4000 Year Old Secrets of Green Tea

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.

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About The Author

Gary Gresham is the webmaster for where you can
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4000 Year Old Secrets of Green Tea
by Gary Gresham

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:

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The content on
this website is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your physician before using natural
remedies and before making any drastic changes to your diet or exercise program.