The Real Health Benefits Of Green Tea
Something that the Chinese and Japanese know already–and in fact have known for thousands of years–is that green tea does a body good. In fact, it is quite amazing that such a miraculous substance has taken so long to take hold in the west, where it has only recently achieved widespread attention for its numerous health benefits. Nevertheless, green tea has converted many new users to the fold, and it is now one of the most highly regarded health foods in the west.
The antioxidant content of green tea
One of the most widely held claims about green tea is that it can help prevent certain types of cancer. At the heart of this benefit is green tea’s antioxidant content, which is thought to reduce the risk of cancers of the bladder, colon, esophagus, pancreas, and stomach by as much as 60%. The predominant antioxidant in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, which is more than several times more potent than vitamin C and vitamin E as far as cell protection is concerned.
The other health benefit of green tea
Green tea has also been shown to lower the levels of "bad" cholesterol in the blood, while at the same time increasing the levels of "good" cholesterol. This partly explains the reason why green tea drinkers have less cholesterol n their system compared to non-drinkers, despite increased cholesterol consumption.
Green tea prevents thrombosis
Blood clots are among the most common causes of which makes green tea’s ability to prevent the abnormal formation of blood clots even more significant. The regular consumption of green tea has in fact been shown to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attack considerably.
In addition, green tea drinkers can also look forward to lower blood pressure, due to the angiotensin II repressing properties of the tea’s ingredients. And for people that are wary of getting type 2 diabetes, the fact that the polyphenol and polysaccharide content of green tea is particularly effective at reducing blood sugar levels makes green tea worth a closer look.
Green tea is good for dental health
Plaque formation is one of the root causes of tooth loss and gum disease, and green tea again shows benefits in this are as well. The ingredients in green tea can actually suppress the formation of plaque and even kill bacteria that cause the formation of plaque. A further benefit is that green tea will also destroys bad breath causing bacteria, making it ideally suited for drinking after eating sweets.
These are only some of the health benefits that have been attributed to regular green tea consumption. There are probably many more health benefits left to discover, and green tea will almost surely be recommended as part of a healthy diet for a long time to come.