Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells without harming other tissue around it. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol. It can also inhibit the formation of blood clots, so fantastic take drink if you fly a lot or have a very sedimentary job.
To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:
- Cancer
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- High cholesterol levels
- Cariovascular disease
- Infection/ Impaired immune system
- Depression
Why don’t other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant , as does black tea and oolong tea, but instead of the leaves being fermented, the leaves are steamed. This prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized which makes it much more effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains a lot less caffeine than coffee.
So what are you waiting for? Prevention is the greatest cure and what a better way is there than to sit sipping green tea? If your not mad on the taste add a little honey or lemon, or get a variety with cranberry or pineapple. Yummy and very healthy!