Green tea
Overview
Tea has been cultivated
for centuries, beginning in India China
There are three main varieties of tea -- green,
black, and oolong. The difference is in how the teas are processed. Green tea
is made from unfermented leaves and reportedly contains the highest
concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants are
substances that fight free radicals -- damaging compounds in the body that
change cells, damage DNA, and even cause cell death. Many scientists believe
that free radicals contribute to the aging process as well as the development
of a number of health problems, including cancer and heart disease.
Antioxidants such as polyphenols in green tea can neutralize free radicals and
may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.
In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine,
practitioners used green tea as a stimulant, a diuretic (to help rid the body
of excess fluid), an astringent (to control bleeding and help heal wounds), and
to improve heart health. Other traditional uses of green tea include treating
gas, regulating body temperature and blood sugar, promoting digestion, and
improving mental processes.
Plant
Description
What's
It Made Of?
Available
Forms
Plant
Description
Green,
black, and oolong tea are all derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
Originally cultivated in East Asia , this plant grows as
large as a shrub or tree. Today, Camellia sinensis grows throughout Asia and parts of the Middle East and Africa .
People
in Asian countries more commonly consume green and oolong tea while black tea
is most popular in the United States
What's
It Made Of?
Researchers
think the health-giving properties of green tea are mostly due to polyphenols,
chemicals with potent antioxidant properties. In fact, the antioxidant effects
of polyphenols seem to be greater than vitamin C. The polyphenols in green tea
also give it a somewhat bitter flavor.
Polyphenols
contained in teas are classified as catechins. Green tea contains six primary
catechin compounds: catechin, gallaogatechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin,
epicatechin gallate, and apigallocatechin gallate (also known as EGCG). EGCG is
the most studied polyphenol component in green tea and the most active.
Green
tea also contains alkaloids including caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline.
They provide green tea's stimulant effects. L-theanine, an amino acid compound
found in green tea, has been studied for its calming effects on the nervous
system.
Available
Forms
Most
green tea dietary supplements are sold as dried leaf tea in capsule form. Look
for standardized extracts of green tea. There are also liquid extracts made
from the leaves and leaf buds. The average cup of green tea contains 50 - 150
mg polyphenols (antioxidants). Decaffeinated green tea products contain
concentrated polyphenols. Caffeine-free supplements are available.
Source: Green tea | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/green-tea#ixzz3YE6pqc42
University of Maryland Medical Center
University of Maryland Medical Center
Eleven Health Benefits of Green Tea
This miracle beverage
is effective at fighting everything from cancer to acne. So pour a cup, and let
the benefits begin.
( source;- Readers Digest
)
/
·
Help
prevent multiple cancers
The study of green tea and cancer prevention is still in early
stages, but the results are promising. Researchers suspect that polyphenols in
green tea help kill cancer cells and stop their progression, an important role
to prevent various cancers.
• In a study of 472 women with breast cancer, those who drank the most green tea experienced the least spread of the disease. Researchers also found that women in the early stages of breast cancer who drank at least five cups of green tea every day during their diagnoses were less likely to have the disease recur after the completed treatment.
• In looking at more than 35,000 women in the Iowa Women's Health study, those who drank two or more cups of tea a day were almost 30 percent less likely to develop colon cancer than those who rarely drank tea.
• One Chinese study found that men who drank more than three cups of tea a day reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 70 percent. In another study funded by the National Institute of Health, 79 men with prostate cancer were told to either drink 6 cups of green tea a day or 6 cups of water. After 3 to 8 weeks, the levels of prostate-specific antigen, a protein that may indicate cancer, were lower in the men who drank green tea than those who drank water. An indicator of inflammation, nuclear factor-kappaB, linked to cancer growth, was also lower in the men who drank the green tea.
• In skin cancer studies, lab animals that were given green tea developed 1/10th as many tumors as animals that were given water. The EGCC in green tea inhibits the production of urokinase, an enzyme that cancer cells need in order to grow. It also seems to stimulate the process of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in cancer cells.
