The Benefits of Green Tea
Drink, drink, drink... as much as you can... of course we are talking
about GREEN TEA. There is no drink reported to have as many healthy
benefits as green tea. According to the old chinese proverb " "Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one."
The Chinese have been using green tea for many years to treat
everything from minor headaches to depression. According to recent
studies from the National Cancer Institute, drinking green tea reduced
the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese population by 60%. It also
reduced cholesterol levels and improved HDL. A few medical conditions
(such as cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, general
infections) were also improved when people drank at least 3 cups a day
of green tea.
According to the National Cancer Institute drinking green tea reduced
the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese people by almost 60%.
University of Purdue concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits
the growth of cancer cells.
What is the secret of green tea?
Green, black teas and oolong teas all come from the leaves of the
Camellia sinensis plant. The difference is the way green tea is
processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG
compound from being oxidized. A recent study from the University of
Geneva shows that green tea can also help burn more calories and
prevent tooth decay!
Is there any side effects from drinking green tea?
The only side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due
to the fact that it contains caffeine. Compared with 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.
According to different studies, drinking green tea regularly has the
potential benefits to your health:
Increases metabolic rate
Anti-cancer properties
Boosts immune system
Lowers stress hormone levels
Inhibit intestinal inflammation
Improves bad breath
Increases short term memory
May help prevent diabetes
Helps regulate a cell's natural growth cycle
Keeps cancerous cells from growing the blood vessels they need to feed
themselves
How much green tea should I drink?
Clinical trials are now underway to determine the precise amount of
green tea needed for maximum anti-cancer activity. Until those results
come in, researchers who have studied green tea in Asian populations
note that drinking between three to four cups (roughly equivalent to 2
to 3 U.S. cups) of green tea per day has been associated with cancer
protection in many studies.
