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Green Tea: Help Or Hype?
There’s been lots of health-hype lately surrounding the
benefits of green tea. I’m certain you’ve heard it, too. Have
you ever wondered: “Is it really worth my while to drink tea of
the green variety?” Stick around and decide for yourself.
First: The Claims:
A rich source of anti-oxidants:
What are anti-oxidants? Anti-oxidants neutralize “free
radicals” or unstable molecules in the body that can eventually
become unfriendly and wreak havoc on the cells. Free radical
damage can cause everything from sun damage to hardening of the
arteries. 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.
Cancer prevention:
Green tea has been shown to lower rates of cancer in Asian
populations. The cancers studied and which have been recorded
include: bladder, colon, esophagus, pancreas, rectal and
stomach. New evidence suggests green tea may also help prevent
prostate cancer, as well.
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 has been proven to protect liver cells by stimulating
the immune system. Green tea protects the liver by warding off
toxins such as alcohol and cigarette smoke.
Teeth protection:
Green tea has been thought to promote oral health (although
scientific proof was difficult to come by here, too). Green tea
is supposed to work against bacteria, protecting teeth from
cavities.
Weight loss:
Here’s another benefit that will raise many an eyebrow. Several
sources I found claimed that green tea may actually help to
stimulate weight loss. Yes! Green tea contains polyphenols
(molecule compounds) that actually help the body to burn weight
and regulate both blood sugar and insulin levels.
The Bad News
What’s the bad news?
The only negative side effect I’ve found is the simple recorded
cases of insomnia due to naturally occurring caffeine in green
tea. It looks like there’s only 30-60mg in 6-8 ounces of tea,
however. That's less than half the caffeine content of coffee
which weighs in at 90 mg. per 8 ounce cup.
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.
Mabey, Richard. The New Age Herbalist. New York: Simon &
Schuster, 1988.
Mindell, Earl, R.Ph., Ph.D. Herb Bible. New York: Simon &
Schuster, 1992.
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!"
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