• In a study of 472 women with breast cancer, those who drank the most green tea experienced the least spread of the disease. Researchers also found that women in the early stages of breast cancer who drank at least five cups of green tea every day during their diagnoses were less likely to have the disease recur after the completed treatment.
• In looking at more than 35,000 women in the Iowa Women's Health study, those who drank two or more cups of tea a day were almost 30 percent less likely to develop colon cancer than those who rarely drank tea.
• One Chinese study found that men who drank more than three cups of tea a day reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 70 percent. In another study funded by the National Institute of Health, 79 men with prostate cancer were told to either drink 6 cups of green tea a day or 6 cups of water. After 3 to 8 weeks, the levels of prostate-specific antigen, a protein that may indicate cancer, were lower in the men who drank green tea than those who drank water. An indicator of inflammation, nuclear factor-kappaB, linked to cancer growth, was also lower in the men who drank the green tea.
• In skin cancer studies, lab animals that were given green tea developed 1/10th as many tumors as animals that were given water. The EGCC in green tea inhibits the production of urokinase, an enzyme that cancer cells need in order to grow. It also seems to stimulate the process of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in cancer cells.
Make your heart healthier
Green tea contains significant amounts of flavonoids,
antioxidants that protect against heart disease by slowing the breakdown of LDL
cholesterol, preventing blood clots, and improving blood vessel function. Green
tea is also associated with lower cholesterol and lower rates of artery
blockages. People who drink a cup or two a day have a 46 percent lower risk of
developing narrowed arteries. Upping that to three cups a day lowers the risk
of having a heart attack by 43 percent and of dying from a heart attack by 70
percent. It can even help prevent a second heart attack. In a study of 1,900
patients recovering from heart attacks at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston
/
Soothe arthritis
To cut down
on aches and pains, try to sip four cups of green tea a day. The tea contains
quercetin, a chemical compound that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant. In a recent study conducted at Case Western Reserve University
/
·
Boost your brain
Researchers from the
Netherlands confirmed in a recent study that two green tea compounds,
L-theanine and caffeine, can significantly boost levels of attention and
alertness, building on what is already known about tea’s brain benefits. Green
tea is less likely to make you jittery and anxious than other energy-boosting
drinks, because it contains lower levels of caffeine than other teas or coffee.
In another study published in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, researchers discovered that drinking just one cup of
green tea a day made people age 55 and older 38 percent less likely to
experience a decline in their mental abilities. Drinking a second cup daily
made them 54 percent less likely to show mental declines.
/
Clear up acne
·
A University of Miami study found that even a mild dose of green
tea’s antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds erased almost two-thirds of
pimples from people with mild to moderate acne when used twice daily for six weeks.
To benefit, make a cup of green tea, let cool, and use as a face wash, or lay
the tea bag directly on the skin to act as a compress for particularly bad
pimples. For oily skin, mix peppermint tea with the green tea for an oil
blasting wash; and to calm inflamed skin, add chamomile to green tea for a
soothing rinse
·
. /
·
Fight a UTI
Drinking 2 to 3 cups of
green tea daily can help clear up a urinary tract infection. The tea contains
antioxidants that one study found can reduce bladder inflammation. Other studies have
shown that green tea drinkers have a 40 percent lower incidence of UTIs than
those who did not drink green tea.
/
·
Relieve allergies
Green tea is
rich in flavonoids, plant chemicals that protect against inflammation. For
struggles with allergies, try drinking a few cups of tea a day and see if the
sinus inflammation goes down.
Reduce puffy eyes
Some
herbalists claim that tea bag compresses speed the healing of a black eye, but
to calm puffy tissues, take two wet green tea bags, place them on tired or
swollen eyes, and lie down for 15 to 20 minutes as the tea soothes and
refreshes.
