The Benefits of Green Tea
The Benefits of Green Tea
By Mark Seeger
Despite its fanfare in China as a medicine for common ailments for over 3000 years, green tea has only been recently discovered as a remedy for illness in the Western World. There have been numerous studies done both in Asia and the West which have proved its health benefits, among other benefits; green tea has been shown to prevent some cancers and ward of Alzheimer’s disease.
Green tea has been conclusively proven to reduce the risks of heart disease. Compounds in green tea reduce the bad cholesterol (LDL), and increases the ratio between good cholesterol (HDL) to bad cholesterol. So if you are at an age where you are more likely to be diagnosed with heart disease, drinking green tea can help ward it off. Likewise, if you are a younger individual whose lifestyle factors promote the likelihood of getting heart disease, then drinking green tea can reduce and maintain your cholesterol at acceptable levels.
Similarly, drinking recommended amounts of green tea can help your body ward of cancer. Green tea contains copious amounts of antioxidants called ‘polypenols’ which fight off free radicals that cause cancers. We are all exposed to free radicals such as pollution, stress, radiation, unhealthy food, etc and by having large amounts of antioxidants in our system we are better able to ward of attacks from free radicals.
Scientists have discovered that green tea contains properties that reduce germs and bacteria inside our mouth, in particular our gums. Therefore, not only will green tea reduce heart disease, help you ward of cancers, it can also prevent gum disease like gingivitis. Among these health benefits, scientists have also discovered that green tea can aid in the digestive process as well as helping to loose weight by increasing metabolism levels.
So drink at least four glasses of drink tea a day according to Cleveland’s Western Reserve University, and enjoy the myriad of health benefits associated with its consumption.