Among all teas, green tea contains highest concentration of polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant. Polyphenols are responsible for reducing oxidative damage to cells (a key contributor to aging and chronic disease).
With its healing properties, green tea has been proven to benefit the body in a number of ways.
Green Tea and Cancer
Green tea has been shown to help in the fight against many cancers, including skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder.
According to one study, published February 15, 2005 issue of the Journal of Clinical Cancer Research, green tea causes cancer cells to bind together, thereby inhibiting its growth. "In effect, the green tea extract may keep the cancer cells confined and localized, where they are easier to treat and the prognosis is better,” says Jian Yu Rao, the study's senior author in a press release dated February 16, 2005. He adds, “Cancer cells are invasive and green tea extract interrupts the invasive process of the cancer."
And another study published in a 2009 issue of Nutrition and Cancer, found that one polyphenol in particular, EGCG, was responsible for inhibiting tumor cell growth.
Green Tea and Heart Disease:
Coronary artery disease occurs when the cells that line the arteries (endothelial cells), malfunction. If left untreated, this condition can lead to heart attack or stroke. But there’s good news. Research shows that green tea improves the function of these cells and, therefore, reduces the risk of heart disease.
One study, published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation showed that those who drank green tea had a significant increase in flow-mediated dilatation (a measurement of endothelial cell function) 30 minutes following consumption.
In addition, green tea is widely believed to reduce cholesterol. Researchers with the Department of Food Science and Microbiology at the University of Milan found that consuming as little as two cups per day lowered LDL cholesterol significantly.
Green Tea and Weight Loss
Metabolism (the body’s ability to convert food and other substances into energy) has also been shown to reap the rewards of this power-packed beverage. One study published in the December 1999 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found a direct link between the catechin polyphenols contained in green tea and an increase in energy expenditure. And another study published in the December 11, 2008 issue of the Journal of Nutrition cited a lowering effect of green tea catechins on abdominal fat in overweight adults.
Green Tea has been used as a healing agent in China for centuries. And its numerous proven health benefits and increasing credibility in the medical community make green tea the idea healing drink of choice.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about their health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sources
Alexopoulos, N; Vlachopoulos, C; Aznaouridis, K; Baou, K; Vasiliadou, C; Pietri, P; Xaplanteris, P; Stefanadi, E; Stefanadis, C. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation. June 2008 - Volume 15 - Issue 3 - pp 300-305. “The Acute Effect of Green Tea Consumption on Endothelial Function in Healthy Individuals.”
Dulloo, A; Duret, C; Rohrer, D, Girardier, L; Mensi, N; Fathi, M; Chantre, P; Vandermander, J. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol. 70, No. 6, 1040-1045, December 1999. “Efficacy of a green tea extract rich in catechin polyphenols and caffeine in increasing 24-h energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans.”
Erba, D; Riso, P; Bordoni, A; Foti, P; Biagi, PL; Testolin, G. Journal of Nutrition and Biochemistry. 2005 Mar;16(3):144-9. “Effectiveness of moderate green tea consumption on antioxidative status and plasma lipid profile in humans.”
Karmanos, Barbara Ann, Cancer Institute, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University. Nutrition and Cancer. 2009 Nov;61(6):827-35. "Molecular mechanisms of green tea polyphenols."
Koo, S; Noh, S. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 2007 March; 18(3): 179–183. “Green Tea as Inhibitor of the Intestinal Absorption of Lipids: Potential Mechanism for its Lipid-Lowering Effect.”
Maki, K; Reeves, M; Farmer, M; Yasunaga, K; Matsuo, N; Katsuragi, Y; Komikado, M; Tokimitsu, I; Wilder, D; Jones, F; Blumberg, J; Cartwright, Y. Journal of Nutrition. First published December 11, 2008;doi:10.3945/jn.108.098293. “Green Tea Catechin Consumption Enhances Exercise-Induced Abdominal Fat Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults”
Stephanie Young - I am a freelance writer with 15+ years of communications experience. I am also the mother of two who, like most people, has lived through ...
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