Green Tea Secrets
(Camellia Sinensis)
Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Archaeological evidences show that Green Tea have been consumed for almost 4,000 years now. With China and India being the first ones to cultivate it, its been used around as traditional medicine in India, China, Japan, and even Thailand in the past to remedy everything from controlling bleeding and helping heal wounds to regulating body temperature, blood sugar, and promoting digestion.
Today, scientific research in both Asia and the West is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking Green Tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly 60%. University of Purdue researches recently concluded that a compound in Green Tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking Green Tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
The secret of Green Tea lies in the fact that it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. In the book, GREEN TEA: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D., a Registered Dietitian, states that Green Tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years. According to her, the results of decades of research show that Green Tea truly is a "steaming cup of medicine". A large body of scientific studies demonstrates that Green Tea, even in moderate amounts, has a wealth of beneficial health properties, and may ward off or combat a variety of ailments. She also states that studies attesting to Green Tea's helpful properties seem to be surfacing on a daily basis, with no end in sight.