4000 Year Old Secrets of Green Tea

The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea for over 4,000 years. But recent studies are just starting to unlock these ancient secrets of green tea.

Today, a great deal of research is being carried out about green tea health benefits and the findings are very exciting.

Here are just a few medical conditions that drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful with:

  • Cancer

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

  • High cholesterol levels

  • Cardiovascular disease

  • Infection

  • Impaired immune function

  • Controlling high blood pressure

  • Lowering blood sugar

Researchers believe the real secret of green tea lies in the fact that it is rich in EGCG which is a powerful anti-oxidant. EGCG has been found to kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

A University of Purdue study recently concluded that a compound in green tea actually inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

Red wine has been long studied because it contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet.

But researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese and French men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent of them are smokers.

Research also indicates that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

But the health benefits of green tea don't end there. Green tea has been found to inhibit the abnormal formation of blood clots which is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

New studies have actually shown that green tea can even help you loose weight. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition performed a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. 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.

It has also been shown that drinking green tea can give your body a greater ability to fight infection and kill bacteria.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay. Its bacteria-destroying abilities kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque and aids the immune system with its antifungal properties by improving digestive function.

You may be asking if other Chinese teas offer similar health benefits. But the answer is no. Although green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the way green tea is processed is what sets them apart.

Green tea leaves are steamed, and that prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. Black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which converts the EGCG into other compounds. This process makes oolong and black teas much less effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

So how much green tea should you drink? There are as many answers to this question as there are researchers investigating the health properties of green tea.

While some companies selling green tea say that ten cups per day are necessary to reap the maximum benefits, a University of California study on the cancer-preventative qualities of green tea concluded that you could probably attain the desired level of polyphenols by drinking two cups a day.

The research of this ancient beverage continues, and it may take decades to unlock all of the secrets it holds. Although green tea should not be considered to be a magic bullet, researchers agree the positive health benefits are very promising.

Copyright © 2004 PerfectCoffees.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article may be re-published "as is" (unedited) as long as the author's bio paragraph (resource box) and copyright information is included. The URLs in the resource box should be set as hyperlinks if used on a web page.

About The Author

Gary Gresham is the webmaster for http://www.perfectcoffees.com where you can purchase quality coffee, tea, cups & mugs, coffee gifts and delicious desserts online. He offers a free monthly coffee newsletter with similar articles at http://www.perfectcoffees.com/newsletter.html

Gary@perfectcoffees.com

Latest News


Alternative core inflation gauge sees biggest drop ever
MarketWatch - 16 hours ago
By Rex Nutting WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- An alternative measure of core inflation, which doesn't automatically exclude food and energy costs, ...

For IRA Investors, a Stock-Market Alternative: High-Yielding Notes ...
MarketWatch - 16 hours ago
It provides education in investment alternatives but it does not sell specific investments or investment advice. CM Yates, led by Christopher Yates, ...

ABC News

UPDATE 1-W.House backs Republican alternative on auto aid
Reuters - 17 hours ago
WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The White House said on Wednesday it supported an alternative Republican proposal for aid to the auto industry that would ...
Video: Auto CEOs Tell Congress Why They Need $25b AssociatedPress
US Automaker Executives Plead for Aid as Hopes Fade for Speedy Action CQPolitics.com
all 2,146 news articles

Dave Franchino Presents Alternative Fuel Technology at ...
MarketWatch - 18 hours ago
Beyond Firewood is the first major international conference investigating the use of alternative fuels in an effort to combat violence against women in ...

UK pension fund USS eyes alternative assets boost
Reuters - 19 hours ago
By Cecilia Valente LONDON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Britain's second-largest pension scheme is mulling a sharp boost in alternative assets such as private equity ...

Aljazeera.net

Senate Republicans drafting alternative $25 billion aid package
DetNews.com, MI - 16 hours ago
WASHINGTON -- The Bush Administration has sent language to Capitol Hill for an alternative auto aid package that would drop the fuel-efficiency requirements ...
A Rational Alternative to the Auto Industry Bailout Blogcritics.org
Levin warns not to kill auto aid MLive.com
Sen. Kit Bond tries last-ditch effort to find $25 billion for ... St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Los Angeles Times - The Associated Press
all 3,531 news articles

Washington Post

Montgomery Lawmaker Touts Alternative to Ambulance Fee
Washington Post, United States - Nov 18, 2008
By Ann E. Marimow Montgomery County Council member Phil Andrews today introduced what he called an alternative to a proposed ambulance fee that would ...
Red-light cameras mulled as source of EMS funding Business Gazette
Councilman proposes using speed, red light camera fees for fire ... Business Gazette
all 9 news articles

Washington Post

US seeks alternative supply routes to Afghanistan
Pakistan Dawn, Pakistan - 7 hours ago
By Our Correspondent WASHINGTON, Nov 19: The United States is seeking alternative supply routes for Nato troops in Afghanistan, including a tortuous ...
US seeks alternative supply routes PRESS TV
Afghanistan: The Search for Safer Supply Routes Stratfor (registration)
all 978 news articles

ZDNet

Microsoft to Replace OneCare with Thin Alternative
PC Magazine - Nov 18, 2008
by Mark Hachman Microsoft said Tuesday that it will discontinue its OneCare PC protection offering next June, replacing it with a thinner, free offering ...
The 'Morro' of the story CNET News
Microsoft to replace OneCare with free consumer anti-malware Current IT news from heise online
Microsoft to kill off Windows Live OneCare next year Ars Technica
DailyTech
all 259 news articles

• Grand Rapids schools studying overhaul of alternative education
The Grand Rapids Press - MLive.com, MI - 1 hour ago
As part of an overhaul of Grand Rapids alternative high schools, Adelante has been offering classes on Sunday and has been partnering with Fifth Third bank. ...

Resources