Green Tea originates from China but is now grown in many parts of the world. It is produced from the leaf of the Camellia Sinensis plant which is then processed with the minimal amount of oxidation taking place in order to preserve its health-giving benefits.
“It is better to be deprived of food for 3 days than to go without green tea for just 1 day” – Ancient Chinese Proverb
Health benefits of Green Tea
Green tea has many alleged and proven health benefits which include:-
- Treats Acne
- Improves memory
- Combats Arthritis
- Cancer Prevention
- Weight Loss
- Reduces Cholesterol
- Lowers Blood Pressure
- Anti Aging
There are literally hundreds of different types of green and black tea but all the varieties originate from the same Camellia Sinensis plant and are then processed in different ways in order to produce tea with different flavors and health qualities. These processes produce varying tea’s which range from aromatic tea to some that are almost black in color and which produces a reddish color beverage.
White Tea, for instance, is produced only from the buds and very young leaves. The name white tea comes from the little white hairs found on these buds and leaves. It undergoes a very quick steaming process and is dried and packed. It is considered to be the most powerful of all green tea and contains the highest percentage of beneficial Polyphenols and catechins such as EGCG.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Pu-Erh undergoes a very lengthy oxidation process and is often processed into discs or bricks of tea. In ancient times Pu-Erh went through a curing process lasting over a month and then was packed and stored to mature for years. The longer the tea aged the better tasting it became and the more valuable it was.
Green Tea as an aid to Weight Loss
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.”
Green tea extracts have recently become a very popular ingredient in many weight loss supplements due to their alleged weight-loss benefits.
Numerous studies have indicated that green tea is highly beneficial to weight loss with some reports showing that it may boost your metabolic rate by as much as 4%.
One of the important principles of using tea for slimming is to ensure that you drink a cup of warm to hot tea after a meal. This will help to break down fat content in the meal that you have eaten.
Green Tea a great option for diabetics
Apart from its hundreds of other health benefits, green tea is also beneficial to diabetics as well. Various researches have shown that green tea regulates blood sugar levels in people with Diabetes Type 2.
It aids through:-
- Blocking Glucose absorption
- Improving Insulin actions
- Regulating blood sugar levels
By drinking 3 to 5 cups of green tea a day you will not only improve your diabetic condition but may also benefit from the weight loss provided through green tea.
Anti Aging Properties of Green Tea
One of the factors that never failed to amaze me on my frequent trips to China was just how young the Chinese people appeared. On average they looked 10 to 15 years younger than their western counterparts and were also characterized by their clear complexions.
One of the big anti-aging secrets of the Chinese is green tea combined with a healthy diet rich in vegetables. They love their veggies.
Green tea contains an abundance of antioxidants which explains part of the reason why it is effective in anti-aging.
It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that helps reduce any inflammations in your skin thereby increasing radiance and overall skin condition.
It also has an inhibitory action on collagenase which is a process that breaks down collagen thereby improving skin elasticity and reducing wrinkles.
Cholesterol – the Silent Killer
High cholesterol levels are a problem that affects millions in the Western world. Many people fail to keep a check on their cholesterol levels as it is a condition that is neither seen nor noticed until it strikes – and then it can kill through heart attacks or cause strokes which affect the rest of your life.
One of the great benefits of green tea is that it lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. This helps to protect you from the risk of heart disease and strokes.
NB: People using Coumadin (Warfarin) should not drink green tea due to its high vitamin K content.
Loose tea compared to teabags
The Western world has a preference for the convenience supplied by tea bags. As a result, a number of green tea products are now available in tea bags in order to cater to the preference of the market.
The tea packed in tea bags is often of lower quality and the tea bag also tends to restrict the steeping of the tea resulting in reduced flavor and reduced health benefits.
Green tea normally consists of whole leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant which are rolled and dried.
When loose leaf tea is steeped in water these dried leaves unfold into full leaves allowing the maximum release of flavor and all the health-benefiting nutrients found in the tea.
In the Far East tea bags are not used. The Chinese only drink top-quality whole leaf tea due to the superior flavor and benefits supplied. However, tea bags are far more convenient to the average westerner.