Is any other food or drink reported to have health benefits as many as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal properties of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China since at least 4000 ans.Aujourd 'Today, scientific research in both the Asia and the west offers hard evidence for health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good cholesterol (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL). To summarize, here are some medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:
- cancer
- rheumatoid arthritis
- high cholesterol levels
- cariovascular disease
- infection
- impaired immune function
cancer rheumatoid arthritis high cholesterol levels cariovascular disease infection impaired immune function
What makes the function makes green tea so special? The secret of green tea lies in the fact that it is rich in catechin polyphenols , in particular epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It was also effective in reducing LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added significance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes cérébraux.Des links are made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox ". For years, researchers have been intrigued by the fact that despite a diet high in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers at the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, although about 75 percent are not fumeurs.Pourquoi other Chinese teas have similar health properties-giving?
Green, oolong and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. In contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in the prevention and fight against various maladies.Autres avantagesDe new evidence is now that green tea can even help dieters. In November 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. The researchers found that men who were given a combination of green tea extract and caffeine burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.Le green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill bacteria that cause dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the marché.Effets harmful? To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are about 30 to 60 mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over a hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.
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