Six benefits of green tea.

Fall has officially arrived in the Northwest, and with it come cool days, cold nights, and yummy warm beverages. Green tea is a wonderful way to warm up, and can increase your health at the same time. There are several benefits to drinking green tea. Green tea has been in eastern cultures for over 4,000 years but it is only recently that it has gained recognition for its medicinal benefits. Here are just 6 known health benefits of green tea :

1. Green tea helps to prevent cancer.  EGCG is a powerful antioxidant found in many teas, but is present in much larger concentrations in green tea.  Antioxidants fight chemicals that are naturally produced in the body that can cause cancer and other health issues.  Studies have shown green tea can slow the growth of cancer cells.  While research hasn’t been done on every type of cancer, green tea has shown that it may reduce the risk of one cancer up to 60 percent.  It has also been shown it may decrease the reoccurrence of certain cancers.

2. Green tea is excellent for dental health.  Green tea contains bacteria fighting agents that kill  and stop plaque production.  Less plaque means you have cleaner, healthier teeth and gums.  Green tea also helps fight bacteria responsible for bad breath.

3. Green tea is great for the heart.   The EGCG in Green Tea has been shown to lower total cholesterol levels.  Specifically, it lowered “bad” cholesterol more than it does “good” cholesterol.  EGCG also helps prevent against heart attack and stroke by inhibiting the production of blood clots.  Green tea also helps to lower levels of stress hormones in the body, leaving you more relaxed.  Being stressed out can cause damage to the heart along with the rest of your body.  Drinking green tea could help keep your heart beating a lot longer.

4. Green tea helps to boost immune system.  Green tea contains an amino acid that helps fight bacteria and improve the immune response in your body.  If you regularly drink green tea, you fall ill less often.

5. Green tea helps to ease rheumatoid arthritis. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis.  However, you can consider drinking green tea on a regular basis to reduce your risk of getting it. In cultures where more people drink green tea regularly, there is a much lower incidence of rheumatoid arthritis. 

6. Green tea is known to help in weight loss.  When you eat a lot of carbohydrates, your body responds by producing a lot of insulin.  This leaves you feeling tired and craving more food.  Green tea has been shown to help keep blood sugar at lower levels and helps to reduce insulin production. Consequently, you also eat less and lose weight.  Studies have also found that green tea can speed up your metabolism rate. The faster your metabolism, the faster you slim down.