Green tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. Regular black tea comes from the same plant, but it undergoes more processing so it’s not as healthy for you. Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world and in China, green tea is considered crude medicine. It contains powerful and healing compounds. The one that researchers talk about is epigallocatechin gallate.
Don’t memorize that, just remember green tea is a powerful source of antioxidants. As you know, antioxidants delay the aging process because of their ability to vacuum free radicals from the body reducing your risk for disease. All hype? Definitely not. Green tea is the most well-researched beverage in history and it’s been enjoyed since at least the 12th century.
Over the years, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has published many articles on green tea discussing its anti-cancer potential and its heart protective benefits. Specifically, green tea can cause cell death in cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. It may improve outlooks for people with all types of cancer, even stomach, esophagus, liver, breast and prostate cancer. There is also evidence that green tea can lower blood pressure because it acts similar to our pharmaceutical drugs known as ACE inhibitors. If you’re not impressed yet, how ‘bout this.
Green tea can slow down the build up of LDL (bad cholesterol) that clogs your arteries. Studies show it can lower your risk for a heart attack. There’s no miracle cure for anything, but green tea may help control blood sugar levels and improve your outlook if you have diabetes. So sip more green tea. Make sure it’s a high quality brand imported from China. It can’t hurt you and it tastes pretty good…for being green.
Suzy Cohen, has been a licensed pharmacist for over 30 years and believes the best approach to chronic illness is a combination of natural medicine and conventional. She founded her own dietary supplement company specializing in custom-formulas, some of which have patents. With a special focus on functional medicine, thyroid health and drug nutrient depletion, Suzy is the author of several related books including Thyroid Healthy, Drug Muggers, Diabetes Without Drugs, and a nationally syndicated column.
