Another story to share.
I have no idea why suddenly I craving for green tea. So, I went to the kitchen to check if there's any green tea stock left. Lucky me because I found 1 box of green tea. So, with the big smile on my face I made myself a mug of green tea. Hmmmm.. It taste very good. Drinking the tea while watching my favorite TV programs... What a day... From 1 channel to another channel. From 1 mug to another mug. Haha...
Drinking the green tea make me think of the benefit that we can get from it. So, I browse for some information through the internet.
In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, green tea has been used for centuries as a stimulant, astringent and to improve heart health. It is an effective remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, and certain immune deficiencies. Research by the scientific world first confirmed green tea's health benefits only about a decade ago.
Green tea contains anti-oxidants that:-
1. Helps to prevent cancer.
The is some strong evidence that green tea included in you every day diet can reduce bladder, colon, esophageal, pancreas, rectum, and stomach cancer up to 60%. An antioxidant known as "epigallocatechin gallate" (EGCG for short) is at least 100 more times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E at protecting cells from harmful influence.
The amazing thing about it that EGCG it not only inhibits the growth of new cancer cells it also kills some of the existing cancer sells without harming the healthy ones.
Several population-based clinical studies have shown that both green and black teas help protect against cancer. For example, cancer rates tend to be low in countries such as Japan where people regularly consume green tea. However, it is not possible to determine from these population-based studies whether green tea actually prevents cancer in people. Emerging clinical studies suggest that the polyphenols in tea, especially green tea, may play an important role in the prevention of cancer. Researchers also believe that polyphenols help kill cancerous cells and stop their progression.
Examples of cancer that may be treated with green tea;
-Bladder cancer
-Breast cancer
-Ovarian cancer
-Colorectal cancer
-Esophageal cancer
-Lung cancer
-Pancreatic cancer
-Prostate cancer
-Skin cancer
-Stomach cancer
2. Lowers "bad" cholesterol (known as LDL) and improves the ratio of "good" cholesterol (known as HDL). It explains why tea-drinkers can eat almost twice the foods containing cholesterol as a those who don't drink green tea, but still have an equal cholesterol count.
3. Stops the unnatural formation of blood cloth which if not taken care of will cause thrombosis. It takes on added importance if you consider that thrombosis is one of the main causes of strokes and heart attacks.
4. Reduces high blood pressure by repressing angiotensin II which causes constriction of the blood vessels causing high blood pressure.
5. Lowers blood sugar (polyphenols and polysaccharides are the two main antioxidants are especially effective in lowering blood sugar). That helps prevent and relieve type-two diabetes.
6. Protects liver against toxins like alcohol and chemicals in cigarette smoke.
7. Promotes oral health by suppress the process of plaque formation and destroys the bacteria that forms plaque. It also destroys bacteria that causes bad breath, so after eating something sweet I suggest you drink a cup of green tea.
8. Destroys free radicals that cause aging.
9. Boosts your immune system function ( because of it's high concentration of polyphenols and flaveboids).
10. Possess antibacterial and antiviral properties. Recent studies show that green tea inhibits the spread of disease, speeds up recovery from cold and flu. It also kills seven strains of food poisoning bacteria including clostridium, botulus and staphylococcus (which makes it a good treatment for diarrhea).
11. Helps your body to maintain healthy fluid balance and relieve fatigue and stress often caused by dehydration.
12. Blocks main receptors that produce allergic reactions.
13. Stimulates metabolism, calorie burning process and is wildly being used as an important part of a healthy diet.
How to Take It:
Pediatric
There are no known scientific reports on the pediatric use of green tea, so it is not recommended for children.
Adult
Depending on the brand, 2 - 3 cups of green tea per day (for a total of 240 - 320 mg polyphenols) or 100 - 750 mg per day of standardized green tea extract is recommended. Caffeine-free products are available and recommended.
Precautions:
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. However, herbs contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, people should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.
People with heart problems, kidney disorders, stomach ulcers, and psychological disorders (particularly anxiety) should not take green tea. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also avoid green tea.
People who drink excessive amounts of caffeine (including caffeine from green tea) for prolonged periods of time may experience irritability, insomnia, heart palpitations, and dizziness. Caffeine overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and loss of appetite. If you are drinking a lot of tea and start to vomit or have abdominal spasms, you may have caffeine poisoning. If your symptoms are severe, lower your caffeine intake and see your health care provider.
Such a good info, right? Hmmm... I'm off for now. Thanks for reading, ya! Enjoy your GREEN TEA!!!
Sources:-
http://www.greenteasecrets.com
http://www.healthinfoforyou.com/an/green-tea-benefits.htm
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/green-tea-000255.htm
