The Health and Weight Loss Benefits of Green Tea

It is a well-known fact that the Chinese and Japanese have relished green teas for centuries in promoting health and longevity. Interestingly, on a par with water, tea can be said to be the most commonly consumed beverage in the world but very few people have actually taken advantage of the powerful health benefits provided by both Chinese and Japanese green teas.

Unlike black tea which has a 75% global production rate and 87% consumption rate by American tea drinkers, Chinese and Japanese green teas provide far more health benefits. These varieties of green teas are different from the more commonly consumed black teas because they generally undergo minimal oxidation during their production which consequently allows them to retain many of the chemical properties which provide their health benefits.

Some of the most common types of green teas include:

• White Tea - This originates from the Fujian province of China and is often referred to as the "Tea of Royals"
• Green Teas - The most popular is the famous Dragon's Well brand and also other Chinese brands
• Sencha - This is Japan's most popular green tea
• Pu-Erh - Acclaimed to be the world's most expensive and rarest tea.
• Oolong - A lightly fermented Chinese tea from the Fukien province.

Green tea contains a group of six powerful compounds called polyphenols particularly the flavan-3-ols, namely catechin and epicatechin and their gallate derivatives. However, the most active of the catechin antioxidants is the Epigallocatechin gallate also referred to as EGCG.

The health benefits of green tea and its extracts can mostly be ascribed to the fact that its leaves contain about 30-40% polyphenol antioxidants. Black tea on the other contains only about 3-10% polyphenols due to their longer fermentation periods. For instance, Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is believed to have 100% more antioxidant power than Vitamin C and up to 200 times more powerful than Vitamin E.

Green tea and its extracts apart from being able to help people reduce weight have also been proven to offer other help benefits such as preventing heart attacks and several types of cancers, and reduction of LDL "bad" cholesterol levels. They also help in increasing mental alertness, relieving anxiety, decreasing menopausal symptoms, preventing tooth decay, and also increasing fertility.

Prevents Cancer
The high Epigallocatechin gallate content of green tea has been proven to be very effective in helping in the prevention of cancers. EGCG is actually known to be 25% more effective at protecting cells against harmful influences.

Researchers have found that there are a number of mechanisms whereby EGCG influences both carcinogenic initiation and promotion. EGCG may thus have a direct or an indirect antioxidant protection of DNA, or the modulation of enzyme systems.

EGCG is known to have the ability to signal cancer cells to stop reproducing by promoting apoptosis. Apoptosis is a form of cell death which is initiated in order to make way for new cells and to remove cells whose DNA might have been damaged to the point where cancerous change is likely to occur.

Furthermore, EGCG has been found to kill cancer cells and to shrink tumors by inhibiting the process of angiogenesis (a process whereby a tumor develops its own network of tiny blood vessels to supply itself with nutrient-rich blood). This effectively cuts off the tumor's supply of food and oxygen.

Consequently, EGCG does not only help to slow and eradicate the growth of existing cancer cells but equally stops new one from forming without harming other healthy cells. Several research studies have shown that regular intake of green tea of at least 2 cups a day can help reduce the risks of breast (39%), ovarian (46%), lung (31%), and prostate (90%) cancers.

Prevents Cardiovascular Disease
Many research studies have shown that there is a positive link between the consumption of green tea and decreased risk of heart disease and associated conditions.

Consumption of green tea actually helps to lower LDL "bad" cholesterol" levels while increasing the levels of HDL "good" cholesterol. This helps to reduce the risk of heart related diseases by preventing the oxidation of LDL "bad" cholesterol to an atherogenic form - a state whereby they start causing degenerative changes in arterial walls.

Equally, it protects the heart by helping to lower blood pressure as it suppresses angio-tension which usually causes blood vessels to constrict and which can lead to high blood pressure.

Aids Weight Loss
Taking into consideration the fact that polyphenols and polysaccharides are the best known effective agents in the reduction of blood sugar levels, the consumption of green tea can therefore be considered to be an effective way to reduce weight. This is in addition to the already mentioned fact that it aids in reducing LDL "bad" cholesterol levels and other blood fats such as triglycerides.

Green tea is effective in regulating blood sugar levels because it slows the effect of amylase - a digestive enzyme that helps in the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose. Equally, they inhibit fatty acid synthase - the enzymatic process whereby carbohydrates are converted into fats.

Furthermore, EGCG is an effective regulator of glucose as research has demonstrated that it influences glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) which slows the increase in blood sugar levels and consequently inhibits insulin secretion which is generally good for weight loss.

Consuming green tea has also been shown to effectively raise the body's metabolism by about 4% which consequently helps to raise the body's calorie burning ability. This seemingly low increase in metabolism can however have a significant positive weight loss effect if green tea is consumed regularly.

However, attaining and maintaining a healthy body weight involves more than one factor. There is definitely the need to live an active lifestyle that involves regular physical exercise and also eating a healthy and balanced diet.

With that said, the drinking of tea in any form nonetheless provides some health benefits despite the fact that some may be more potent than others as a result of their different processing degrees.

Incorporating a green tea product like Tava Tea - which is arguably the strongest weight loss tea ever made, as a supplement to a sensible weight loss program is guaranteed to give you so much health benefits while helping to fast-track your weight loss efforts.

