Health Benefits of Green Tea
 by
Sharon Gray
Why is green tea so much healthier
than other teas? The steaming process used to produce green tea
maintains more of its beneficial nutrients.
The leaf of the Camellia sinensis, is a shrub native to southern
China. The tea plant's origins lie in the mountain area bordered
by China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and India.
From its discovery, green tea has been renowned for its pharmacological
properties. While green tea is not classified as a medicine,
it does contain substances that are as effective. It is ranked
as a leading health-giving substance in traditional Chinese medicine.
The Japanese are the largest consumers of green tea, but the
rest of the world is quickly discovering the significant benefits
of drinking this beverage. Numerous worldwide organizations have
conducted studies on various health related aspects of green
tea. Research conducted in Japan in 1992 showed that one of the
principal active ingredients in green tea (catechins) can lower
the incidence of enteric (brain) cancer.
Green tea is a powerful antioxidant and can reduce cholesterol
levels, have a preventative effect on the development of tooth
decay and can enhance the immune system.
Oxygen is essential to humans. It triggers the burning of glucose
and fat, producing energy. Stress, ultraviolet rays, cigarette
smoke, and vigorous workouts cause oxygen to change into free
radicals which can attack cells and cause a great deal of damage
to the body. Green Tea is a natural anti-oxidant.
Tea and herbs have been used for medicinal purposes and for pleasure
for over 5000 years. It has only been recently that it is being
used in the Western hemisphere because of the many health benefits
it produces.
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking
green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it does contain caffeine.
However, green tea contains less caffeine than a cup of coffee.
There is approximately 5-15 mg of caffeine in 6-8 ounces of Tranquil
Moments green tea, compared to 143 mg in an 8 ounce cup of coffee.
Sharon Gray is the Owner of Tranquil
Moments Organic Herbal, Green and Black Tea Company. Telephone:
403-988-4970 Email: tranquilmoments@shaw.ca
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