It was reportedly discovered by a Chinese emperor some 40
centuries ago. And, legend has it, the discovery was purely by
accident. But that coincidental discovery has improved the health of
people around the world, who have turned to green tea in particular to
help soothe their pains, improve their digestion, alleviate their
depression, boost their immune system, and perhaps even lengthen their
lives. But what is it that makes green tea so beneficial to human
health?
The Ingredients of Success
Green tea is actually
made up of a variety of ingredients. These include caffeine, vitamins,
minerals, and oils. However, the most important ingredients are the
polyphenols, especially one called EGCG, which is believed to improve
health. In fact, it is the polyphenols which make green tea so much
more effective than other beverages in fighting disease and illness.
Green Tea and Cholesterol
There
have been some intriguing studies indicating that green tea can be
effective in the fight against high cholesterol. Specifically, the
beverage reduces "bad" cholesterol and boosts "good" cholesterol,
improving an individual's overall cholesterol profile.
In
addition, green tea appears to lower overall cholesterol levels, helping
to reduce one's risk of developing heart disease. Similarly, green tea
enhances cardiovascular health by improving the consistency of
platelets in the blood.
Researchers have also found that green tea
appears to protect against oxygen-induced damage to bad cholesterol.
Drinking green tea also seems to enhance antioxidant processes in the
bloodstream.
Effect of Green Tea on Blood Fats
In recent
years, much attention has been focused on blood fats and the effects of
diet and exercise on their consistency. In an interesting study
conducted at the Department of Public Health at the National Defense
Medical College in Saitama, Japan, researchers S. Kono, K. Shinchi, N.
Ikeda, F. Yanai, and K. Imanishi investigated the impact of green tea
consumption on blood fats, also known as serum lipids.
The study
was published in an article entitled, "Tea Consumption and Serum Lipid
Profiles: a Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Kyushu, Japan."
Specifically,
the researchers examined the correlation between green tea use and the
serum lipid concentrations of more than 1300 men who underwent
retirement health exams at the Self-Defense Forces Fukuoka Hospital
between 1986 and 1988.
The researchers factored out variables such
as alcohol use, use of tobacco, exercise levels, body mass index, and
rank. They then discovered that the more green tea a patient drank, the
lower his serum cholesterol levels. Men who drank nine or more cups of
tea each day had total cholesterol levels that were eight mg/dl lower
than those who drank two or fewer cups a day.
The serum
cholesterol levels seemed to also decrease for men who ate a great deal
of rice and soy beans, and increase for those who ate more Western
foods. However, adjusting for these additional diet variables did not
seem to affect the correlation between green tea use and total
cholesterol levels.
Additional Evidence from the Animal Kingdom
It's
been said that there is a definite link between diet and exercise and
coronary heart disease. Therefore, anything in the diet that improves
serum lipid profiles should reduce the incidence of heart problems.
It's also known that green tea contains phytochemicals that work to
decrease serum cholesterol as well as triglycerides.
In one animal
study, 45 rats were subjected to a variety of treatments, including
green tea. The study showed that consuming green tea improved the serum
lipid profile by reducing total cholesterol, bad cholesterol, and trans
fats. In addition, liver fat content decreased in rats that received a
large amount of green tea.
Other Positive Effects of Green Tea Drinking
The
polyphenols found in green tea may have some additional positive health
effects. For instance, a number of animal and test tube studies
indicate that these chemicals may have a substantial anti-cancer effect,
especially in inhibiting the spread of melanoma, or skin cancer cells.
Green tea has also been linked to a reduction in oral cancers and
dental cavities.
In addition, green tea may stimulate the
production of immune system cells. As a result, it can help the body
fight bacteria, leading to improved overall health. In fact, one study
showed that drinking ten or more cups of green tea each day could
improve blood test results, protecting the body against liver damage.
How Much Green Tea is Enough?
Of
course, you might be wondering how much green tea must be consumed in
order to have a positive impact on health. In Asian nations, the
typical tea drinker consumes about three cups each day--enough to
provide as much as 320 mg of polyphenols. Nevertheless, some studies
indicate as many as ten cups each day are needed in order to really make
a difference in cholesterol levels and overall health.
Possible Side Effects
It
should be noted that there can be some negative side effects associated
with green tea consumption. While green tea is a relatively healthy
drink, those who consume several cups of it each day may experience
anxiety and insomnia brought on by the caffeine found in the beverage.
Drinking green tea may also lead to iron deficiencies, since iron
absorption in women may be reduced as much as 26 percent when green tea
is consumed with a meal.
In addition, some drugs can interfere with green tea's positive effects. Therefore, before switching to a diet rich in green tea, it may be best to check with a physician to determine if such a diet is right for you.
Looking to the Future
The forecast for green
tea appears to be bright--as far as public health is concerned. Study
after study seems to indicate that green tea can reduce cholesterol
levels, combat cardiac disease, boost the immune system, and reduce the
risk of cancer.
While additional study is needed in order to
effectively harness all the benefits of green tea, it appears, for the
moment, that simply adding a few cups of the brew to your daily diet can
yield impressive health benefits.
Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company.
Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas,
which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their
website, you can learn more about their current tea
offerings, including their exceptional green tea
[http://www.goldenmoontea.com/greentea/], white tea, black tea, oolong
tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea
[http://www.goldenmoontea.com/wu-long/]) and chai. Visit
goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea
Company's fine line of teas.
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