Monday, October 13, 2008

Drink Green Tea for Health!

By Christian Goodman

We can all thank the ancient Chinese for drawing our attention to the wonders that may be found in a simple yet pleasurable cup of green tea.

For hundreds of years, green tea was used to relieve headaches and depression in China. The habit of drinking tea has been passed on and today it is becoming popular because of the many benefits being discovered by regularly drinking this relaxing drink.

Tea comes in many forms and varieties, but there are three uniquely different types of tea.

All tea, whether black, green, or red, comes from the leaves of a warm weather evergreen called Camellia Sinensis. The difference comes in when the leaves are processed.

The more processed the leaves are, the darker the tea becomes, which means that green tea has had the least processing.

Processing of green tea usually involves quickly steaming the leaves, while black and red teas are usually dried, crushed and fermented which makes them seem stronger and more potent.

Don't be misled by this visible characteristic, as many believe that the closer it is to its natural state, the more valuable the medicinal and healing properties.

All tea is known to contain polyphenols which is known for giving tea its antioxidant properties and antioxidants are believed to protect our bodies from free radical damage.

ORAC score is used to measure antioxidant amounts, and tea scores higher than many fruits and vegetables. Because of this, you should seriously consider including tea in your daily diet.

Aside from preventing blood clotting, studies have shown than polyphenols can decrease cholesterol levels. Consuming four to six cups a day may also reduce gastric, esophageal and skin cancers. Try searching through the internet and you will see the endless list of ailments, aches, and pains that can be relieved by simply drinking green tea.

Among the ailments that have been cured are cancer, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and impaired immune functions.

Drinking tea also aids us against digestive disorders, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's while increasing metabolism and fat oxidation. It is even said that green tea helps prevent tooth decay because it kills the bacteria which causes dental plaque.

Regardless of the reason you might have for drinking green tea, it's clear that everyone can derive some benefit from daily consumption.

You should be aware however, that not all of the more marketable "herbal teas" are tea at all because many have already been mixed with herbs and spices and other plant parts for flavoring.

These do not offer the health promoting qualities of Camellia Sinensis. You should read ingredients carefully to make certain that you are getting the product that you expect.

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