Health Benefits Of Green Tea

Question: What are the health benefits of Green Tea? Can it help you to lose weight? My mother says it can. Any advice on green tea and the health benefits would be great!

Answer: here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful: -cancer -rheumatoid arthritis -high cholesterol levels -cardiovascular disease -infection -impaired immune function The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke. Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations. the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee

Question: Green tea has health benefits, but does drinking cold green tea example, Lipton, have the same health benefits? I have been reading so much about green tea benefits, would drinking iced green tea have the same benefits, or a green tea supplement? I do not like the taste of hot tea and would like to get the benefits without drinking the hot tea.

Answer: many iced teas are flavored, such as lipton, which makes it not nearly as healthy as green tea supplements or hot tea. if you don't like hot tea, try the supplements.

Question: I know that green tea is good for you and has lots of major health benefits, but what about chai tea? Specifically chai latte? It's just so good I can't keep my hands off it. But is it good for you at all? Does it have any health benefits like green tea does?

Answer: First off, Chai is not a type of tea in the same way that green is. Green, red, black tea all refer to the various oxidation stages of the leaves used. Chai tea is tea (usually black, but not necessarily) to which spices and sugar and sometimes milk or creamer have been added. Sometimes there is a fairly large amount of sugar/sweetener added to bring out the flavor, so you've lost some net health benefits there. With a chai latte, you have quite a bit of sugar/sweetener and milk/creamer added, which I agree definitely tastes good, but the combination of the sweetener and creamer counts against you. To summarize, it certainly won't hurt you, but you're getting alot o tasty but unhealthy additives along with the tea. You still have some of the anti-oxidant benefits that come with black tea. But you definitely don't have the same health benefits that green tea offers. My recommendation: Have one every so often if you like them, but cultivating a taste for green tea would be better for you!

Question: GREEN TEA LOVERS - I've read more than once the great health benefits green tea offers. I am used to the ... likes of Earl Grey, Awake, and often just plain Lipton teas. Is there any kind of Green Tea out there that stands apart from all the others? Can you use honey in the green tea, or is it best to use a little sugar? How long can I keep the Honey in the refrigerator before it goes bad? THANKS, in advance, for answering all these extra little "tid-bitty" related questions as well!

Answer: I usually drink Celestial Seasonings green tea. I like honey in my tea, too. As for honey, you don't have to store it in your refrigerator. You can store it at room temperature. Honey never spoils, as a matter of fact. If it separates or gets little granules in it, just warm it in your microwave for a bit and it will go back to normal.

Question: health benefits - green tea? what are the health benefits of green tea. I hear that it is ment to be good good for you?

Answer: Loads of anti aging antioxidants that keep immune systems healthy and are good at fighting off the common colds you get this time of year. Good for stabilising blood sugar levels. They have tried different flavours, they even do a blend with black tea, but seeings as I like my green tea unsweetened I don't like to mix it with tea. The only one I like is the lemon green tea as it reminds me of the smell of the little lemon hot napkins you get on the plane when travelling. The taste doesn't change much, but the smell is lovely. It is even better if you press the teabags on your skin when they have cooled down slightly as it gives me younger, fresher, clear skin and really clears up spots fast.

Question: Health benefits of green tea? I heard that green tea has antioxidants...But Im not completely sure what they are. haha So first thing. Does green tea have antioxidants? And what are they? :P Also, does green tea like wash out excess junk in your system? I heard it cleans out your body. So are these true? And are there any other health benefits of green tea?

Answer: Green tea benefits us as it is full of antioxidants which fight free radicals. An antioxidant is a molecule which is capable of slowing down or stopping the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation reactions can produce the free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells. So antioxidents are valuable as they essentially give us life and liven up our bodily processes. The free radicals are linked to the opposite processes in the body. Green tea is said to help speed up metabolism. A cup of green tea a day brewed yourself is worth the effort and helps to optimise your bodily processes.

Question: Can anyone cite a study the shows health benefits of green tea? Not really looking for opinions or anecdotes here. Just looking for randomized studies that show that drinking tea causes more or there is no differences detected in health between those who do drink tea and those who do not. Know of anything? Thanks.

