The Many Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea, which originates in China but is now consumed throughout the world, is made with pure leaves, and is the least processed of all tea types..

The plant species whose leaves are used to produce the famous green tea is called Camellia Sinensis.

EGCG, the most abundant of all the tea catechins, is just one of a variety of compounds and amino acids that are stored within the leaf itself. A powerful antioxidant, it is thought to assist the body in warding off the effects of premature ageing, maintaining the chemistry of the body, inhibiting certain bacteria that can cause food poisoning, alleviating certain allergies, balancing out cholesterol levels and promoting healthy teeth and gums.

Anti-Ageing

One of the most talked about property of green tea is its apparent ability to slow down the ageing process. Recent research shows that green tea extract is naturally rich in antioxidants, which help protect the body from free radicals - naturally occurring particles in the body associated with accelerated ageing and an increased risk of major diseases. Exposure to pollution, smoking and excess sunlight increases the number of free radicals in the blood, but the potent antioxidants found in green tea add strong weight to the belief that green tea not only promotes good health but also makes you look younger.

Weight Loss

Green tea has recently become a firm favourite with many dieters as it is believed to increase the body's metabolic rate and fat burning ability. Green tea also appears to stimulate all internal organs and at the same time enhance the immune system encouraging it to work at optimum level. Known as thermogenesis, this boost to the metabolism is triggered after kick starting areas of dormant fat burning tissue. It is these benefits that we now see green tea gaining popularity as the ideal drink to have whilst dieting.

Health Benefits

For over 4,000 years Chinese Medicine has recommended the Camellia Sinensis plant as a preventative to headaches, body aches, pains, depression and to generally assist in detoxifying, energising and prolonging good health long into old age.

There are also several green tea research studies linking green tea to cancer prevention.

In addition to this wonderful benefit, green tea is also thought to promote an increase in metabolism that helps lower cholesterol in the body.

Further studies on catechins have shown they are also effective at reducing reactions to certain allergens. When the body is subjected to an allergen it triggers a natural defence mechanism by releasing histamine into the bloodstream. It is this histamine release that causes the various allergic reactions we commonly see in hayfever, asthma and eczema. Catechins are reputed to inhibit the release of histamine into the blood, therefore reducing the symptoms for those sufferers

Other studies based on the fluoride content of green tea have noted its ability to promote good dental health. Fluoride, which is naturally found in tea, is known to strengthen the teeth by reinforcing the enamel and therefore help retard the onset of cavities. Not only that, but the catechins present are thought to suppress plaque formation and also create an unhealthy environment for the bacteria that cause periodontal disease.

Although studies on green tea are still very much in progress, the many benefits green tea has to offer is still recognised by the Chinese to this day. It is only now that we in the western world are catching on, and before long we will not only regard green tea as a refreshing drink, but also fully understand how this remarkable leaf can assist the body in all manner of ways.

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