Green Tea Benefits

It has become well understood that green tea benefits are quite comprehensive and can now be backed up by evidence from clinical studies giving us all a better indication as to the benefits of consuming green tea and what the impacts may be. Green Tea contains virtually no calories, no sodium, no fat, no sugar and is not carbonated at all.

Green tea benefits are primarily associated with the presence of strong polyphenols called catechins of which epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most active polyphenol in green tea and widely thought to be the cause of green tea benefits and it’s health promoting effects. Green tea’s anti-oxidising effects are believed to combat free radicals, which over time scientists believe may damage elements in the body, such as genetic material and lipids, and contribute to to chronic disease. Research continues on a frequent basis highlighting further potential health benefits and suggesting that polyphenols in tea play an important role in the prevention of disease.

These polyphenols are thought to prevent cancer and heart disease, impact Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis through lowering inflammation, stablising blood sugar levels associated with the prevention of diabetes development, defending the liver against toxic substance damage, and helping with weight loss reduction through boosting of the metabolism.

Through population-based studies, it has been shown that men who drink green tea are more likely to have a lower cholesterol level than men who don’t drink green tea. Green tea is thought to be effective in reducing Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol, it is believed that this as a result of polyphenols blocking the absorption of of cholesterol by the intestine and helping the body to excrete it. Alongside this, it is thought that green tea’s properties include slowing-down the formation of blood clots which are well understood to be the principal cause of heart attacks and stroke. In addition population-based studies have shown results which indicate that adults who consumed over 2 cups of green tea per day lower their risk of contracting cardiovascular disease by 22-23%, further research indicates that those that drink 3 cups of tea a day decrease their risk of heart attack by 11%.

Researchers believe green tea benefits are the result of powerful polyphenols which not only inhibit the growth of cancer cells but also kill them without affecting other cells in the body. A number of population-based studies have shown that cancer rates in countries which consume green tea on a frequent basis such as Japan are lower than those who do not. Emerging clinical studies also suggest that the polyphenols in tea, particularly green tea, may play an important role in the prevention of cancer.

Ultimately, green tea benefits are derived from the way in which it has been processed, where it’s leaves are steamed, preventing the EGCG compound from being oxidised and locking-in all of green tea’s health promoting components.