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 According to Chinese folklore, green tea was discovered,
only by accident, nearly four thousand years again. Today
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses green tea to treat aches,
pains, headaches, minor gastrointestinal disorders, and depression.
Green tea has also been used in detoxification, as an immune
enhancer, as an energizer, and to prolong life.
Green
Tea for Health and Long Life
Most tea products are
derived from the same plant. The difference between tea products
comes from how each specific tea is prepared. Unlike black and
oolong tea, green tea is not fermented, so the active constituents
remain in the herb. Green tea contains a variety of chemical
compounds, minerals, vitamins, volatile oils and essential
nutrients, but the primary compounds that is believed to provide
green tea with its health and medicinal effects are polyphenols,
particulary epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Health
Benefits of Green Tea
Among its arsenal of medicinal
effects, preliminary studies suggest that green tea can lower
cholesterol levels and reduce amounts of harmful LDL cholesterol.
These same studies suggest that green tea may also increase
cardiovascular health by making blood platelets less
sticky.
Green tea has also been shown to be a strong blood
antioxidant and detoxifier that can reduce oxidative damage to LDL
that may lead to the development of atherosclerosis.
Still
other studies have provided preliminary evidence that green tea may
inhibit cancer. In a controlled study, the polyphenols in green tea
effectively inhibited the spread of melanoma cells in test tube
animals. The polyphenols in green tea may also reduce risk in other
cancers in humans as well.
Green Tea contains caffeine, which
stimulates the central nervous system, and tannins, which combat
diarrhea. Taken in moderation, green tea settles the stomach and has
mild stimulant effects. However when taken in excess, it can cause
insomnia and digestive problems.
Dosage and
Administration
Although no conclusive dosage
recommendations are available for green tea, most people take about
3 cups (750 ml) per day. However, some research suggests that up to
10 cups per day is needed to receive enough polyphenols to notice a
marked increase in health.
To make green tea, simply combine
1 teaspoon of green tea leaves with 1 cup of boiling water and steep
for 3 minutes.
Supporting
Literature
Bushman JL. Green tea and cancer
in humans: a review of the literature. Nutr Cancer.
1998;31:151-159.
Graham HN. Green tea composition, consumption,
and polyphenol chemistry. Preventive Medicine
1992;21:334–350.
Kono S, Shinchi K and Ikeda N. Green tea
consumption and serum lipid profiles: A cross-sectional study in
Northern Kyushu, Japan. Preventive Medicine
1992;21:526–531.
Brown MD. Green tea extract and its possible
role in the prevention of cancer. Alternative Medicine Review.
1999;4(5):360-370.
Yang TTC, Koo MWI. Chinese green tea lowers
cholesterol level through an increase in fecal lipid excreiton. Life
Sciences. 1999:66:5:411-423.
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