Health Benefits of Green Tea – Read All About Them

Did you know that the Chinese people have been aware of the amazing health benefits of green tea for over 4,000 years? They have been using it as treatment for everything, from headaches to depression. Numerous studies are being conducted throughout the world in order to establish with concrete evidence its health benefits. Actually, one of these studies, which took place in 1994, concluded that it can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer by up to 60%. What is giving green tea its amazing properties are the catechin polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). As it has been clinically established, is that this particular substance is a very potent antioxidant. It does not only prevent the growth of cancer cells, but it can also eliminate them selectively, that is without inflicting any damage to neighboring cells that are healthy. Another one of the health benefits of green tea, which is equally important, is that it can be very efficient at lowering down LDL, or “bad”, cholesterol levels. At the same time, it boosts HDL, or “good”, cholesterol production. Thus, it improves the ratio of good to bad cholesterol, which is a very important predictor for the onset of heart disease. Now, if we compare the health benefits of green tea with the respective benefits of other Chinese teas like oolong and black tea, then it clear that the former is superior. This is despite the fact that all of these types of tea come from the same plant, namely Camelia sinensis. What makes the difference is processing. In the case of the other types of tea, the plant leaves are fermented, while to produce green tea the leaves are steamed. The steam process prevents the leaves from oxidizing, thus allowing them to maintain their potency as antioxidants. Another one of the health benefits, which is especially interesting for people wanting to stay fit, is that it is a fat burner. According to scientific studies, people who take both caffeine and green tea burn down more calories than people who take caffeine alone. Now, having said all the above, the next obvious question is this: How can one obtain green tea? Well, one way is to get it in a form you can drink, or get it in pills or tablets. However, what I urge you to do is take a step back and see your health through a holistic perspective. What I mean is that, if you are seriously considering taking a nutritional supplement to enhance your state of health, it is far better to look for a supplement, which, in addition to green tea, contains a host of other nutrients, which will work all synergistically. You see, oxidation is only one of the five underlying chemical processes, which take place inside your body and are responsible for your overall health.