Health benefits of Green Tea??

phillycard · April 17th, 2007, 08:23 AM

I love the stuff personally, but I'm a little confused as to the purported health benefits, especially as it pertains to losing weight. I've heard there are better teas like White Tea or Black Tea as far as being good for you. I prefer iced teas but not the premade. I'll usually brew my own, then ice it down. Any thoughts or personal experiences?

Pariah · April 17th, 2007, 08:54 AM

It's something to do with the antioxidants in Green Tea that gives it it's health benefits, I think.

jenna2891 · April 17th, 2007, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillycard

I love the stuff personally, but I'm a little confused as to the purported health benefits, especially as it pertains to losing weight. I've heard there are better teas like White Tea or Black Tea as far as being good for you. I prefer iced teas but not the premade. I'll usually brew my own, then ice it down. Any thoughts or personal experiences?

i always thought green tea was highly caffeinated and that is why people think it is effective for weight loss. people seem to think jittery = active which in turn = weight loss. don't know if that's the case with green tea, but that's the impression i got.

abomb · April 17th, 2007, 09:29 AM

I dont know much about it Philly, but you are probably on the right track with brewing your own. I cant see the bottled stuff packed with fructose and sugar being very good for you.

Linderbee · April 17th, 2007, 09:41 AM

Here's what I found on black tea:

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It's important to remember that tea research is still in the early stages. Jane Higden, a research associate with the Linus Pauling Institute, states in a recent article: "although numerous observational studies have examined the relationships between tea consumption and the risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer, there is no conclusive evidence that high intakes of tea are protective in humans." Still, it looks like there is no need to worry about depriving yourself of possible health benefits if black tea is your beverage of choice.

Here are the results of research into black tea:
Black Tea Research

A long-term study by the Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and the Environment found a correlation between regular consumption of black tea and reduced risk of stroke. Researchers looked at data from a study examining the health benefits of foods that are high in flavonoids - phytonutrients with antioxidant benefits. While some of the flavonoids were obtained from fruits and vegetables, seventy percent came from black tea.The study looked at 552 men over a 15 year period. Researchers concluded that the flavonoids in black tea helped reduce the production of LDL - the "bad" cholesterol that can lead to stroke and heart attacks. Furthermore, men who drank over four cups of black tea per day had a significantly lower risk of stroke than men who drank only two to three cups per day.

A separate study by Dr. Joseph Vita at Boston's School of Medicine supported these results. For four months, sixty-six men drank four cups of either black tea or a placebo daily. Dr. Vita concluded that drinking black tea can help reverse an abnormal functioning of the blood vessels that can contribute to stroke or heart attack. Furthermore, improvement in the functioning of the blood vessels was visible within two hours of drinking just one cup of black tea.

Finally, a study of over 3,000 adults in Saudi Arabia - where black tea is favored over green - found that regular consumption of the dark brew can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by fifty percent.

And here's what I found on Green tea:

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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 green tea so special?
The secret of green tea 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 green tea 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 green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea 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 green tea 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 green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Green tea 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 green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

Harmful Effects?
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea 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.

How to Brew a Cup of Green Tea
Producing the perfect cup of green tea is a tricky process. If not handled properly, those same polyphenols that provide health benefits can ruin the flavor, making the tea taste "gassy." It's particularly important not to overbrew. While it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions for each variety of green tea, here are some general instructions:

Use one tea bag, or 2 - 4 grams of tea,* per cup.
Fill a kettle with cold water and bring to a boil.
After unplugging the kettle, allow it to stand for up to 3 minutes.
Pour the heated water over the tea bag or tea, and allow it to steep for up to 3 minutes. If using a tea bag, remove the bag.
Allow the tea to cool for three more minutes.

*One to two teaspoons, depending on the variety of green tea you are brewing.

phillycard · April 17th, 2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abomb

I dont know much about it Philly, but you are probably on the right track with brewing your own. I cant see the bottled stuff packed with fructose and sugar being very good for you.

Yeah, I use Splenda to sweeten it. I'll mess around and make iced tea out of just about any type of tea. Those Cellestial brands make for some damn good sippin'!

phillycard · April 17th, 2007, 09:56 AM

Good lookin out on the info Linderbee!

Linderbee · April 17th, 2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillycard

Good lookin out on the info Linderbee!

Louis · April 17th, 2007, 10:34 AM

Green Tea helps me suppress my appetite and I swear that my teeth have gotten whiter by having about 20 ounces daily of the stuff.

phillycard · April 17th, 2007, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis

Green Tea helps me suppress my appetite and I swear that my teeth have gotten whiter by having about 20 ounces daily of the stuff.

Hmmm... Interesting! 20 ounces daily is definitely doable. Bottom line is that the stuff beats diet soda by a mile.

Heucrazy · April 17th, 2007, 01:57 PM

"besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue."

This is why in places like China they smoke like chimney's but their Lung Cancer rate is lower than in America.

82CardsGrad · April 1st, 2008, 10:44 PM

Anyone catch the Barbara Walters special tonight on Living to 150 years old? Resveratrol was very prominently discussed... Very interesting! Very promising...
I'm curious, do any of you take resveratrol or know of anyone who takes it?

dodie53 · April 2nd, 2008, 03:09 AM

i drink Lipton green tea everyday

SuperSpck · April 11th, 2008, 05:19 PM

Makes your peep bigger.

Go marshmallow chickens!

MigratingOsprey · April 12th, 2008, 02:14 PM

i love green tea - white tea is the stuff as well - just don't drink enough of it........