Green Tea -- Astonishing Health Benefits


G reen tea can boost your health in some pretty amazing ways. First of all, you need to know that it comes well recommended. The Chinese have been drinking this beverage for thousands of years -- giving it a long and proven history as a health remedy.

 Modern research too has shown that drinking green tea is beneficial to your health.

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Here’s a list of seven health benefits of this tried andtrue brew:

1. Weight loss

Drinking this beverage helps you feel full, so it can curb yourappetite. It may also help you burn more calories according toa study published in November, 1999, by the American Journal ofClinical Nutrition.

2. Anti-Aging properties

Green tea is rich in the antioxidants vitamin E and C.Antioxidants destroy free radicals that damage cell membranes.Damaged cell membranes lead to diseases such as cancer, heartattacks and diabetes.

Drinking it may help relieve the suffering caused by rheumatoidarthritis. This was revealed in a study in April 1999 byresearchers at Case Western Reserve University inCleveland.

3. Asthma relief

Green tea contains a substance called theophylline. It’s amuscle relaxant, so it can cause the muscles supporting thebronchial tubes to relax -- thus reducing asthma’s ability torestrict normal breathing.

4. Lowers blood pressure

If you have high blood pressure, you will be more susceptibleto a heart attack or stroke. Green tea may prevent theformation of blood clots which lead to heart disease andstroke.

5. Fights cancer

A team from the Mayo Clinic found that three out of fourchronic leukemia patients (who were given green tea extract)seemed to experience regression of the disease. The fourthpatient also showed some improvement. The doctors gave theextract a try after a 2004 test tube study of green tearevealed that leukemia cells were killed by the substance.

According to the American Cancer Society, “Green tea containschemicals known as polyphenols, which have antioxidantproperties. Catechins are the major group of polyphenols ingreen tea. The most important catechin seems to beepigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG may cause cancer cellsto die like normal cells do. It may also work by stopping newblood vessels from forming, a process called angiogenesis,thereby cutting off the supply of blood to cancer cells.”

It is interesting to note that there seem to be fewer cancerdeaths in Japan than in the United States. Could it be becausecitizens there drink a lot of green tea?

6. May lower cholesterol

Studies have shown that this drink may help lower cholesterolwith no side effects. By lowering cholesterol, the bodyreceives help in fighting heart disease and stroke as well.

7. Guards against infections

In April of 2003 the New York Times reported that its extracthas the ability to strengthen the immune system’s ability tofight disease. Microbiologist Milton Schiffenbauer, professorat Pace University (New York) stated, “Our research shows teaextracts can destroy the organism that causes disease. If wecan stimulate the immune system and at the same time we aredestroying the organisms then it makes sense to drink moretea.”

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Green tea treats sunburn, strained eyes, blemishes, rashes andminor cuts because of its antiseptic properties.

Try gargling with it when you feel a cold or the flu coming on.Soak your feet in it for athlete’s foot or just as a refreshingfoot bath.


In this article you’ve read an impressive list of claims forthe health benefits of drinking green tea. Although not a magiccure, it sure wouldn’t hurt to add this proven ancient beverageto your daily diet.



Source: http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com/green-tea.htm

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Posted By: tajuddinThursday, April 29, 2010 Total views: 4582


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