GREEN TEA - good for health

GREEN TEA – good for health.

Healthy Greens
Now, in the pursuit of good health, you may just have to go as far as a pack of green tea and a whistling kettle! Most people think oftea as an enjoyable beverage that is great with some cookies. Well, the steaming, tinted brew isn't as innocuous as it seems!

Green tea was first brewed in China, where it was known as a 'miracle medicine'. 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 for at least 4,000 years.

Today, research shows us how true that ancient claim was. Green tea, with its medicinal properties, is a boon for the health-conscious and a wonder, even to modern science. The benefits of green tea are many:

Inhibits Cancer
The main ingredient in green tea, Epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) inhibits the growth of cancer. The latest good news about green tea comes from a study done at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. A team of researchers headed by Dr Yihai Cao found that green tea can block angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels that tumors need, in order to grow. In an interview, Dr Caoexplained that the polyphenols in green tea prevent angiogenesis, which also explains why green tea is effective in preventing cancer. According to Dr Hasan Mukhtar, professor and research director of Case Western University, Cleveland, studies have shownthat the risk of stomach cancer goes down as consumption of green tea goes up.

Prevents High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease
With the chaos of our daily lives, we can do without the added tension of high blood pressure, which can result in heart problems. Scientific studies show that daily consumption of green tea can prevent high blood pressure. 3 to 4 cups of green tea a day, can substantially reduce an individual's risk of heart disease and stroke.

Restricts Buildup of Cholesterol
We all know that fat and cholesterol are bad for our health. Bur that doesn't stop us from drooling over a sinfully creamy dessert, does it? Now green tea brings along some great news for food freaks. Experiments demonstrate that green tea restricts the excessive buildup of blood cholesteroJ. It reduces the bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood and increases the levels of positive cholesterol (HDL), thus reducing the chances of heart disease. For years, researchers were puzzled by what they called the 'French Paradox' … the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French had a very low incidence of heart disease. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and fatty diets. In a 1997 study, researchers from the Universiry of Kansas determined that EGCG, strongly present in green tea, is twice as powerful as resveratrol. Which explains why the rate of heart disease among the Japanese, who are regular drinkers of green tea, is quite low, even though approximately 75 % are smokers.

Lowers the Blood Sugar Level
Let green tea take care of health worries like blood sugar levels. The extract of green tea has the ability to actually lower blood sugar. It is believed that both the EGCG and polysaccharides in green tea are factors in lowering blood sugar.

Strengthens Immune System
Today, we live life right in the midst of the madding crowd ... with deadlines and schedules that leave no time for ourselves. With its share of ups and downs, our body needs to be strong enough to fight common diseases like the flu and other infections. Green tea helps to strengthen a weak immune system, guarding us from illnesses and infections that take a long time to heal.

Prevents Ageing
Oxygen is very important to us, but it can also be a very harmful agent in the form of active or free radical oxygen. One way to slow the ageing process is to prevent the accumulation of active oxygen in our body. This can be done by antioxidants, which are strongly present in green tea.

Oral Hygiene and Dental Care
Now you can flash that charming smile without worrying about bacteria and bad breath. Fluoride in green tea protects tooth enamel and EGCG reduces the development of bacteria growing in the plaque. Green tea can also kill other oral bacteria, which cause bad breath. It also stimulates the production of saliva and reduces the harmful acids that form in the mouth.

Boon for Dieters
Get yourself in shape with a new slimming potion. Yes, green tea can actually help burn fat. In November 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva, in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a green tea extract burned more calories, since green tea helped to excrete more fat.

So Drink To Your Health!
People who drink green tea daily, have lower rates of heart disease and cancer and a higher life expectancy. Unlike other antioxidants, those found in green tea cause no toxic side effects. Sounds good enough to put the kettle to boil and give green tea a try?

To Make That Perfect Cuppa ...
Boil water. Add 3/4 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of green tea per cup. Soak for 3-5 minutes. Add lemon or sugar to taste. For better results, serve without milk.