Friday, October 17, 2008

What Are The Health Benefits of Green Tea

There are those who are under the impression that green tea is quite a new drink but the truth is that the Chinese have been enjoying the taste and health benefits for about four thousand years.  Ailments that green tea is believed to help with include depression and even weight loss.  Of course, there are many types of tea on the market.

These are not simply wild and unsubstantiated claims; there have been studies in Asia and also in the West that prove them. In the 1994 edition of the Journal of National Cancer Institute, the results of an epidemiological study said that one of the health benefits of consuming green tea is that it can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by up to 60%.  This is just one of the health benefits of tea.

The rich presence of catechin polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the reason why green tea has so much health benefits. This potent antioxidant, EGCG can not only inhibit the growth of cancer cells but can also destroy them without affecting the cells that are healthy.

EGCG is a chemical that has been found to have the wonderful benefits of reducing LDL cholesterol and also prevent thrombosis which is formed because of blood clots.  This therefore can help the reduction of strokes and heart attacks.

Besides the medicinal value, green tea can also {provide|offer} other health benefits, especially when it comes to fitness. Drinking green tea can cause a person to burn down more calories. A recent study on the health benefits of green tea shows that the drink can help dieters. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1999, men who take both caffeine and green tea burn down more calories than men who only take caffeine or a placebo.

Another health benefit of green tea is its bacteria-destroying effects. The reason that this is so wonderful is that it can prevent tooth decay as well as food poisoning.

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