Green Tea Health Benefits: What Can Green Tea Do For You?

Green Tea Health Benefits: What Can Green Tea Do For You? You've probably heard the hype about green tea health benefits. Green tea is a healthy choice for most people to drink on a daily basis. Green tea is from the Camellia sinensis plant, just like oolong and black tea. The difference is that green tea is not fermented, while the other two are to varying degrees. Green tea can be taken as a beverage, I highly recommend using loose leaf green tea, as green tea tablets or as an extract.

What Makes it so Healthy?

Green tea's health benefits are mostly due to antioxidants, most notably one called epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG). Antioxidants are molecules that can safely interact with free radicals, rendering them incapable of damaging surrounding molecules. By the end of 2006, over 2,500 studies had been done on the health benefits of green tea. Tea also contains a compound called theanine, which stimulates alpha waves in the brain and calms the body.

Green Tea Health Benefits

During China's Tang Dynasty (about 1,200 years ago), Chen Zang, a pharmacist, once remarked, "Every medicine is the only medicine for a specific disease, but tea is the medicine for all causes." Turns out he was right.

Besides the antioxidant benefits of green tea, studies have shown that people who drink six or more cups per day have a 16% of outliving those who don't. Green tea starves cancer cells by restricting the growth of blood vessels and aids in the destruction of abnormal cells. Green tea helps patients who have had heart attacks and strokes recover faster, and helps keep arteries clear. It reduces cholesterol, triglycerides and blood clots. It lowers blood pressure. Studies have shown it can prevent diabetes and treat diabetics by making their insulin more sensitive. Green tea helps the body to burn fat. It protects the lungs from the harmful effects of smoking and the liver from alcohol. Green tea builds up antigens that fight bacteria, and so boosts the immune system to fight off colds and flu. It reduces stress and improves concentration. Green tea is effective against tooth decay and bad breath due to it high fluoride content. It preserves bone density and fights osteoporosis. And finally, a study from the UK shows that tea is even more hydrating than plain water.

Green Tea Side Effects

If you take prescription medications, be aware that green tea may cause interactions with some of them or lower their effectiveness due to the tannins and caffeine in the tea. It can also interfere with the absorption of iron. Pregnant women should limit their intake during the first trimester because EGCG binds with an enzyme in the body that is needed to produce healthy cell production. Some women who ingested high amounts of green tea during their first trimester were found to be at risk for spina bifida and other neural tube defects in their children. Increasing folic acid may help counteract this possibility.

Green tea health benefits are astounding in the sheer number of ways it can help your body. It is worth your while to find out if green tea can be of assistance in your own health regimen.

Are you looking for an excellent source for your green tea? Try Mountain Rose Herbs they have a wonderful selection of loose leaf green teas

If you enjoyed this article, Green Tea Benefits you may also like to read about an amazing little seed, Chia Seeds

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