Oct
11

What’s The BIG Deal About Green Tea?

All tea (except herbal tea) has the same source: the Camilla Sinensis tea bush. Whether a tea leaf winds up in a cup of green, black, or oolong tea depends on what happens after it is plucked.

Black tea derives its dark color and full flavor from a complex fermentation process that includes exposing crushed tea leaves to the air for a strictly defined number of minutes.

Green tea is not fermented at all, but merely withered in hot air and quickly steamed or pan-fried. A gentle rolling and final heating stabilizes the tea’s natural flavors. Because of the gentle, nutrient-preserving method, green tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, in particular in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is a powerful anti-oxidant. Besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of abnormal blood clots, which is the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized.

Kill Free Radicals - Curb Inflammation - Prevent Cancer
Green tea contains several highly potent antioxidants that have been shown to curb inflammation, prevent cell death, and even ward off cancer. Studies indicate that drinking green tea regularly can significantly cut your risk for stomach, pancreatic and urinary bladder cancer.

Lower Cholesterol
There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

Fights Diabetes and Protects form Cateracts
"Black and green tea represent a potentially inexpensive, nontoxic, and, in fact, pleasurable [blood-sugar-lowering] agent," the researchers write. "Tea may be a simple, inexpensive means of preventing or retarding human diabetes and the ensuing complications."

In the study, the researchers gave green and black teas to diabetic rats for three months. They found both kinds of tea inhibited diabetic cataracts. The teas also had a blood-sugar-lowering effect.

To get the same dose of tea given to the rats, a 143-pound person would have to drink 4.5  8-ounce cups of tea every day.

Burn more Calories
Evidence is emerging that green tea can help dieters to achieve weightloss. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Keep your Teeth healthy
Green tea has shown to even help prevent tooth decay. Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that cause dental plaque.


How much do you need to drink to get any serious health benefits?

The recommended amount for healthy adults is 4– 5 cups per day.

No doubt, green tea belongs into the category of super-foods. However, regardless of all its wonderful and helpful properties, green tea can have side effects you need to know about.
 
Side Effects
Studies regarding side effects of green tea are limited. However, green tea is a source of caffeine, for which multiple reactions have been reported.

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. That may cause insomnia in adults, children, and infants (including nursing infants of mothers taking caffeine).

Caffeine has a diuretic effect on the kidneys as it increases urine and urine sodium/potassium levels, and potentially decreasing blood sodium/potassium levels). Thus, it may worsen the urge of incontinence.

Caffeine-containing beverages may increase the production of stomach acid, and may worsen ulcer symptoms. Tannin in tea can cause constipation.

Caffeine in doses of 250 to 350 milligrams can increase heart rate and blood pressure, although people who consume caffeine regularly do not seem to experience these effects in the long-term.

People with severe liver disease should use caffeine cautiously, as levels of caffeine in the blood may build up and last longer. Skin rashes have been associated with caffeine ingestion. In laboratory and animal studies, caffeine has been found to affect blood clotting, although effects in humans are not known.

Caffeine toxicity is possible with high doses. Doses greater than 1,000 milligrams of caffeine may be fatal. Chronic use can result in tolerance, psychological dependence, and may be habit forming. Abrupt discontinuation may result in withdrawal symptoms.

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