Answer: Sure. Here's a random smattering... "Efficacy of a Green Tea Extract Rich in Catechin Polyphenols and Caffeine in Increasing 24-h Energy Expenditure and Fat Oxidation in Humans," Dulloo AG, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 1999;70:1040-1045. "Green Tea Reverses Endothelial Dysfunction in Healthy Smokers," Nagaya N, Yamamoto H, et al, Heart, 2004;90:1485-1486. "Green tea extract ingestion, fat oxidation, and glucose tolerance in healthy humans," Venables MC, Hulston CJ, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2008; 87(3): 778-84. "Association between soy and green tea (Camellia sinensis) diminishes hypercholesterolemia and increases total plasma antioxidant potential in dyslipidemic subjects," Bertipaglia de Santana M, Barbosa DS, et al, Nutrition, 2008; 24(6): 562-8. "Randomized controlled trial for an effect of green tea-extract powder supplementation on glucose abnormalities," Fukino Y, Ikeda A, et al, Eur J Clin Nutr, 2007 Jun 6 Good for starters? ;)

Question: Can you add a little bit of orange juice to green tea without it affecting the health benefits of the tea? I only add a teaspoon of orange juice to the tea to give it a little flavor, but was wondering if the acid in the orange juice has a negative affect on the health benefits of the green tea.

Answer: Go ahead. Green tea's benifits are not affected by this. You could also try adding honey. However I would avoid adding sugar, Studies have shown sugar in most herbal remidies significantly reduce their effectivness. And do not boil your water. It's health benifits are reduced the most from heat, it is recommended that when steeping green tea that the water not be boiling and if it was, that it be given a few minutes to cool.

Question: Health Benefits in Green Tea brands? Hey, what are the best instant green tea brands in terms of health benefits? I get overwhelmed at the store and just bought a box of lipton instant green tea, how does that hold up specifically? Any tips at all would be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer: While many large tea brands are offering green tea and flavored varieties to their customers, it's best to actually read the label before purchasing any packages. Many mix other leaves in with the green tea, making it a hybrid of many tastes and most likely cutting down on the health benefits as you only get a smaller portion of true green tea. Read the labels carefully before purchasing any box that brags "green tea" to make sure that you are getting the most worth for your money. If possible, go to a health food store and/or purchase brands that you know are reliable and truthful about their content.

Question: Which has more health benefits- green, white or pu-erh tea? I have heard many people talking about how healthy each of these teas are and i would like to know which is the healthiest so i can start drinking it. A list of each teas health benefits would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

Answer: The benefits of white, black and green teas vary in both strength and anti toxins. I would use a gallon container, and put four bags of each in this container, and fill with hot water and let sit in the sun two days. Then drink it iced with Lemon and mint. However, it is said that white tea is the most beneficial but is week in strength so you must use more tea bags when making it. Many people think a cup or two a day is enough too reap the full benefits. It is not. You would drink 5 cups per day for full benefits and that is easy too do with iced tea. Most store products have syrup sweetener which is not a good thing. Go with natural organic sugar and for hot tea use honey and lemon. Also, it takes time too sustain benefits. After a month you should be in full swing with the protection tea offers. Again, a mix is the best solution. Have a healthy day.

Question: Proven health benefits to green tea? I know there are a lot of claims for health benefits of green tea but are there any PROVEN health benefits?

Answer: well, i drink green tea most of the day. i love it. and one thing i've realized about this tea is it improves your vision. i've never had vision problems or anything but my vision is now even better. it also cleanses you on the inside.i drink it and it also helps you to lose weight or keep your current weight.

Question: Green tea - health benefits? what are the health benefits of drinking green tea? and over what period of time would you have to regularly drink it (say one cup everyday or two) for these benefits to actually effect the body etc? i just asked this question in diet and fitness before realising it probably belongs here

Answer: Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years. Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol. To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful: cancer rheumatoid arthritis high cholesterol levels cariovascular disease infection impaired immune function What makes green tea so special? The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke. Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers. Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases. Other Benefits New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo. Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market. Harmful Effects? To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee. How much Green Tea should you drink? There are as many answers to this question as there are researchers investigating the natural properties of green tea. For example, Herbs for Health magazine cites a Japanese report stating that men who drank ten cups of green tea per day stayed cancer-free for three years longer than men who drank less than three cups a day (there are approximately 240 - 320 mg of polyphenols in three cups of green tea). Meanwhile, a study by Cleveland's Western Reserve University concluded that drinking four or more cups of green tea per day could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, or reduce symptoms in individuals already suffering from the disease. And Japanese scientists at the Saitama Cancer Research Institute discovered that there were fewer recurrances of breast cancer, and the disease spread less quickly, in women with a history of drinking five cups or more of green tea daily. It gets more confusing. A University of California study on the cancer-preventative qualities of green tea concluded that you could probably attain the desired level of polyphenols by drinking merely two cups per day. On the other hand, a company selling a green tea capsule formula insists that ten cups per day are necessary to reap the maximum benefits. How can you make sense of these conflicting claims? Given all the evidence, it is probably safe to plan on drinking four to five cups of green tea per daily. If you're a real devotee, by all means drink more; but whether or not you'll derive added health benefits remains to be determined by further research. How to Brew a Cup of Green Tea Producing the perfect cup of green tea is a tricky process. If not handled properly, those same polyphenols that provide health benefits can ruin the flavor, making the tea taste "gassy." It's particularly important not to overbrew. While it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions for each variety of green tea, here are some general instructions: Use one tea bag, or 2 - 4 grams of tea,* per cup. Fill a kettle with cold water and bring to a boil. After unplugging the kettle, allow it to stand for up to 3 minutes. Pour the heated water over the tea bag or tea, and allow it to steep for up to 3 minutes. If using a tea bag, remove the bag. Allow the tea to cool for three more minutes. *One to two teaspoons, depending on the variety of green tea you are brewing.