/
·
Reduce asthma symptoms
·
The antioxidant quercetin, found in green tea, has been shown to
inhibit the release of inflammatory substances from mast cells, which are
involved in allergic responses. (This is how some asthma drugs work.) Try
drinking two cups
·
/
·
Cut down on stress
·
Green tea is lower in caffeine than most other teas, so you may be
able to drink the five cups a day that lowered psychological stress in a large
group of Japanese people in a recent study done at Sendai
·
/
Provide off-the-charts levels of antioxidants
Scientists at Tufts
University compared the
"ORAC" (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, a measurement of the
total antioxidant power of foods and other chemical substances) of black and
green tea and 22 fruits and vegetables, and found green tea brewed for five
minutes outranked even so-called superfoods on the produce list. And EGCC, a
catechin found in tea (and shows highest levels in green tea) has been shown to
protect the DNA in cells from cancer-inducing changes. Antioxidants are
essential for neutralizing and removing free radicals found in the bloodstream
that can damage cells and cause disease. This antioxidant ability may be why
green tea is believed to play a role in cancer prevention.
Green Tea’s
Beauty and Health Powers – 16 Benefits of Green Tea
Great skin and amazing
health is what we all wish for as women. Isn’t it? Most women want to
age gracefully, to get as old as Methuselah and still have the body and
strength of an 18 year old girl. I was one of the women looking for the power
to live long and remain beautiful; that’s when I came across Green Tea.
Tea has been in
existence for centuries and originated in China China China
Black Tea has been in existence as
long as its counterpart Green Tea however, the reason that Green Tea has more
health benefits attached to it than Black Tea is due to the processing. Black
Tea is processed in a way that allows for fermentation whereas Green Tea’s
processing avoids the fermentation process. As a result, Green Tea retains
maximum amount of antioxidants and poly-phenols the substances that give it its
superior benefits.
To avoid being too
technical, let’s talk about the power of Green Tea.
1.
Weight
Loss enhancer–
Like Britney said ‘You wanna hot body, look hot in a bikini,
you better work bee.’ The great news is, you don’t need to work too hard if you
incorporate Green Tea in your daily diet. Here’s the secret: Green Tea
increases the metabolism. The polyphenol found in Green Tea works to intensify
levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into
calories.
2.
Goodbye
to Wrinkles –
Green Tea and say bye bye to wrinkles. I don’t know
about you but I don’t want to see wrinkles any time soon. Green Tea can help
with wrinkles, reducing the signs of ageing. This is because of their
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Both animal and human studies
have demonstrated that Green Tea applied topically can reduce sun damage
3.
4.
.
5.
Shiny long hair –
To promote
lustrous hair, incorporate a Green Tea hair rinse in your hair care
regimen. Simply steep Tea bags in boiling water for 15 minutes and allow it to
cool for a few hours or overnight. Pour onto freshly-washed hair and leave on
for ten minutes. You need to remember to shampoo (with a sulphate free shampoo)
and condition afterwards to seal in the shine.
6.
7.
Stinky feet neutralizer –
Stinky feet is
not an aphrodisiac! Stinky feet equals mood killer. Instead, strip off
your shoes and socks and soak your feet in a cool solution made out of boiled
Tea. The tannic acid in Tea is both antibacterial and anti-fungal, so
it stops feet from sweating and smelling funky.
8.
Skin toning
and moisturizing –
Are you struggling with dry facial
skin and blemishes? Here is a solution for you: Spray cool Green Tea onto your
face alternatively, you can apply it with a cotton ball twice a day to draw out
impurities, shrink large pores and get a healthy glow.
9.
10.
Aftershave –
I know what
you are thinking. Men are not the only ones entitled to after shaves. If your
legs are itchy and red after shaving, try pressing a cool Tea bag against that
area of your body. The tannins work to provide immediate relief from razor
burns. This also works with Black Tea.
11.
Mosquito bite antidote –
This one would
interest all summer lovers like me who love to lie in the grass but are not too keen on the not too
friendly neighborhood mosquitoes. If you get unfortunate, all you
need to do to take down the sting and bumps, is apply a used cold Tea
bag directly to the area and take
a chill pill.
