GREEN TEA THE SMARTER CHOICE

The most nutritious drink you can consume is drinking 100% quality green tea leaves. China is the largest tea producer while the highest quality teas come from Japan. Different processing undergone by teas will determine its latent health benefits. Green tea leaves are steamed and pan-fried immediately thus they are largely unfermented hence ensuring the main active ingredient, polyphenol catechin i.e. Epigallocatechin Gallate or EGCG is retained for their health promoting capabilities.

Green Tea: Your Key To Better Health
a) Antioxidant (Catechin, EGCG) – Thousands of studies have proven that these powerful antioxidants help to improve and stimulate the circulatory system. In fact, a study shows that EGCG is 25-100 times more potent than antioxidant found in vitamins C and E. Antioxidants have demonstrated that it can help to prevent certain heart conditions such as heart attacks, heart failures and other coronary artery blockage problems.

b) Blood Sugar – Green tea can help to control the level of blood sugar in the system and improve the insulin sensitivity as well. It therefore can slow down the condition once it has developed in the body.

c) Cholesterol – Green tea lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the level of good cholesterol or the HDL which helps to protect our heart and prevent strokes as well.

d) Cancer – Green tea prevents cancer by deactivating carcinogenic activities, which stimulates cancer cells in the body. Green tea may halves prostate cancer risk.
[Source: Star, 20 December 2007]

e) Weight Loss – Green tea speeds up the metabolism rate in the body and promotes thermogenesis or the production of the body’s heat, which is important in the burning of excessive calories or fats accumulated in the body. Thus, green tea, when coupled with the right exercise program, is ideal for those who want to lose their weight safely and effectively.

f) Osteoporosis – Green tea is alkaline in nature. Therefore, it contains bone-enhancing properties, which slows down bone degeneration caused by the acidosis (too much acid in the body) process.

g) Promote healthy teeth – Green tea also helps prevent certain dental gum problems like periodontal diseases and maintain the health of teeth with its fluoride content.

h) Brain cognitive capability- The Singapore University’s scientists found that catechins, a natural active compound in tea, protects brain cells from damaging protein build-up over the years, maintaining the brain’s cognitive capability. [Source: Star, 14 April 2008]

i) Reduce risks associated with smoking - cigarette smokers who drink up to six cups of green tea daily, reduces their susceptibility to risks caused by toxins emitted from cigarette smoke.

Green Tea has long been valued for its contribution to a persons well being. Popularity of green tea continues to grow phenomenally, showing that green tea is a well-accepted natural source of antioxidants. So change your choice of beverage consumption today to enjoy good health. Cheers.