Benefits of Green Tea

Way back from the ancient times, green tea has been used because of its diverse medical properties and benefits. Green tea originated from China. Believed to be a product of serendipity, it was discovered accidentally when tea leaves fell on a pot of boiling water.

Over the next decades, researchers across the world are constantly presenting hard evidences of the health benefits of drinking green tea. Now, green tea is made from brewing the leaves of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). It is by far the healthiest beverage known to man; it is even better than water. Due to its growing popularity, green tea extracts are also used as raw material for the production of different drinks, food supplements, recipes and even vanity and cosmetic items.
There are many kinds of tea but what sets green tea apart is that it has undergone minimum processing, as opposed to black tea and oolong tea which were made from fermented leaves of Camellia sinensis. Green tea has preserved most of its natural nutrients and chemicals, most notable of which is the catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG is supposed to be the responsible for the various benefits of green tea. The following are some.
1. Anti-Cancer Properties
EGCG has been proved to stall and even stop the growth of cancerous tumors. Researchers from University of Strathclyde in Scotland conducted a study and developed a method by which EGCG from green tea extracts are delivered to the target cancer cells. By the end of the study, it was found that 40 percent of the tumors shrank and eventually vanishing within a month. This effect can be achieved by consuming green tea extract supplements or by drinking at least four cups of freshly brewed green tea daily. This is also recommended lower the cancer occurrence to high-risk individuals like those with cancer in their family histories. Skin, prostate, ovarian, colorectal, lung and bladder cancers are among those that green tea were proven effective.

2. Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Green tea consumption was found to improve the elasticity of arteries which are the blood highways and are very essential in cardiovascular health. Over time, arteries are subject to damages due to free radicals which can form as plaques in the arterial walls. These plaques are the groundwork for various cardiovascular diseases such as Coronary Artery Disease, Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction or heart attack EGCG being an antioxidant protects the arterial walls from free radical damage and thus preventing development of cardiovascular diseases.

3. Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL) are the “bad cholesterols.” A rise from the normal LDL levels is also a big contributor to the formation of plaques in arterial walls. A study was made to give evidence to the ability of green tea consumption to lower LDL levels and in effect lowers the risk for heart diseases. The participants who drank green tea and consumed green tea extracts showed significant drops from their previous LDL levels. It is recommended that green tea should be consumed regularly, at least a cup or two to be drank with meals.

4. Mental Alertness and Memory-Boosting
Because of its caffeine content, drinking green tea is good for mental alertness. Emerging evidences nowadays prove that EGCG from green tea can also improve brain function, especially short-term and long-term memory. EGCG carries positive effects on neurogenesis, the process of generating new brain cells. Increased number of brain cells can boost memory and learning. Green tea is therefore tapped to be used to help combat memory loss and degenerative diseases like Alzheimer ’s disease.

5. Weight Loss
Catechins from green tea have been claimed to increase metabolism and taper off unwanted body fats. An enzyme from green tea was also found to hinder brain chemicals that regulate appetite. Significant reduction in waist circumference, weight, and total body fat was recorded among those who drank green tea in a Japanese study. It is recommended that at least four cups of green tea per day be consumed to achieve the slimming effect.
About the Author:
Irina Carter is the author of the site: Sildenafil UK where you can get a valuable run-down about ways of men’s problems and its medications. She loves writing about men’s health, supplements, nutrition, fitness and beauty.