12. Cholesterol Minimiser -
Green Tea
reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol
to bad cholesterol.
13.
14. Diabetes –
We all know diabetes is becoming an
increasing cause of alarm around the world. Green Tea apparently helps regulate
glucose levels slowing the rise of blood sugar after eating. This can prevent
high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage.
15.
16. Heart Disease –
Unproved fact
however, scientists believe Green Tea works on the lining of blood
vessels, helping to keep them relaxed. This enables them to withstand changes
in blood pressure. It may also protect against the formation of clots, which
are the primary cause of heart attacks. What have you got to lose, why not try
it?
17.
Cancer Killer
–
Cancer, one of the
world’s biggest killers; hunting people down like Jack Bauer. Here is a
come-back to you cancer; Green Tea can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer,
but it is also widely thought to kill cancer cells in general without damaging
the healthy tissue around them. Tea catechins are strong antibacterial
and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from
influenza to cancer. In some studies Green Tea has been shown to inhibit the
spread of many diseases.
18.
al and
Parkinson’s –
Green Tea is said to
delay the deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Studies carried
out on mice showed that Green Tea protected brain cells from dying and restored
damaged brain cells. I know you are thinking, ‘well I’m not a mouse.
’
19.
Dental
Improvement –
Studies
suggests that the chemical antioxidant “catechin” in Tea can destroy bacteria
and viruses that cause throat infections, dental caries and other dental
conditions.
20.
21.
Blood
Pressure -
Regular consumption of Green Tea is thought to reduce the
risk of high blood pressure.
22.
23.
Mood
Enhancer –
I don’t know
about you but at the end of a day’s job being a mum, a wife and a full time
worker, I just want to put up my legs and relax. Fortunately I don’t look to
intoxicants to sooth me; I have a natural, safe and legal plant – Green Tea.
Theanine is an amino
24.
25.
acid naturally found in
Tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing
and tranquilizing effect and be a great benefit to Tea drinkers.
26.
27. Soothes
sunburns –
S un burn is every
girls’ oops moment. No one wants to walk around with a red patch on their
bikini set body. Cold compresses made out of Tea bags can relieve pain and
reduce redness.
Content from GistUs.com
Here are 10 health benefits of green tea that have been
confirmed in human research studies.
1. Green Tea Contains Various Bioactive
Compounds That Can Improve Health
Green tea is more than just green liquid.
Many of the bioactive compounds in the tea leaves do make it
into the final drink, which contains large amounts of important nutrients.
It is loaded with polyphenols like
flavonoids and catechins, which function as powerful antioxidants (1).
These substances can reduce the formation of free radicals in
the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. These free radicals are
known to play a role in aging and all sorts of diseases.
One of the more powerful compounds in green tea is the
antioxidant Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), which has been studied to
treat various diseases and may be one of the main reasons green tea has such
powerful medicinal properties.
Green tea also has small amounts of minerals that are important
for health.
Try to choose a higher quality brand of green tea, because some
of the lower quality brands can contain excessive levels of fluoride (2).
That being said, even if you choose a lower quality brand, the
benefits still far outweigh any risk.
Bottom Line: Green tea is loaded with bioactive
compounds that can have various beneficial effects on health
.
2. Compounds in Green Tea Can Improve
Brain Function and Make You Smarter
Green tea does more than just keep you awake, it can also make
you smarter.
The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known stimulant.
It doesn’t contain as much as coffee, but enough to produce a response
without causing the “jittery” effects associated with too much caffeine.
What caffeine does in the brain is to block an inhibitory
neurotransmitter called Adenosine. This way, it actually increases the firing
of neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and
norepinephrine (3, 4).
Caffeine has been intensively studied before and consistently
leads to improvements in various aspects of brain function, including improved
mood, vigilance, reaction time and memory (5).
However… green tea contains more than just caffeine. It also has the amino acid L-theanine,
which is able to cross the blood-brain barrier (6).
L-theanine increases
the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety
effects. It also increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the
brain (7, 8, 9).
