Is Green Tea Really Good for You?

Though green tea has been around for almost 5,000 years, people today are just learning about its wide range of healing properties. Is this merely a fad tied in to the health-conscious population or is there really something in the tea?

Green tea originated in China and though there are various stories as to its discovery, the drink soon became the elite elixir for the royalty and the wealthy. Later on Buddhist monks grew it and the drink became a staple on Chinese ships. Unlike their European counterparts, the Chinese sailors were never inflicted with scurvy. In the 1600s tea was introduced to Europe and its popularity grew.

All teas come from the same plant, camellia sinensis. However, green tea is processed by steaming the leaves preventing the powerful properties from being oxidized. These properties are called epgallocatechin gallate or EGCG. The EGCG are the antioxidants which have been proven to help prevent many diseases and inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Many studies have been done with green tea around the world and the healthful benefits are many and affect multiple parts of the body.

Among the findings, green tea has been beneficial for ailments such as heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer, and impaired immune function. It has also been proven to help with headaches, depression, and reducing cholesterol levels. It helps with dieting and kills bacteria that causes tooth decay. Lately, deodorants, soaps, and creams have also made their appearance on the market because of the tea’s popularity. It is not proven, however, if these are beneficial.

The only negative affect of green tea is the caffeine, though the caffeine content is a lot lower than the amount that is in coffee. Like any caffeinated drink, it is not wise to drink it before going to sleep.

The best way to drink green tea is the most traditional, with a tea bag infused in water. Drinking the tea hot or cold does not affect its properties. How much to drink, however, varies from study to study. Some studies believe that one should drink ten cups per day while others believe that only two cups are beneficial.

Green tea is definitely good for a person’s health and it is a refreshing beverage. Now that it has been proven to cure so many ailments and inflictions, it will probably be around long after any fad ends. All in all, green tea is a great, natural remedy that everyone should consider.