The Health Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea is a refreshing and uplifting beverage in its own right, but aside from
this there is plenty of research to date that indicates green tea possesses a variety of
benefits to human health as well. Although many of these benefits have been widely
known for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is only in the
last few decades that green tea has come under the scrutiny of scientists in the western
world. The claims that it really is an elixir of life and preventative cure for
many ailments are slowly being validated through indepth research. For over
4,000 years Chinese Medicine has recommended the Camellia Sinensis as a preventative
to headaches, body aches, pains, depression and to generally assist in detoxifying, energising
and prolonging good health long into old age. The majority of this research has been
centred on the health giving properties of the polyphenols found in the green tea leaf.
The polyphenol referred to as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has recently been
isolated in many seperate studies and has been found to have significant
antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties as well as having a
beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. EGCG, the most abundant
of all the tea catechins, is just one of a variety of compounds and amino
acids that are stored within the leaf itself. This cocktail of vitamins, minerals and
amino acids is also thought to assist the body in warding of the effects of premature
ageing, maintaining the chemistry of the body so it's an inhospitable place for
food poisoning pathogens like Salmonella, alleviating certain allergies, balancing out
cholesterol levels and creating a flora in the mouth that promotes healthy
teeth and gums. Green Tea and AgeingProbably the most talked about
property of green tea is its apparent ability to slow down the ageing process. This
Polyphenol rich beverage packs an almighty antioxidant punch by helping to neutralise
free radicals in the body which left to their own devices can cause untold
damage to healthy cells. Oxidative stress like this is one of a
combination of mechanisms that can eventually lead to chronic or degenerative
diseases. It is also thought that the tea catechins are effective in reducing the
build up of LDL cholesterol (the bad type),
while maintaining the good HDL cholesterol (the good type). It seems catechins also have
one other remarkable trick up their sleeve in that they have the ability to
impede the production of Angiotensin II, which is one of the predominant
causes of high blood pressure. Healthy TeethOther
studies based on the fluoride content of green tea have noted its ability to
promote good dental health. Fluoride, which is naturally found in tea, is known to
strengthen the teeth by reinforcing the enamel and therefore help retard
the onset of cavities. Not only that, but the catechins present are thought to
suppress plaque formation and also create an unhealthy environment for the
bacteria that cause periodontal disease. Food PoisoningIn the
digestive system the tea catechins are understood to inhibit certain
bacteria that can cause food poisoning. These same antimicrobial properties that green
tea possess have also been shown to disrupt the Salmonella bacteria to great effect. As
well as having such potent properties that assist the digestive system green tea also
has a positive influence on the good bacteria that are essential to a healthy gut, notably
the lactobacillus bifidus bacteria. Green tea also appears to stimulate all internal organs
and at the same time enhance the immune system encouraging it to work at optimum level. Green
tea has recently become a firm favourite with many dieters as it is believed to increase
the body's metabolic rate. Known as thermogenesis, this boost to the metabolism is triggered
after kick starting areas of dormant fat burning tissue. As a dieters beverage it can also
claim to be very low in calories, unless of course it is taken with generous amounts of sugar.
It is these benefits that we now see green tea gaining popularity as the ideal drink to have whilst
dieting. AllergiesFurther studies on catechins have shown they are also
effective at reducing reactions to certain allergens. When the body is
subjected to an allergen it triggers a natural defence mechanism by releasing
histamine into the bloodstream. It is this histamine release that causes the various
allergic reactions we commonly see in Hayfever, Asthma and Eczema. Catechins are
reputed to inhibit the release of histamine into the blood, therefore reducing the symptoms for
those sufferers. Studies on green tea are still very much in progress, but it appears that
for thousands of years the Chinese have been wise to the health benefits green
tea has to offer. It is only now that we in the western world are catching on, and before long
we will not only regard green tea as a refreshing drink, but also fully understand how this
remarkable leaf can assist the body in all manner of ways.
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