The Miraculous Properties Of Green Tea
There is an ancient Chinese proverb that states, "(It is) better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one." While this proverb does not actually reference green tea specifically, the many health benefits attributed to this miraculous seeming beverage are such that they may as well be speaking of green tea.
The many beneficial properties of green tea
Few natural health food products have been tied in with as many health benefit claims as green tea has. Of course with the ever-changing nature of the health food scene, with numerous new foods being ascribed health benefits on a seemingly daily basis, many foods have come up on the scene with their ardent supporters trumpeting claims of the next new miracle food in tow. One can hardly be blamed therefore, for being the least bit skeptical about yet another miracle food substance.
The green tea difference
What makes green tea different from all those other health foods vying for attention from the global health food community however, is that it has been around for much longer. The health benefit claims of green tea may seem like a new trend, but the Chinese have actually known about it and used it for various purposes for thousands of years. Using it as a virtual cure all for a number of conditions ranging from headaches to depression, green tea is definitely not just another health food upstart. In fact, some experts have determined that green tea has been used in China for its medicinal properties for more than 4,000 years, and it still remains its widespread popularity in that country to this day.
Newer research into green tea
Adding credence to the long years of green tea use are numerous scientific studies in Asian and western countries that show clinical evidence of health benefits that you may be able to gain from drinking green tea regularly. In 1994 for example, an extensive study conducted by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed that drinking green tea regularly may significantly reduce the risk of incurring esophageal cancer in Chinese test subjects. Comprised of both male and female subjects, the study found that the risk of getting this disease was reduced by as much as 60%.
Over in the west, researchers at the University of Purdue also found that green tea actually contains a compound that may slow the growth of cancer cells. Still other studies have shown that drinking green tea may lower total cholesterol levels, and improve the ratio of good cholesterol versus bad cholesterol.
With all these studies seemingly pointing to the many benefits of drinking green tea, it is certainly worth a closer look as a healthy addition to any diet.