Question: What are the proven health benefits of green tea? And are there any unpleasant side effects?

Answer: Green tea has a number of antioxidants. It's known that antioxidants are good for you and people are encouraged to eat foods which provide antioxidants, like broccoli and beets. There are a lot of claims for green tea. It's difficult to know how many of them are true. In general, it's a good food but high in cafeine. One needs to be careful not to take in too much cafeine. Here is some of what Wickipedia has to say about the proven and unproven benefits of green tea: Unproven claims Green tea has been credited with providing a wide variety of health benefits, many of which have not been validated by scientific evidence. These claims and any for which academic citations are currently missing are listed here: Stopping certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's[citation needed] Preventing/treating cancer [2] Treating multiple sclerosis [3] Preventing the degradation of cell membranes by neutralizing the spread of free radicals (which occurs during the process of oxidation). [4] Reducing the negative effects of LDL cholesterol bad cholesterol by lowering levels of triglycerides and increasing the production of HDL cholesterol good cholesterol. [5] Increasing fat oxidation (helps the body use fat as an energy source) and raising metabolism. [6] Joy Bauer, a New York City nutritionist, says [the catechins in green tea] increase levels of the metabolism speeding brain chemical norepinephrine. [7] Japanese researchers claim if you drink five cups of green tea a day, you'll burn 70 to 80 extra calories. Dr. Nicholas Perricone , an anti-aging specialist, appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show and told Oprah's viewers they can lose 10 lbs. in 6 weeks drinking green tea instead of coffee [8]. However, the maximum calorie density of stored fat is 3500 calories in a pound thus 75 extra burned calories per day requires 40 weeks to lose 6 lbs. [9] The weight lost might also been due to replacing a high caloric drink such as coffee with cream and sugar with a lower caloric drink such as green tea. The difference might be a few hundred calories per drink if the coffee contained other substances, such as sugar, milk, and dairy creamers. The major concern with drinking too much green tea is the caffeine it contains. Too much caffeine can cause nausea, insomnia or frequent urination. [10] Encouraging the formation of scabs if applied directly to a wound [edit] United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The article Tea: A Story of Serendipity[11] appeared in the March 1996 issue of FDA Consumer Magazine and looked at the potential benefits of green tea. At that time they had not done any reviews of the potential benefits of green tea and were waiting to do it until health claims were filed. They have since denied two petitions to make qualified health claims as to the health benefits of green tea. [12] On June 30, 2005, in response to "Green Tea and Reduced Risk of Cancer Health Claim", they stated: "FDA concludes that there is no credible evidence to support qualified health claims for green tea consumption and a reduced risk of gastric, lung, colon/rectal, esophageal, pancreatic, ovarian, and combined cancers. Thus, FDA is denying these claims. However, FDA concludes that there is very limited credible evidence for qualified health claims specifically for green tea and breast cancer and for green tea and prostate cancer, provided that the qualified claims are appropriately worded so as to not mislead consumers." [13] On May 9, 2006, in response to "Green Tea and Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Disease", they concluded "there is no credible evidence to support qualified health claims for green tea or green tea extract and a reduction of a number of risk factors associated with CVD." [14] However in October 2006, the FDA approved an ointment based on green tea. New Drug Application (NDA) number N021902, for kunecatechins ointment 15% (proprietary name Veregen) was approved on October 31, 2006 [15], and added to the "Prescription Drug Product List" in October 2006. [16] Kunecatechins ointment is indicated for the topical treatment of external genital and perianal warts. [17] [edit] Scientific studies A 2006 study published in the September 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded "Green tea consumption is associated with reduced mortality due to all causes and due to cardiovascular disease but not with reduced mortality due to cancer." The study, conducted by the Tohoku University School of Public Policy in Japan, followed 40,530 Japanese adults, ages 40-79, with no history of stroke, coronary heart disease, or cancer at baseline beginning in 1994. The study followed all participants for up to 11 years for death from all causes and for up to 7 years for death from a specific cause. Participants who consumed 5 or more cups of tea per day had a 16 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 26 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease than participants who consumed less than one cup of tea per day. The study also states, "If green tea does protect humans against CVD or cancer, it is expected that consumption of this beverage would substantially contribute to the prolonging of life expectancy, given that CVD and cancer are the two leading causes of death worldwide."[18] [19] A study published in the February 2006 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded "A higher consumption of green tea is associated with a lower prevalence of cognitive impairment in humans."[20] [21] In May 2006, researchers at Yale University School of Medicine weighed in on the issue with a review article that looked at more than 100 studies on the health benefits of green tea. They pointed to what they called an "Asian paradox," which refers to lower rates of heart disease and cancer in Asia despite high rates of cigarette smoking. They theorized that the 1.2 liters of green tea that is consumed by many Asians each day provides high levels of polyphenols and other antioxidants. These compounds may work in several ways to improve cardiovascular health, including preventing blood platelets from sticking together and improving cholesterol levels, said the researchers, whose study appeared in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Specifically, green tea may prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the "bad" type), which, in turn, can reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries, the researchers wrote.[22] A study published in the August 22, 2006 edition of Biological Psychology looked at the modification of the stress response via L-Theanine, a chemical found in green tea. It "suggested that the oral intake of L-Theanine could cause anti-stress effects via the inhibition of cortical neuron excitation."[23] In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial done by Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 240 adults were given either theaflavin-enriched green tea extract in form of 375mg capsule daily or a placebo. After 12 weeks, patients in the tea extract group had significantly less low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (16.4% and 11.3% lower than baseline, p<0.01) than the placebo group. The author concluded that theaflavin-enriched green tea extract can be used together with other dietary approaches to reduce LDL-C. [24] A study published in the January, 2005 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded "Daily consumption of tea containing 690 mg catechins for 12 wk reduced body fat, which suggests that the ingestion of catechins might be useful in the prevention and improvement of lifestyle-related diseases, mainly obesity." [25] Antioxidants in green tea may prevent and reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis, according to a CWRU's School of Medicine study published in the April 13 2005 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study examined the effects of green tea polyphenols on collagen-induced arthritis in mice, which is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in humans. In each of three different study groups, the mice given the green tea polyphenols were significantly less likely to develop arthritis. Of the 18 mice that received the green tea, only eight (44 percent) developed arthritis. Among the 18 mice that did not receive the green tea, all but one (94 percent) developed arthritis. In addition, researchers noted that the eight arthritic mice that received the green tea polyphenols developed less severe forms of arthritis. [26] A German study found that an extract of green tea and hot water (filtered), applied externally to the skin for 10 minutes, three times a day could help people with skin damaged from radiation therapy (after 16-22 days). [27] A study published in the December 1999 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that "Green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by its caffeine content per se. The green tea extract may play a role in the control of body composition via sympathetic activation of thermogenesis, fat oxidation, or both."[28] In lab tests, EGCG, found in green tea, was found to prevent HIV from attacking T-Cells. However, it is not known if this has any effect on humans yet. [29] A study in the August, 2003 issue of a new potential application of Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences found that "a new potential application of (–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate [a component of green tea] in prevention or treatment of inflammatory processes is suggested"

