobile phones. This produces free cell agents that may cause DNA change and reduction of leucocytes in blood. Green tea contains 20 to 35 percent Polyphenols that acts as a radiation-resistance agent.

Ageing

Many nutritional components in green tea, like phenol and vitamin E, have the function of refreshing the free DNA that causes ageing.

Teeth

Fluoride and catechin are notable elements found in green tea benefiting our oral hygiene.

Blood Sugar

A daily cup of green tea can reduce the level of blood sugar and lower the blood pressure and fat in the blood.

Nervous System

Vitamins in green tea will help maintain the nerve system, including the nerves in the eyes.

Toxins

Having a diuretic effect, green tea can help flush out the build-up of toxins in the body and help ease the tension placed on the liver. Especially after a night of drinking alcohol and or eating fatty foods.

Weight Loss

Green tea is said to be a useful glucose regulator, slowing the rise of blood sugar following a meal due to a particular digestive enzyme called amylase. This enzyme is fundamental in the breakdown of starches (carbohydrates), that can cause blood sugar levels to rise following a meal. Green tea may be the missing link in proper glucose management.

Green tea also helps aid weight loss by increasing the metabolic rate, causing greater calorie burn. A recent study confirms green tea's effectiveness. An article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 81, No. 1, 122-129, January 2005, indicates the ingestion of a tea rich in catechins leads to both a lowering of body fat and cholesterol.