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Green Tea |
Yoga for Beginners (Home) > Green Tea Green Tea Health BenefitsThrough archaeological research, evidence shows that Indian and Chinese cultures were the first to cultivate the tea and then steep the leaves in boiling water for use as a beverage. Today, billions of people around the world from many different nations consume tea and research has shown that green tea more specifically, has an abundance of health benefits. Green tea, also known as Chinese tea or Japanese tea, is made fromusingthe fresh leaves of the green tea plant, Camellia sinens is being its proper Latin name. The levels of polyphenols, or the powerful antioxidants, are found to be the highest in the green tea in comparison with black and oolong teas.These antioxidants work to neutralize the free radicals (naturally occurring compounds found in the body that hinder cell growth, repair and regeneration)and help to prevent or reduce the damage thatthey cause. Medicine in India and China use green as a stimulant,as an astringent in order to control bleeding and to heal wounds, to improve the health condition of the heart, as a diuretic for encouraging removal of urine,for treating gas in the body, regulating blood glucose levels, encouraging healthy digestion, regulating body temperature and also improving mental function. These practices go back centuries and are still in use today, that must show the proof alone that it indeed works. Today, studies on green tea has shown conclusive results in the following areas after lengthy research was conducted: Atherosclerosis, High Cholesterol, Cancer, Inflammatory Bowl Disease, Diabetes, Weight Loss and Liver disease. Atherosclerosis is a disease in regard to the arterial blood vessels, it is commonly referred to as a hardening of the arteries where a buildup of plaques occur on the interior wall of the artery causing inflammation. The antioxidant properties of green tea were reported to possibly prevent this disease from occurring. Green tea research on high cholesterol shows it can lower the total cholesterol level while raising the good HDL, or less commonly known as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol count. It is suggested that the antioxidants in green tea perhaps block the intestines from absorbing the cholesterol and also adds in the removal of it from the body. Cancer rates generally show lower incidents in areas where green tea is regularly consumed, such as in Japan. The following cancers have been linked as having beneficial effects from green tea. Green tea has shown through studies to either damage, kill or stop the progression of cancerous cells in bladder cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, and stomach cancer. Some of the cancer research has had conflicting results and more research is needed for more definitive results. Also, in some forms of cancer if the disease was in an advanced stage it showed no beneficial signs to the subject. Another notable instance was that green or black teas were found to work against chemotherapy treatments. In diabetes, green tea is suggested to help prevent type 1 diabetes or to slow its progression once signs of the disease have started. Green tea has shown to prevent disorders of the liver and protect it from various damaging effects. Green tea extract has been associated with boosting metabolism and aiding the body to burn fat. In all studies, green tea was either drank or used in extract form. The amount of green tea drank in a day varied greatly from one cup daily to ten cups daily, with most studies showing best results from large quantities of green tea consumed. Green tea contains caffeine and as with any dietary modification consultation with one's physician is optimal for best results.
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