Health Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea is one of nature’s major antioxidant powerhouses, with studies from the last decade producing a multitude of findings about green tea’s role in burning fat, preventing diabetes and stroke, lowering cholesterol, fighting heart disease and cancer, and even staving off dementia.

Antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that search out and destroy free radicals and unstable molecules called oxidants, which must steal electrons from other molecules in order to become stable. The oxidation process damages proteins and genetic material, which leaves all cells in the body vulnerable to cancer. Free radicals also contribute to arthritis, blood clots, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. High levels of antioxidants are one of the major factors in green tea’s health benefits.

Green tea’s particular antioxidants called catechins, are in a more concentrated form than other tea varieties due to their minimal processing. One particular catechin, EGCG, has received the most notoriety and is considered to be one of the most powerful antioxidants.

EGCG Health Benefits
Studies have found that EGCG’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the pain of arthritis; if you have achy joints, try drinking 2-3 cups of green tea each day. These anti-inflammatory properties also help reduce inflammation in the arteries and reduce the chance of plaque build up in the artery walls, helping to ease blood flood. Reduced plaque build up in arteries lowers blood pressure by reducing the heart’s task of pumping blood through these arteries.

Theories tie free radical damage to the aging process because cells are destroyed and the body deteriorates. EGCG is believed to help slow the aging process because of its ability to fight free radicals and the damage they cause.

Along these same lines, EGCG is a very effective cancer fighter since free radicals modify and destroy your cells and DNA, and cancer is caused by DNA abnormalities. By fighting free radicals, EGCGs reduce the chance that your body will develop cancer.

Studies also show that EGCG reduces levels of LDL or bad cholesterol and increases levels of HDL or good cholesterol.

Green Tea is also believed to help with weight loss as it increases metabolism, increases fat burning and reduces fat storage. Green tea is also available in concentrated pill form and in weight loss supplements but the best way to receive the benefits of green tea is to drink it.

Most of these tests have been conducted in controlled lab environments and produced very consistent findings. A few large-scale studies have been conducted on participants in their home environment and while results have been positive, these may also be influenced by their lifestyles; many of these studies were conducted in eastern countries where tea is a dietary mainstay along with fish and soy. The lesson to learn from this is that an eastern style diet rich in green tea will greatly benefit your health.

Human studies have shown that drinking at least two cups of green tea daily is all you need to start receiving some of these benefits.

Buy our NE Hut Organic Green Tea today and start your path to a healthier lifestyle!