The simplest way to safely and effectively slim down is usually to get hold of and start using an established product that really give good results. Get more insightful and unprejudiced info about Tava Tea which is doubtlessly amongst the most beneficial best weight loss products currently available that can help fast-track your weight loss endeavors!

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Green Tea - A Comparison To Black Tea

Tea is the common name for the evergreen Camellia Sinensis plant, found widespread throughout Asia, as it has been for many thousands of years.

Tea has many forms, but the most widespread variation of tea is 'Green Tea', this is one of the least processed variations which gives a fresher beverage.

Although Green Tea is more widespread, western cultures adapted one called 'Black Tea' after Tea was introduced to the west in the 1800's.

Black Tea

Black tea (while being a very popular drink) is the most highly processed form and thus has an overall lower quality.

Black Tea does have health benefits though, in fact almost all of the health benefits you can find about Green Tea are available in Black Tea, just in a diminished quantity which furthers lessens with the addition of milk.

In fact, a recent study completed just this year proved that (based on a sample size of more than 4,800 men and women over the age of 65 over a period of 14 years) people who regularly consume tea have a lower decline in cognitive function (tea drinkers will keep a healthier brain at later ages) when compared to non tea drinkers.

As one major comparison of the health differences between Green and Black Teas, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) currently lists Black tea as a Group 3 Carcinogen.

These days most people are aware that smoke, or rotting organic particles can have a negative effect on cancer, but many people also do not realise that Black tea is produced by oxidising tea leaves (that is, allowing them to rot for a period of time).

While it has not been proven in humans, Black Tea (in the form of a concentrated injection) has been shown to cause cancerous growths in mice.

This is nothing to worry about, as the amount you would need to consume would be extravagant in comparison to an injection in mice, but as a personal preference of mine - if it has any risk, steer clear.

Green Tea, you're not always getting what you pay for at the supermarket.

Now what you have to be aware of, is that while a couple of pounds/dollars for a pack of 20 Green Tea Bags might be expensive compared to the common '160 Black teabags for a couple of pounds/dollars', you are mostly paying for an inferior product.

Some people may argue against this, but the more well known Black Tea brands, who sell 'Green' tea in bag form are selling you an inferior product at an extortionate price.

Many supermarket brand teas source their Green Tea from China and to minimise the price the older and lower quality leaves are used.

To add to this, Black Tea is mixed in as a bulking agent, which results in a brown/yellow tea, sometimes with only a slight hint of green, or in other cases, not a hint of what you would expect from a 'Green' tea.

To get an idea of the quality differences try buying a packet of this supermarket grade stuff and see what it's like - It's as if you mixed old grass with common Black Tea right?

Ok, now go ahead and purchase a proper Tea, preferably from a brand you can't find in the stores. For a guarantee of higher qualities you want to look for a Japanese Tea Store and pay a price of at least £4* per 100g (that's right, but even then you're more likely to pay £7* or more per 100g for higher qualities with better taste). * Or the equivalent in your currency.

Sencha is the most common type of tea in Japan and from personal experience I can vouch for the quality you get.

If you are thinking that you might buy Green Tea online (rather than buying in store) then you should research Japanese Sencha.

A high quality Green Tea product should result in a cloudy dark green colour, with a fresh taste and sweet aroma. If the end result is Yellow / Brown / Black, or tastes too bitter then one of two things have occurred:

Either the quality of the tea is not good, or you have tried to brew Green Tea as if it were Black Tea.

What's the difference? Surely if they're both Tea then you would brew them the same right?

No, the flavour produced from Black Tea can't really 'spoil' if you brew it incorrectly, whereas Green Tea can easily spoil.

Differences in brewing.

Black tea brewing would usually go like this:

1. Boil the kettle
2. Put the teabag into the cup
3. Pour boiling water over the teabag
4. Serve with milk / sugar

Sencha is a good example of what a Green Tea brewing session involves:

1. Boil the kettle and leave for 30 seconds
2. Pour the water into your cups and leave for 30 seconds
3. Pour from the cups into the teapot and leave for 30 seconds
4. Pour back into the cups
5. While leaving the water in the cups for 1 minute 30 seconds (up to 2 minutes 30 seconds) add a heaping teaspoon of Sencha into the teapot, per cup
6. Add water from the cups and leave to steep for 1 minute to 3 minutes (premium grade Sencha can take as little as 40 seconds)

This does the following things:

• Preheats both the cups and teapot before the tea starts to steep, meaning that there are no quick temperature changes which would otherwise spoil the taste.
• Cools down the temperature of the water, as boiling water will scald the leaves and result in a bitter yellow tea.

Upon first discovering Green Tea Bags ( to be more precise - Sencha Tea Bags) in my parent's cupboard many years ago I proceeded to make many mistakes and wrong assumptions which I have mentioned above.

Although I would not recommend supermarket brand Green Tea, it is a good starting point for someone with an interest, or someone who can't make a quick jump and needs a 'transition phase' from the taste of Black to Green.

Tea is one of the best drinks you can consume, especially if it's Green Tea, why do you think it's the second most consumed beverage behind water itself?

So why not give your body a treat and try out a good Japanese Green Tea instead of gorging on sodas and coffee.

For more information about Green Tea [http://www.premiumgreentea.co.uk], the health benefits of Green tea, the Japanese Tea Ceremony or even Brewing information please visit the website at www.premiumgreentea.co.uk [http://www.premiumgreentea.co.uk]

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