Benefits of drinking Green Tea

Although drinking tea has been associated with health benefits for centuries, only in the last few years has its medicinal properties been scientifically investigated. A recent Harvard health newsletter not only documented the healthy benefits of tea, but listed tips on how to get the most out of each cup.

The newsletter states the health benefits from tea are mainly due to its high level of flavonoids (naturally occurring antioxidants). Green tea is the best source of a group called catechins. In test tubes, catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties. Studies also found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal and bladder.

Green tea

Chinese Green Tea Discovered Thousand Years Ago! Chinese people have been drinking green tea to promote good health for at least 5,000 years. The one popular legend about Chinese Green Tea had been told that Chinese green tea was accidentally discovered by Emperior Shen Nung. While his preparing hot water, a leaf from nearby plant fell into the pot imparting a strong fragrance. He sipped and found it had a delightful and refreshing flavor. Chinese Green Tea is the most popular beverage and that is what is meant, when one is talking about 'tea'. Middle Kingdom states that 'luh cha' (lu cha), or Chinese green tea is so named because of the tint of the infusion, as opposed to the color of the leaves. In recent years, as a healthy source discovery that Chinese green tea is a rich source of antioxidants, many people in traditional black tea markets have also started to drink Chinese green tea either straight or as part of some green tea blends. Why Chinese Tea are in Green? Green tea leaves are steamed, heated in hot pans or roasting in an oven after picking, arresting bacterial growth. Then they are rolled by hand to squeeze out excess moisture and to release flavor enzymes. The green tea leaves are finally dried and packed. Chinese Green Tea Benefits Modern science tells us what Asian tradition has known for centuries.  Tea is good for you.  The strong anti-oxidants called polyphenols is found as a rich compound in Chinese Green Tea, which benefits in many ways for health. Studies have been done across the globe that show, Chinese Green Tea will flight against cancer, aging, bacteria, heart disease and help with digestion and weight loss. While Chinese green tea has received by far the most attention recently, both oolong and black teas have studies supporting their own distinctive claims.

Additional benefits for regular consumers of green and black teas include a reduced risk for heart disease. The antioxidants in green, black and oolong teas can help block the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and improve artery function. A Chinese study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed a 46%-65% reduction in the risk of hypertension in regular consumers of oolong or green tea, compared to non-consumers of tea.  Over the last few decades green tea has been subjected to many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long-purported health benefits, with some evidence suggesting that regular green tea drinkers have lower chances of heart disease and developing certain types of cancer. Although there is no scientific evidence that plain green tea can produce weight loss, a green tea extract rich in polyphenols and caffeine has been shown to be useful for "obesity management", since it induces thermogenesis and stimulates fat oxidation. 

Tips on how to get the most out of drinking tea:

Drink a cup of tea a few times a day to absorb antioxidants and other healthy plant compounds. Allow tea to brew for three to five minutes to bring out its catechins. The best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed. Decaffeinated, bottled ready-to-drink and instant teas contain less of these compounds and possibly greater calories.

*Disclaimer: No product or compensation was received or provided for by anyone to me.  This is my honest review of information the was e-mailed to me, and research I had done on the net, and 100% my opinion and no monetary compensation was given.