w8lifter
Elite Member
What is Green Tea, and What are it's health benefits?
By Lisa M. Reilley, AAAI / ISMA
Green Tea and all types of tea come from only one plant, the Camellia sinensis. Tea is an evergreen shrub. In the wild, it may grow as tall as 60 feet. When cultivated for harvest, the tea bush is continually pruned to about three feet.
Unlike black tea, green tea is not fermented. Fermentation changes the chemical structure of the tea leaf, allowing key flavor characteristics to emerge. Because it is not fermented green tea has one-third the caffeine per cup as black tea.
What makes green tea so special? It contains a chemical called a "polyphenol" which is a powerful antioxidant. Some nutritional studies have shown that green tea consumption may be effective in the prevention of certain cancers - cancer of the bladder, prostate, esophagus and stomach. A study in Japan showed that drinking green tea also reduces cholesterol levels.
Dr. Milly Ryan-Harshman, nutrition consultant and advisor to the Tea Council of Canada, says that tea cannot replace the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables but it can be a complementary source of antioxidants, with health potential in every fresh brewed cup."
It's not the most pleasant tasting beverage of my choice so I recommend drinking it weak. Four cups per day seems to be the consensus. If you absolutely hate tea, try the extract in capsule form. You can't beat the benefit.
By Lisa M. Reilley, AAAI / ISMA
Green Tea and all types of tea come from only one plant, the Camellia sinensis. Tea is an evergreen shrub. In the wild, it may grow as tall as 60 feet. When cultivated for harvest, the tea bush is continually pruned to about three feet.
Unlike black tea, green tea is not fermented. Fermentation changes the chemical structure of the tea leaf, allowing key flavor characteristics to emerge. Because it is not fermented green tea has one-third the caffeine per cup as black tea.
What makes green tea so special? It contains a chemical called a "polyphenol" which is a powerful antioxidant. Some nutritional studies have shown that green tea consumption may be effective in the prevention of certain cancers - cancer of the bladder, prostate, esophagus and stomach. A study in Japan showed that drinking green tea also reduces cholesterol levels.
Dr. Milly Ryan-Harshman, nutrition consultant and advisor to the Tea Council of Canada, says that tea cannot replace the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables but it can be a complementary source of antioxidants, with health potential in every fresh brewed cup."
It's not the most pleasant tasting beverage of my choice so I recommend drinking it weak. Four cups per day seems to be the consensus. If you absolutely hate tea, try the extract in capsule form. You can't beat the benefit.