Studies show that caffeine and L-theanine can have synergistic
effects. Thecombination of the two is particularly potent at
improving brain function (10).
Because of the L-theanine and the smaller dose of caffeine,
green tea can give you a much milder and different kind of “buzz” than coffee.
Many people report having more stable energy and being much more
productive when they drink green tea, compared to coffee.
Bottom Line: Green tea contains less caffeine than
coffee, but enough to produce an effect. It also contains the amino acid
L-theanine, which can work synergistically with caffeine to improve brain
function.
3
. Green Tea Increases Fat Burning and
Improves Physical Performance
rel=author itemprop=url' alt="Tea Plant"
class="alignright size-full wp-image-2823" v:shapes="_x0000_i1026">
If you look at the ingredients list for any fat burning
supplement, chances are that green tea will be on there.
This is because green tea has been shown to increase fat burning
and boost the metabolic rate, in human controlled trials (11, 12).
In one study in 10 healthy men, green tea increased energy
expenditure by 4% (13).
Another study showed that fat oxidation was increased
by 17%, indicating that green tea may selectively increase the
burning of fat (14).
However, I’d like to point out that some studies on green tea
don’t show any increase in metabolism, so the effects may depend on the
individual (15).
Caffeine itself has also been shown to improve physical
performance by mobilizing fatty acids from the fat tissues and making them
available for use as energy (16, 17).
In two separate review studies, caffeine has been shown to
increase physical performance by 11-12%, on average (18, 19).
Bottom Line: Green tea has been shown to boost the
metabolic rate and increase fat burning in the short term, although not all
studies agree.
4. Antioxidants in Green Tea May Lower
Your Risk of Various Types of Cancer
rel=author itemprop=url'
alt="Green Tea With Pot And Cups" class="alignright size-full wp-image-2824"
v:shapes="_x0000_i1027">
Cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of cells. It is one of
the world’s leading causes of death.
It is well known that oxidative damage contributes to the
development of cancer and that antioxidants can have a protective effect (20).
Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants, so it
makes perfect sense that it could reduce your risk of cancer, which it appears
to do:
·
Breast cancer: A meta-analysis of observational
studies found that whomen who drank the most green tea had a 22% lower risk of
developing breast cancer, the most common cancer in women (21).
·
Prostate cancer: One study found that men drinking green
tea had a 48% lower risk of developing prostate cancer, which is the most
common cancer in men (22).
·
Colorectal cancer: A study of 69,710 Chinese women found
that green tea drinkers had a 57% lower risk of colorectal cancer (23).
Multiple other observational studies show that green tea
drinkers are significantly less likely to get various types of cancer (24, 25, 26).
It is important to keep in mind that it may be a bad
idea to put milk in
your tea, because it can reduce the antioxidant value (27).
Bottom Line: Green tea has powerful antioxidants
that may protect against cancer. Multiple studies show that green tea drinkers
have a lower risk of various types of cancer.
5. Green Tea May Protect Your Brain in Old Age,
Lowering Your Risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
' alt="Elderly Man And Woman Holding Cups of Tea"
class="alignright size-full wp-image-2825" v:shapes="_x0000_i1028">
Not only can green tea improve brain function in the short term,
it may also protect your brain in old age.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease
in humans and a leading cause of dementia.
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative
disease and involves the death of dopamine producing neurons in the brain.
Multiple studies show that the catechin compounds in green tea
can have various protective effects on neurons in test tubes and animal models,
potentally lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s (28, 29, 30).
Bottom Line: The bioactive compounds in green tea
can have various protective effects on neurons and may reduce the risk of both
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, the two most common neurodegenerative disorders.
6. Green Tea Can Kill Bacteria, Which
Improves Dental Health and Lowers Your Risk of Infection
' alt="Green Tea in a Wooden Spoon"
class="alignright size-full wp-image-2826" v:shapes="_x0000_i1029">
The catechins in
green tea have other biological effects as well.