Question: what are the health benefits of green tea? how much shoud i drink a day? is it possible to drink too much?

Answer: I use it primarily to regulate my weight, but in addition to increasing you metabolism, green tea helps with: • Fighting against cancer • Rheumatoid arthritis • High cholesterol levels • Prevents cardiovascular disease • Infection • Impaired immune function • Helps stabilize diabetes • It keeps your skin acne-free, making it healthier and smoother • Assists in weight loss regimen • Slows the aging process • Aids your digestion • Encourages bowel regularity • Provides you with a mild stimulating effect without causing sleepless nights or nervousness I don't think it is possible to really drink too much. People in Asian countries drink tea as their primary beverage and average 6 cups per day. They don't have all of the overweight problems and cardiovascular conditions that people have in the US.

Question: Does green tea have health benefits? I have always heard that green tea has health benefits. I also want to know if the kind I buy actually contains those benefits. Its always Bigelows or Lipton green tea (regular or mint flavored) from Walmart. The nutritional info says 0% for everything. I never add sugar or anything to it. Just drink it straight. I don't want any super healthy high priced stuff, but I want to know if I am recieving any benefit from the king of green tea I buy.

Answer: Green tea can help to fight cancer and is also good for your heart. It also lowers high cholesterol, helps to prevent diabetes and also helps to prevent dementia. You can see further details and benefits in a web search for "green tea" + "health benefits".

Question: What are the health benefits of green tea ice cream? More specifically, are there any for tempura green tea?

Answer: (-: Emotional satisfaction! If you are serious about health benefits, then have just the green tea with some mandarin oranges and a handful of nuts. If you want to try out a new flavor sensation, then go for the ice cream or tempura -- being adventuresome is a great way to blow off stress and make for a more interesting life! Just don't fool yourself that these fatty foods are going to do wonders for your blood vessels!