The Miracle of Green Tea

Category: Health/Fitness
Written by: Em (on March 26, 2008 - 11:02 AM)

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Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

·        cancer

·        rheumatoid arthritis

·        high cholesterol levels

·        cariovascular disease

·        infection

·        impaired immune function
 

BENEFITS OF GREEN TEA:

 · Green tea and weight loss:

British supermodel Sophie Dahl's dramatic weight loss has been attributed, in part, to her drinking regular cups of green tea. Sophie followed Body Doctor David Marshall's nutritional advice, which advocates drinking as much toxin-flushing green tea as possible. Claims that it raises the metabolic rate and speeds up fat oxidation are supported by research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Dulloo A, et al 1999). It is also thought to reduce cholesterol levels and increase energy expenditure by inhibiting the digestion of fat in the intestine.

·   Tooth decay and hair/nail growth:

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Properties of green tea help grow strong nails and hair.

·  Beauty benefits:

Green tea is now the preferred drink of supermodels.Clinical evidence suggests that green tea is packed with health and beauty benefits that you can enjoy whether drinking it or applying directly to your skin. Even the leaves can be used as a gentle exfoliant, guaranteed to give your skin a healthy glow. Recent research shows that green tea extract is naturally rich in antioxidants, which help protect the body from free radicals - naturally occurring particles in the body associated with accelerated ageing and an increased risk of major diseases. Exposure to pollution, smoking and excess sunlight increases the number of free radicals in the blood, but the potent antioxidants found in green tea add strong weight to the belief that green tea not only promotes good health but also makes you look younger.

·   Mighty Mouth:

Green tea is also known for its ability to prevent bad breath - and it has the added advantage of tasting good if it's inadvertently swallowed.

·   Reduces High blood pressure:

Drinking green tea represses angiotensin II which leads to high blood pressure.

· Lowers blood sugar:

Green tea polyphenols and polysaccharides are effective in lowering blood sugar.

·  Fights cancer:

There have been many studies that have shown that green tea catechins are effective at preventing cancer.

·  Boosts Immune system:

Green tea also boosts the immune system because of its high concentrations of polyphenols and flavenoids.

Harmful effects:

To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.

In closing...

The bottom line is that properties found within green tea have multiple impacts on the body, all good. It certainly appears that green tea is a darned good health-promoting supplement, and it shows some real promise for promoting weight loss as well. It's one of the few natural supplements that has some decent clinical proof validating its claims. It's well worth trying, especially if you've got a good diet and exercise program under way.

Sources:
1. http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa011400a.htm
2. http://www.benefitsofgreentea.info/
3. http://www.ivillage.co.uk/beauty/skincare/aging/articles/0,,547681_642867,00.html
4. http://www.freeiln.com/green-teas/green-tea.htm 

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