Some studies show that they can kill bacteria and inhibit
viruses like the influenza virus, potentially lowering your risk of infections
(31, 32, 33, 34).
Streptococcus mutans is the primary harmful bacteria in the
mouth. It causes plaque formation and is a leading contributor to cavities and
tooth decay.
Studies show that the catechins in green tea can inhibit the
growth of streptococcus mutans. Green tea consumption is associated with
improved dental health and a lower risk of caries (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40).
Bottom Line: The catechins in green tea may
inhibit the growth of bacteria and some viruses. This can lower the risk of
infections and lead to improvements in dental health, a lower risk of caries
and reduced bad breath.
7. Green Tea May Lower Your Risk of
Type II Diabetes
'
alt="Iced Tea in a Glass" class="alignright size-full wp-image-2827" v:shapes="_x0000_i1030">
Type II diabetes is
a disease that has reached epidemic proportions in the past few decades and now
afflicts about 300 million people worldwide.
This disease involves having elevated blood sugar levels in the
context of insulin resistance or an inability to produce insulin.
One study in Japanese individuals found that those who drank the
most green tea had a 42% lower risk of developing type II diabetes (45).
According to a review of 7 studies with a total of 286,701
individuals, green tea drinkers had an 18% lower risk of becoming diabetic (46).
Bottom Line: Some controlled trials show that
green tea can cause mild reductions in blood sugar levels. It may also lower
the risk of developing type II diabetes in the long term.
8.
Green Tea May Reduce Your Risk of
Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are
the biggest causes of death in the world (47).
Studies show that green tea can improve some of the main risk factors for these diseases.
This includes total cholesterol, LDL
cholesterol and triglycerides (48).
Green tea also dramatically increases the antioxidant capability
of the blood, which protects the LDL cholesterol particles from oxidation,
which is one part of the pathway towards heart disease (49, 50, 51).
Given the beneficial effects on risk factors, it is not surprising
to see that green tea drinkers have up to a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular
disease (52, 53, 54).
Bottom Line: Green tea has been shown to lower
total and LDL cholesterol, as well as protect the LDL particles from oxidation.
Observational studies show that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of
cardiovascular disease.
9. Green Tea Can Help You Lose Weight
and Lower Your Risk of Becoming Obese
Given that green tea can boost the metabolic rate in the short
term, it makes sense that it could help you lose weight.
Several studies show that green tea leads to decreases in body
fat, especially in the abdominal area (55, 56, 57).
One of these studies was a randomized controlled trial in 240
men and women that went on for 12 weeks. In this study, the green tea group had
significant decreases in body fat percentage, body weight, waist circumference
and abdominal fat (58).
However, some studies don’t show a statistically significant
increases in weight loss with green tea, so this needs to be taken with a grain
of salt (59).
Bottom Line: Some studies show that green tea
leads to increased weight loss. It is particularly effective at reducing the
dangerous abdominal fat.
10. Green Tea May Decrease Your Risk of
Dying and Help You Live Longer
Of course, we all have to die eventually. That is inevitable.
However, given that green tea drinkers are at a lower risk of
cardiovascular disease and cancer, it makes sense that it could help you live
longer.
In a study of 40,530 Japanese adults, those who drank the most
green tea (5 or more cups per day) were significantly less likely to die during
an 11 year period (60):
·
Death of all causes: 23% lower in women, 12% lower in men.
·
Death from heart disease: 31% lower in women, 22% lower in men.
·
Death from stroke: 42% lower in women, 35% lower in men.
Another study in 14,001 elderly Japanese individuals aged 65-84 years found that those who drank the most green tea were 76% less likely to die during the 6 year study period (61). Go
6 Surprising
Health
Benefits Of Green Tea
1. Combats Allergies
Green tea may need to be added to your
allergy season arsenal. Drinking the green liquid may provide some relief, as
it's been proven to be anti-allergenic; a specific compound, epigallocatechin
gallate (EGCG), appears to be the most potent.
