The Health Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea is an unfermented tea, naturally low in caffeine, and very soothing. It is very popular because of its mild and fresh taste and its many benefits to health, including
- Cancer prevention
- Heart disease prevention
- Stroke prevention
- Rheumatoid arthritis prevention and relief
- Allergy relief
- Weight loss
Jane Pettigrew, in her recent article “What Can Green Tea Do for You?,” summarizes the results of world-wide studies on the health benefits of green tea. Catechins, powerful antioxidants contained in green tea, might offer protection against various forms of cancer (e.g. breast cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, skin cancer), heart disease, and arthritis, as well as against some bacteria and viruses. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most powerful of these catechins, is believed to prevent cancer cells from growing, to inhibit the growth of some bacteria (e.g. E.coli, Helibacter pylori, Staphylococcus aureus), and protect the brain against memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s. According to a Japanese study, people who drink up to 10 cups of green tea daily reduce their risk of developing any form of cancer. Green tea, Pettigrew further reports, might also be helpful in reducing the effects of aging on the skin. Polyphenols lower the cholesterol level in the blood and reduce blood pressure. Thus, green tea is believed to protect against such diseases as stroke, heart attack, or atherosclerosis. A Duch study found out that five cups of tea a day can reduce the risk of stroke by up to 70 per cent.
(Source: Jane Pettigrew, “What Can Green Tea Do for You?”, TEA & COFFEE TRADE JOURNAL, October 2006, www.teaandcoffee.net)
