Medical Properties Of Green Tea
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Currently there is wide interest in the medicinal benefits of green tea (Camellia sinensis). Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, and extracts of tea leaves are also sold as dietary supplements. Green tea extracts contain a unique set of catechins that possess biologic activity in antioxidant, antiangiogenesis, and antiproliferative assays that are potentially relevant to the prevention and treatment of various forms of cancer. With the increasing interest in the health properties of tea and a significant rise in their scientific investigation, it is the aim of this review to summarize recent findings on the anticancer and medicinal properties of green tea, focusing on the biologic properties of the major tea catechin, (–)-epigallocatechin and its antitumor properties. 44
Boston , MA —Although tea drinking has been associated with health benefits for centuries, only in recent years have its medicinal properties been investigated scientifically. The October issue of Harvard Women’s Health Watch recognizes the healthy power of tea while helping readers get the most out of their cups. 2
Tea’s health benefits are largely due to its high content of flavonoids—plant-derived compounds that are antioxidants. Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins. In test tubes, catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties. Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder. 2
"Green tea" is a tea that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. It became so popular not only in Japan but also around the world, because of its medicinal benefits. In the West, people drink more black tea which is made from the same tea leaves but is heavily oxidized during processing, resulting to its loss of medicinal properties. All teas (green, black, and oolong) are derived from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference is in how the plucked leaves are prepared. Green tea, unlike black and oolong tea, is not fermented, so the active constituents remain unaltered in the herb. 16
Population-based studies indicate that the antioxidant properties of green tea may help prevent atherosclerosis, particularly coronary artery disease. Population-based studies means studies that follow large groups of people over time and/or studies that are comparing groups of people living in different cultures or with different dietary habits, etc.) In May 2006, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected a petition from teamakers to allow tea labels to claim that green tea reduces the risk of heart disease. The FDA concluded that there is no credible evidence to support qualified health claims for green tea or green tea extract reducing the risk of�heart disease. 6
Green tea, oolong tea, and black tea all start out as the tea plant Camellia sinensis. The difference between them is in the way they are processed. After harvesting, the leaves of green tea are steamed or pan fired to stop the oxidation process, which would normally cause the leaves to degrade. Oolong and black teas are processed for a longer time and because of this longer fermentation their leaves undergo more oxidation, which alters their catechin content. Oolong and black teas still have medicinal properties, but they have lower levels of catechins than green teas. 9
Why don’t other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? 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. By 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 preventing and fighting various diseases. 1
Green tea is now used in many health products globally; it is currently used primarily as an antioxidant but this is a complex herb that is still being researched. If you are looking to use green tea weight loss products, they’re available in liquid form, for drinks, or tablets if you prefer; either way excess calories will be lost when used. 30
Green tea is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis, or tea plant. The tea plant, Camellia sinensis, is a member of the Theaceae family. The name sinensis means "Chinese" in Latin. Older names for the tea plant include Thea bohea and Thea viridis. 7
Archeological evidence suggests that tea has been around for almost 5000 years and was first cultivated in India and China. Chinese medical practitioners have known about the health benefits of green tea for millenia and most likely passed on this knowledge to foreign visitors. The tea seeds were brought to Japan in 1191 by Myoan Eisai, a Japanese Buddhist priest who wrote a book about green tea, called Kissa Yojoki (Book of Tea). In his book, Eisai explained the medicinal effects of green tea, especially on the heart, stomach and brain. 9
Proponents of green tea note that its medicinal benefits have been described for over 1000 years. Several experts are saying that drinking green tea can have a positive effect on the five vital organs, especially the heart. Some are saying that the green tea is helping in easing the effects of alcohol, acting as a stimulant, curing blotchiness, quenching thirst, eliminating indigestion, curing beriberi disease, preventing fatigue, and improving urinary and brain function. But- how much of this is really scientifically proven? 19
Iced GREEN TEA: Never brew Green Tea with hot water and cool it down to prepare iced GREEN TEA. Instead, double the amount of tea leaves to brew it with cold water, in order to keep the aroma without bitter flavor. Brewing time for a cup is 30 minutes and 10 cups in a jar for one and half-hour. 5
As an extra health boost, try adding some citrus juice to your green tea. The ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, in citrus fruits is known to increase the absorption of many nutrients, and recent studies have shown that adding citrus juice to green tea increases the body’s ability to absorb catechins–those wonderful polyphenols that give green tea its remarkable medicinal properties. 9
The healthful properties of green tea are largely attributed to their unfermented leaves and high concentration of polyphenols, chemicals with powerful antioxidant properties, which also gives it is slight bitter taste. Polyphenols� antioxidant effects are said to be greater than that of vitamin Cs. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals, which are damaging compunds that are natural produced in the body or by environmental toxins, and prevents their damaging actions. Polyphenols found in teas are classified as catechins. Green tea has six primary catechin compounds: catechin, gallaogatechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and apigallocatechin gallate (also known as EGCG). Amongst the six primary catechin compounds, apigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most active and most studied polyphenol component in green tea. Green tea also contains alkaloids such as caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline, which gives green tea its stimulant effects. 20
Very important thing to know is that, in the U.S. -Food and Drug Administration has rejected claims of health benefits for green tea. To be more precise FDA actually said that green tea likely does not reduce breast, prostate or any other type of cancer risk. 19
References
The Panacea offers these health-extracts to help people investigate health-related subjects in greater depth using the references given in each paragraph. Kindly note that these are current extracts from the web, meant for research, and that these are not meant to be medical advise. For all your health-related needs you must consult trained and licensed personnel.
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I like green tea best. I heard that green tea is helpful for our health because it contains EGCG. Is it right?