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Green Tea
Green Tea Used for
Centuries to Promote Good Health
Green tea has been a favorite beverage among Asian cultures for centuries,
and for good reason. In fact, the Chinese have known about its health-inducing
qualities since 2737 B.C. when a medical book noted tea's health benefits.
Today, we know that green tea can help fight cancer, heart disease,
stroke, bad breath, dental decay and the signs of aging. It is packed
with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants that can help
us live longer, healthier, happier lives.
What Makes Green Tea Different
Well, what makes green tea different from your typical black tea?
As Lester A. Mitscher, Ph.D. and Victoria Dolby point out in The Green
Tea Book, all teas come from the same plant called Camellia sinensis.
The difference between black tea, oolong and green tea is all in the
processing that occurs before brewing. Unlike black tea, which is
completely fermented, and oolong, which is semi-fermented, green tea
is unfermented, meaning the leaves have not been subjected to the
oxidizing effect of natural enzymes present in the plant. To prevent
oxidation, green tea leaves are boiled immediately after picking to
debilitate these enzymes. Because it is not fermented, green tea is
able to retain its polyphenols, which are the antioxidants that help
to keep us healthy. For example, Mitscher and Dolby explain that green
tea has about 10 times the amount of vitamin C as black tea because
of the different processing procedures.
Polyphenols Provide Protection from Free Radicals
So what do these polyphenols do? In Healing Teas, Marie Nadine Antol
describes them as substances that help "defuse free radicals,
the compounds that roam the body causing all kinds of havoc."
Free radicals are responsible for causing aging, certain cancers and
heart disease because of the damage they do to cell membranes. The
four polyphenols that are responsible for most of the antioxidant
properties in green tea, collectively called catechins, are epicatechin
(EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG),
epigallocatechin (EGC) and epigallocatechingallate
(EGCG).
Health and Cosmetic Benefits
Along with all the medical ailments that green tea can alleviate,
it has cosmetic benefits as well. Helen Gustafson points out in her
book The Green Tea User's Manual, that, "Green tea also produces
a mild stimulating effect without causing insomnia or nervousness,
kills bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities and bad breath, and
may even slow the aging process by enhancing the body's fluid balance
and reducing stress." It can also help prevent the signs of aging
on your skin such as wrinkles and a bland complexion by preventing
free radical damage to collagen, the elastic tissue in skin cells
that provides firm, smooth skin.
Reduces Risk of
Heart Disease
Green tea can reduce the risk of heart disease by inhibiting the plaque
that can attach to arteries and by reducing the production of the
platelets that thicken and clot blood. This factor alone can decrease
the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease among green tea
drinkers. The flavonoids found in green tea are the same as those
found in fruits, vegetables and red wine, which promote heart health.
Green tea has also been shown to reduce the risk of stroke.
Reduces Risk of Cancer
One of the most important reasons to switch from your coffee or black
tea to green tea is because of its potential to prevent cancer. The
polyphenols found in green tea have the ability to prevent carcinogens
from becoming active and destroying cells that can lead to cancer,
as well as neutralizing the free radicals in the body before they
can interfere with the DNA within cells and form tumors.
Supports Healthy Digestive System
Upset stomach? Green tea can help you there too. It has been found
to promote healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract and fight harmful
bacteria that can cause diarrhea or constipation. The Green Tea Book
adds that it can also protect the stomach, intestine and colon from
carcinogens.
Promotes Healthy Weight Loss
Dieters might like to learn that in Cooking with Green Tea, Ying Chang
Compestine cites a study conducted by the University of Geneva in
Switzerland showing that the caffeine and flavonoid combination found
in green tea "increase[s] basal metabolism, fat burning, or both,"
resulting in faster weight loss without the risk of harmful products
or fads.
Promotes Healthy
Blood Sugar
Carb-watchers and diabetics can also benefit from drinking a cup of
green tea because it inhibits the activity of amylase, an enzyme that
aids in the breakdown of carbohydrates, thus reducing the absorption
of carbohydrates during digestion. Lower carbohydrates means lower
blood sugar levels, which in combination with the pancreatic benefits
of green tea, leads to balanced insulin for diabetics. Diabetics at
risk of renal failure can also benefit from the polyphenols that can
improve kidney cell function.
Natural
Source of Certain Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Another reason to go green? It is a great way to get vitamins D, K,
B-2, carotenoids and many minerals. So whether you are dieting, diabetic,
health-conscious or just looking for a boost, green tea may be the
"magic" potion you're looking for. It is undoubtedly the
Eastern cure for Western disease. WF
References:
Healing Teas by Marie Nadine Antol
Cooking with Green Tea by Ying Chang Compestine
The Green Tea User's Manual by Helen Gustafson
Tea: Addiction, Exploitation and Empire by Roy Maxham
