Much Acclaimed Miracle of Green Tea Needs To Cool Off

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Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

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 green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers 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.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

cancer

rheumatoid arthritis

high cholesterol levels

cariovascular disease

infection

impaired immune function

What makes GT so special?

The secret of GT lies in the fact 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. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Links are being made between the effects of drinking GT and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.

Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets GT apart is the way it is processed. G.T. leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

Other Benefits

New evidence is emerging that G.T. can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and G.T. extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

G.T. can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing g.t. - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

Harmful Effects?

To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking g.t. is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, g.t. contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.

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How Green Tea Helps To Make Your Skin Healthier

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We have heard of the health benefits of green tea. Now new studies show that it can have a profound effect on the skin. It has been shown that it can help repair sun damage, prevent premature aging, and enhance skin tone. It may also help to ward off some types of skin cancer. This sounds like a miracle in a bottle, to good to be true. But often old remedies and potions value are based on the fact that they work, even if the user didn't understand why.

New research from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center shows that green tea blocks the formation of plaque in the arteries. Green tea has long been a part of herbal healing in cardiovascular patients with outstanding results. It doesn't help dissolve existing plaque but helps to prevent the formation of new plaque. Green tea doesn't have to be drunk to be effective; there are pills on the market containing green tea.

Let's take a look at what green tea is made from. Tea comes from the bud of a plant. There are three basic types; black, green, and oolong. The manufacturing process for each is very similar but the fermentation process is different. The black and oolong teas are oxidized, while the green tea leaves are steamed then dried. This helps prevent the breakdown of polyphenols, which are the compounds in tea that contain those very important antioxidants that help fight cancer.

The plolyphenols in green tea are commonly known as catechins, possessing highly potent antioxidant characteristics. The major preventative catechin in green tea is epigallocatechingallate (EGCG). It has been discovered at the Medical College of Georgia that EGCG can reactivate dying cells. EGCG can also accelerate the differentiation process in new skin cells. With this technology it can be possible to make formulas that will help heal skin condition like psoriasis, rosascea, and wounds.

When dealing with a wound if there isn't the right type of skin cells present to fill the wound another type moves in, this is scar tissue. If the EGCG is applied correctly is can cause the scar tissue cells to be rejuvenated into normal healthy cells, eliminating an ugly scar. This type of technology could help so many different people with scaring injuries, like burn victims.

While more studies are being conducted to determine the other health benefits of green tea, researcher think the impact could be profound. Using skin care products that contain green tea can help repair your skin by minimizing the damage from the sun. It will also promote new cell growth. Including green tea as part of your daily routine, by drinking and applying to the skin, you can be on your way to a healthier life inside and out.
Author Resource:- Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as skin care advice at http://www.cosmeticsplusmore.com
Article From New Ezine Articles
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Green Tea Diet Plan

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Eating and dieting these days do not usually involve your favorite beverages like green tea and coffee. But this is not always necessarily the case. With some bit of planning and a lot of discipline, your diet plan and weight regime can include your morning cups of coffee or green tea.

South Beach Diet Plan

An idea formulated by Dr. Agatston, the South Beach Diet plan is not low-carb, nor low-fat. According to its originator, the South Beach Diet plan “teaches you to rely on the right carbs and the right fats.”

This diet plan is comprised of three phases – Banishing your Cravings, Reintroducing Carbs, and A Diet for Life. Using artificial sweetener and low-fat milk in your coffee or green tea during all three phases is one way to go on losing weight without having to give up your brewed cup. Going decaf with your coffee might also be a good idea since the objective of this diet is maintaining even insulin levels. If you’re a green tea drinker, then there is less worries for you. Green tea contains only very few amounts of caffeine.

The Zone Diet Plan

The Zone Diet plan was developed by Barry Sears, a former biotechnology researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This diet plan is based on the maintenance and consistency of insulin levels. Because this diet plan also concerns itself with insulin control, the issues that arise are handled similarly as that with the South Beach Diet plan. Taking decaffeinated coffee and green tea is all right as long as these beverages don’t spike up your insulin. The eating program of the Zone Diet plan requires you to use artificial sweetener and low-fat milk in your coffee or green tea.

Atkins Diet Plan

Another low-carb diet plan variety, the Atkins Diet plan works best with caffeine-free coffee and green tea. For best results, artificial sweeteners in your green tea and coffee are advised to keep your carbs down.

Blood Type Diet Plan

The Blood Type Diet plan is a weight loss regimen where the foods you eat are based on your blood type. The eating program of the Blood Type Diet plan is more restricted compared to the South Beach Diet plan, the Zone Diet plan, and the Atkins Diet plan. For instance, for people with blood types A and AB, coffee is highly advised. But for those with blood types O, adding coffee to the Blood Type Diet plan should be avoided. Green teas on the other hand are acceptable for any blood types. However, adding natural sweeteners like sugar, honey, stevia, or maple syrup in green tea should be avoided in this diet plan.

Sugar Busters Diet Plan

The name of the diet plan says it all. Subscribers to this diet plan are highly cautioned against sugars. Coffee and green teas are perfectly fine but only use artificial sweeteners.

Paleolithic Diet Plan

Also called the Stone Age Diet plan, this diet plan is based on the consumption of simple, unprocessed foods that our Neanderthal ancestors would have eaten. This diet plan is perfect for green tea drinkers. Green tea is simple and 100% natural steamed dried leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant. If you’re a coffee drinker, you might be in for a tougher choice since you might have to give up coffee all together with this diet plan. Sugars in green teas are still a big no-no, especially the refined kind.

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By Catherine Fairchild

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