Drink Well

Scientific studies continue to show that green tea is good foryou. Tea began as a Chinese medicinal drink, and modern scienceproves just how green tea is good for you. In traditionalChinese medicine, tea helps to clear the eyes and head, resolveexcess phlegm, promote urination, relieve toxins, aid thedigestion, and quench thirst. As with so many foods andmedicines, the traditional Chinese medicinal thoughts are beingproven scientifically in modern times. Today, there is ampleevidence that tea is good for you as a daily tonic in theinterest of preventing or treating a wide range of maladies,including: cancer, hypertension (high blood pressure), highcholesterol, premature aging, food poisoning, dental decay andbad breath, and even arthritis.

How Is Green Tea Good For You?

1. Tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularlyepigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerfulanti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, itkills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has alsobeen effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, andinhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The lattertakes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (theformation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heartattacks and stroke.
2. Green tea may be good for your waistline. In November 1999,the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the resultsof a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland.Researchers found that men who were given a combination ofcaffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than thosegiven only caffeine or a placebo.
   

Green Tea Is Good For Your Immune System

1. A Japanese report found that men who drank ten cups of greentea per day stayed cancer-free for three years longer than menwho drank less than three cups a day (there are approximately240 - 320 mg of polyphenols in three cups of green tea).Meanwhile, a study by Cleveland's Western Reserve Universityconcluded that drinking four or more cups of green tea per daycould help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, or reduce symptoms inindividuals already suffering from the disease.
2. Scientists at the Saitama Cancer Research Institute discoveredthat there were fewer recurrences of breast cancer, and thedisease spread less quickly, in women with a history of drinkingfive cups or more of green tea daily.
   

Green Tea Is Good For Your Prevention & Treatment Of Cancer

1. Scientists also discovered that EGCG from green tea can helpto prevent metastasis, or the movement and spreading of cancercells from one organ or tissue to the other by bloodstream orlymph. Cancer cells secrete special enzymes in order to enterand colonize tissues. Research shows that EGCG stops thesecretion of these special enzymes.
2. A case study that was done in China, reports that those womenwho drank green tea regularly had a 50% lower risk of developingesophageal cancer. Men showed less risk as well, but not assignificant as women.
3. Researchers from Sweden reported that green tea blocked thedevelopment of new blood vessels in the lungs. By blocking thedevelopment of new blood vessels in the lungs, tumors are lesslikely to grow and metastasize. Scientists believe that EGCGplays a significant rule in blocking the development of tumors.Similar results were achieved in breast cancer, colon cancer andmelanoma studies. It is believed that drinking green tea for anextended period of time will help to prevent and might curecancer naturally.
4. The antioxidants found in green tea--called catechins--mayselectively inhibit the growth of cancer. In laboratory studiesusing animals, catechins scavenged oxidants before cell damageoccurred, reduced the number and size of tumors, and inhibitedthe growth of cancer cells. National Cancer Instituteresearchers are investigating the therapeutic and preventive useof tea catechins against a variety of cancers.
5. One Chinese study involving over 18,000 men found green teadrinkers were about half as likely to develop stomach oresophageal cancer as men who drank little tea, even afteradjusting for smoking and other health and diet factors.
6. In the laboratory, studies have shown green tea catechins actas powerful inhibitors of cancer growth in several ways: Theyscavenge oxidants before cell injuries occur, reduce theincidence and size of chemically induced tumors, and inhibit thegrowth of tumor cells. In studies of liver, skin and stomachcancer, chemically induced tumors were shown to decrease in sizein mice that were fed green and black tea.
   

Green Tea Is Good For Your Teeth

1. Green tea is good for your teeth, the catechins prevent decayby killing the bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) that cause dentalplaque. Green tea also contains fluoride. One cup of brewedgreen tea contains around 0.3-0.5 mg of fluoride. This is anoptimal level of fluoride according to dentists. As we all know,fluoride builds in our teeth's enamel, making it more resistantagainst acidic environment, of our mouth. Green tea alsoeliminates other bacteria that responsible for bad breath.According to researchers, green tea polyphenols can inhibit, by30%, the growth of bacteria that causes unpleasant breath.
2. A study at the Beijing Dental Hospital found consuming 3 gramsof green tea a day, or about 2 cups, along with the applicationof a tea extract reduced the size and proliferation ofleukoplakia, a precancerous oral plaque.
3. Recent research suggests that green tea is good for your HDLcholesterol ( the "good one") and lowers triglyceride levels.Several tests have been done. And green tea extract has beenshown to be good for your cholesterol.
   

Green Tea Is Good For Your Blood Pressure

1. At the the end of a 5 week experiment, one group with theregular diet showed blood pressure increases. For the catechinfed group, the blood pressure stayed normal. After this initialtesting the scientists switched the diets for the two groups.This switch led to a reversal of the blood pressure trends. Thestudy concluded that drinking moderate amounts of green tea eachday can help to prevent high blood pressure.
2. The catechins in green tea have additionally been shown to helpprevent excess cholesterol in the blood, killing the bacteriathat causes food poisoning, lower blood sugar, additionallygreen tea is good for your high blood pressure by suppressingthe production of angiotensn II. Catechin is also a stronganti-oxidant, which aids in aging related concerns.
   

Green and white tea leaves are less processed than oolong orblack teas, which prevents oxidation and retains the highestlevels of beneficial compounds. But all tea is good for you, sofind the ones you like and drink them daily!