By Frank Tabino | Category: CARDIO SUPPLEMENTS, Green Tea, Natural Remedies, Natural supplements, weight loss
Tea continues its reign as the most popular and most consumed beverage in the world. Whether you drink black tea, white tea, green tea or hundreds of other varieties, it all comes from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. Processing after harvesting is what gives each tea its own characteristics.
A growing body of scientific data suggests that drinking tea has positive health benefits, particularly those beverages from green tea. Epidemiological studies are revealing that high consumption of green tea is associated with lower cancer and cardiovascular risk, less osteoporosis and even less obesity.
Researchers are uncovering the powerful health benefits that green tea provides and tracing their source to the powerful phytochemicals in green tea. A group of compounds called catechins, in particular the polyphenol called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) act as powerful antioxidants protecting DNA from damage caused by free radicals. Protecting cells from DNA damage is the first step in cancer prevention.
The body of scientific evidence exploring green tea is constantly growing. Much of the early research on green tea showed lower rates of many different cancers among a population that drink green as part of their daily culture. Recent research is confirming green tea anti-cancer properties and has identified EGCG as the phytochemical responsible. Some studies have shown EGCG can force certain cancer cells into apoptosis, a situation where cancer cells commit cellular suicide.
Green Tea Protect Against Cardio Vascular Disease
Researchers are concentrating on the role antioxidants found in green tea, especially EGCG, have in protecting against heart disease and stroke. There is significant evidence that the mechanisms leading to cardiovascular disease may be promoted by free radicals and the antioxidants in green tea prevent free radical damage. EGCG and its companion catechins limit the free radical damage from Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol oxidation, which has been shown to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.
Green tea can also help in lowering LDL, which is becoming important as a biomarker for cardiovascular disease. Researchers in China studied the cholesterol-lowering effects of green tea. In a double-blind, placebo controlled study. Study participants received green tea extract or a placebo. At the conclusion of the twelve week study, those participants taking the green tea extract reduce their LDL cholesterol by 16.5%
Green Tea Helps Promote Healthy Bones
About 40 million Americans already have, or are at high risk for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a de-mineralization of bones that make them highly susceptible to fracture. In a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers at Cambridge evaluated the bone density of more than 2000 elderly participants. Those people who consumed tea had measurably higher bone density in specific areas like the thigh and the hip. The overall mean bone density of the tea group was 5% higher, which researchers believe would result in 10-20% fewer fractures.
Green Tea Could Aid Weight Loss
Green tea now has been proven helpful as a weight loss aid. Green tea has thermogenic properties (raises metabolic rates) and speeds fat oxidation beyond that explained by merely its caffeine content. Researchers examined green tea’s ability to help maintain a healthy weight. They believe that EGCG can increase metabolic rate, or the rate that the body burns calories. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study overweight male subject were split into three groups. The groups received green tea extract containing 50mg caffeine and 90mg EGCG or 50mg mg caffeine, or a placebo.
All study subjects were closely monitored by doctors in a respiratory chamber. Dcotors measured the rate calories were burned and energy expenditure. At the end of 24 hours, subjects taking a green tea extract showed a considerable increase in both tests. Subject taking tea burned 5% more energy, and no increase in blood pressure or respiratory rate.
Adapting the Benefits of Green Tea to Your Lifestyle
If you’re like most people, your daily habits and your lifestyle choice are adapted over time. Changing your habits to improve your lifestyle is never easy. Brewing 10 cups of green tea each day might not be possible in your hectic life. However, Nutritional Solutions has an effective and convenient solution, it’s called Green Tea Mega Drops. Green Tea Mega Drops, a highly concentrated liquid green tea extract. One dropper-full contains the active green tea polyphenols comparable to ten cups of freshly brewed tea. I use the mega drops regularly. I put a dropper-full of Green Tea Mega Drops in about 12 ounces of water. It makes a delicious drink that is loaded with health benefits. Green Tea Mega Drops is 98% active polyphenols and 50% EGCG, which is the most highly concentrated extract available, and it is a non-alcoholic extract.