A
2007 study published in the journal Cytotechnology found the tea polyphenol can reduce
pollen allergies. This is the first time a methylated form of EGCG can block
the IgE receptor — the key receptor involved in an allergic response. It
can elicit a stronger anti-allergenic response than normal EGCG, which makes it
the strongest anti-allergen compound found in tea. Quercetin, a naturally
occurring flavonol in tea, can also alleviate a histamine response.
2. Boosts Eyesight
Carrots have long been associated as a
food that promotes good eyesight, but science suggest there’s a new kid on the
block. The antioxidants found in green tea can actually penetrate the tissues
of the eyes and produce antioxidant activity. Catechins, an antioxidant in
green tea, are capable of being absorbed into the tissues of the eye.
A
2001 study published in the journal Experimental Eye Research found green tea can actually prevent
cataract-induced blindness. Researchers saw different parts of the eye absorbed
varying amounts of catechins, with the highest concentration of this
antioxidant found in the retina of lab rats fed green tea extract. The area
with the least absorption of catechins was the cornea. These findings suggest
that drinking green tea could serve as a protective measure when it comes to
eyesight, but its effects have yet to be confirmed in humans.
3. Lowers Cholesterol
The access to greasy foods puts your
health at risk for heart-related complications like high cholesterol. Replacing
unhealthy snacks and drinks with green tea could actually help keep your
cholesterol levels at bay. Green tea’s powerful antioxidant, EGCG, is believed
to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from the large intestine.
A
2011 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found green tea consumption
significantly lowered the total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol across 14
randomized controlled trials of over 1100 participants. Overall, green tea
intake led to significant reductions in total cholesterol — 7.2mg/dL, and
mean low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (2.19 mg/dL). Research suggests
drinking five cups of green tea per day will provide the biggest reduction in
cholesterol.
4. Promotes Healthy Gums
And Teeth
Drinking tea has been given a bad
reputation for its staining effect on your teeth. The hot beverage contains
tannic acid, which is what gives tea its dark-like color. However, the
consumption of green tea can actually be beneficial when it comes to your oral
health.
A
2009 study published in the Journal of Periodontology found the intake of green tea was
inversely correlated with periodontal disease. Regularly drinking green tea
reduced symptoms of periodontal disease, possibly due to the presence of
catechin. Catechin reduces inflammation in the body, and therefore, interferes
with the body’s inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria. Its ability to
control bacteria and lower the acidity of saliva and dental plaque makes it
useful for preventing cavities and other indicators of poor oral health.
5. Wards Off Oral Cancer
Green
tea has been known to target pancreatic cancer, and most recently oral cancer.
Its strongest antioxidant, EGCG, is able to help kill cancer cells through
destruction of the cells’ mitochondria, and may even become a possible
alternative to the debilitating chemotherapy. Green tea consumption is believed
to not be associated with any of chemo’s side effects, according to a recent study published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.
“It
looks like EGCG causes the formation of reactive oxygen species in cancer
cells, which damages the mitochondria, and the mitochondria responds by making
more reactive oxygen species,” Joshua Lambert, associate professor of food
science at Penn State, in a press release. Eventually, the
mitochondria loses its defenses with a breakdown in the expression of
antioxidant genes. It is in this weakened state the cancer cells succumb to
EGCG and die.
6 . UV Protection
You may want to add a packet of green
tea in addition to sunscreen and sunglasses when you visit the beach. The
catechins in green tea can actually make the skin more resistant to the effects
of UV rays and therefore premature skin aging. They can also lead to reduced
skin redness after UV exposure.
A
2013 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found a relatively low dose (540 mg)
of green tea catechins each day along with 50 mg of vitamin C for 12 weeks, or
two cups of green tea can considerably reduce the effect of UV radiation on the
skin. When UV exposure produced inflammation, green tea supplementation reduced
that effect. This is the first time oral doses of green tea has been proven to
make their way to skin tissues to limit the effects of the sun’s ultraviolet
rays.
A cup of green tea a day, may actually
keep the doctor away.
মন্তব্যসমূহ
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন