Green Tea: Help Or Hype?

Have you ever wondered: "Is it really worth my while to drink tea of the green variety?" Stick around and decide for yourself. I'm certain you've heard it, too. There's been lots of health-hype lately surrounding the benefits of green tea.
First: The Claims:
A rich source of anti-oxidants:
Green tea will help you bulk up on the anti-oxidant warriors that help to both lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease by controlling blood pressure. Free radical damage can cause everything from sun damage to hardening of the arteries. Anti-oxidants neutralize "free radicals" or unstable molecules in the body that can eventually become unfriendly and wreak havoc on the cells. What are anti-oxidants?
Cancer prevention:
New evidence suggests green tea may also help prevent prostate cancer, as well. The cancers studied and which have been recorded include: bladder, colon, esophagus, pancreas, rectal and stomach. Green tea has been shown to lower rates of cancer in Asian populations.
Help with arthritis:
Studies also suggest there is possible anti-inflammatory and arthritis preventing effects in green tea although, I'll admit, solid scientific evidence was difficult to come by. By simple suggestion, I'll give green tea an A for effort in the arthritis category.
Liver protection:
Green tea protects the liver by warding off toxins such as alcohol and cigarette smoke. Green tea has been proven to protect liver cells by stimulating the immune system.
Teeth protection:
Green tea is supposed to work against bacteria, protecting teeth from cavities. Green tea has been thought to promote oral health (although scientific proof was difficult to come by here, too).
Weight loss:
Green tea contains polyphenols (molecule compounds) that actually help the body to burn weight and regulate both blood sugar and insulin levels. Yes! Several sources I found claimed that green tea may actually help to stimulate weight loss. Here's another benefit that will raise many an eyebrow.
The Bad News
What's the bad news?
per 8 ounce cup. That's less than half the caffeine content of coffee which weighs in at 90 mg. It looks like there's only 30-60mg in 6-8 ounces of tea, however.

The only negative side effect I've found is the simple recorded cases of insomnia due to naturally occurring caffeine in green tea.
Other FAQ's About Green Tea:
How much green tea is enough to reap the benefits?
No one seems to be too sure about the answer to this question, either. Let's be realistic - most people could easily drink 3-4 cups of green tea daily. This is a good round number and one that I came up with based on its frequency in the research studied. A suggestion: why not try replacing your usual cup of coffee with a clean dose of health?
Where to get a good cup of tea?
Check out your local grocery for my favorite: Lipton. There's plenty of others, but I like the way Lipton aims to zip up green tea with variety. They even have a orange, passionfruit & jasmine flavor that's de-lish!
If drinking tea really isn't your thing, but you still want the benefits - no problem! Green tea is now available in capsule form, too. This could be as close as your local pharmacy. Check around.
In summation:
In this scientist's opinion, green tea is well worth your consideration. The simple speculation of benefits is enough to get excited about it. It's easy to digest, tastes good and, hey, if it helps me with my goal of wellness and illness prevention, I'll take ample tea time, any day!
Research for this article has been created through careful consideration of research and articles appearing on WebMD and though several working texts which include:
Balch, Phyllis A., CNC. Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing. New York: Penguin Putnam, 2004.
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1988. The New Age Herbalist. Mabey, Richard.
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. Herb Bible. Mindell, Earl, R.Ph., Ph.D.
Tierra, Michael L.Ac., O.M.D. The Way of Herbs. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998.
About The Author

Laura Turner is a natural health practitioner and author. She hosts
http://www.beauty-and-body.com
and publishes the bi-weekly New Body News and Wellness Letter, The Online Magazine Healthy People Read. (
http://www.new-body-news.com
) Subscribe for f.r.e.e. and receive her Special Report: "Take Charge of Your Health!"

The Green Tea Secret

The chemical compound known as a phenol is characterized by an aromatic benzene ring with a hydroxyl group (OH) attached. This makes sense that poly-phenols refer to a chemical substance with more than one phenol group. Phenols function as potent antioxidants, reacting with free radicals. Phenols are responsible for the bright coloring in many fruits and vegetables. These fruit and vegetable phenols protect the plants from damage by disease and ultraviolet light.
Polyphenols are phytonutrients or phytochemicals. Phytonutrients are biologically active compounds in food. However, these phytonutrients are not classified as essential nutrients. This is because the body does not depend on these nutrients for proper bodily function. Phytonutrients do play a vital role in affecting our health just as significantly as vitamins and minerals do.
Polyphenols also protect and regenerate other dietary oxidants such as vitamin E. Polyphenols are potent free radical scavengers in the body. This is beneficial because excess levels of these cations promotes the generation of free radicals.

This reduces the absorption of the mineral. Polyphenols can form complexes with metal cations such as iron, zinc, and copper. Polyphenols are classified as flavonoids, which is a class of phytonutrient.
Polyphenols are plentiful in green tea. Polyphenols have been found to be more powerful as an antioxidant than even vitamins C and E. In particular, EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate is the major polyphenolic constituent of green tea. EGCG is a potent antioxidant. A number of chronic diseases have been thought to be caused by free radical damage such as cancer, aging, and heart disease.
Antioxidants protect the body from free radical damage. What are free radicals? Free radicals are caused by cigarette smoking, radiation, pollution, and herbicides. Free radicals are atoms with unpaired electrons in the outer shell. The unpaired electrons make free radicals unstable. Free radicals want only to be stable. Free radical stability requires the electrons to be paired. Free radicals are extremely reactive and will oxidize the nearest molecule.
In fact, researchers believe this is how many forms of cancer arise. DNA and free radical interactions usually result in mutations that adversely affect the cell cycle and potentially lead to malignancy. However, DNA is usually preferred. Free radicals can attack proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and DNA.

This creates a chain reaction continuing until the disruption of a living cell. Oxidizing causes the free radical to gain an electron but also creates another free radical.
The antioxidant is stable with or without the electron, making this a win-win situation. Antioxidants donate an electron to the free radical, hence stabilizing the free radical and preventing damage. Antioxidants safely interact with free radicals to prevent damage to vital molecules.

Antioxidants protect the body from damaging oxidation reactions.
Black teas and some green teas are fermented and roasted, damaging the bioactive substances in the tea leaf. Steamed white and green tea retains more polyphenols and nutrients than roasting and fermenting. Of course, the level of polyphenols along with other nutrients is based on how the tea is processed. Polyphenols can be found in white, black, and green tea.
Green tea studies suggest an increase in exercise endurance by improving the metabolism of fat. Green tea has been shown to protect the brain from oxidative stress and lower monoamine oxidase activity; preventing age related brain degeneration. Green tea helps prevent cavities, strengthens teeth, and is thought to kill oral bacteria that is responsible for bad breath.

Regular consumption of green tea shows no significant side effects. Dietary intake of green tea has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease. Many studies have been done on the health benefits of green tea. Why should you drink green tea?
Green tea offers many health benefits to those who drink green tea regularly. Besides offering antioxidant benefits, green tea is excellent as a weight loss supplement offering weight loss results and safety. Of course, green tea should be used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise program. If you take medications for a health condition, consult your doctor before adding green tea to your diet.
Copyright 2006 Kristy Haugen

Wu-Long Tea – Helps Reverse the Signs of Aging

As we grow older, the effect of free radicals takes its toll on the body mainly in the form of aging. Actually in the past 50 years, free radical research has strongly concluded that free radicals are a major factor in aging and the visible signs that go along with it. Other diseases related to aging and caused in whole or part by free radical damage are cancer, Alzheimer's dementia, arthritis and inflammatory disease and heart/artery disease.
These free radicals are produced by stress, pollution, eating processed foods, chemical additives in many of the foods we eat etc..
The damaging process is certainly a gradual one. day in - day out. Many of the visible signs of aging, such as dark spots and wrinkling of the skin, have been strongly linked to increased levels of free radicals invading our body...
Antioxidants are the best defense against free radicals. Fortunately you can take action to reduce the amount of these nasty, damaging substances in your body without drugs.
One of the best and enjoyable methods is to drink Wu-long tea (oolong).
Wu Long tea is rich in these 3 substances: catechins, theaflavins and thearubigins. These substances act as antioxidants, which destroy free radicals and are completely natural. Be advised, grocery store versions of Wulong or any teas have much lower levels of these antioxidants because the leaves have been extremely processed. The oxidation process reduces the catachin level.
To get maximum potency and value of Wu Long tea I suggest you find a good online tea store and not waste your money on pre-packaged name brand type wu-long tea.
You are doing yourself a favor every time you drink a cup….slowly undoing the effects of aging. Also it's nice to know there are no side effects to drinking Wu-long tea; it tastes great and is good for your soul!