This article is made by InfoHerbal and was first published on July 2nd, 2010. This article is free to redistributed for non-commercial purposes as long as you include the name of the author and source, and not make changes to the contents of the article.

Green tea (Camellia sinesis) is an ancient beverage that has been proven to have enormous healing properties. Green tea has been consumed in India, China, Japan, and Thailand since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression.

There are three main varieties of tea : green, black, and oolong. All of them derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Originally cultivated in East Asia, this plant grows as large as a shrub or tree. Today, Camellia sinensis grows throughout Asia and parts of the Middle East and Africa.

In the United States most popular is black tea while people in Asian countries more commonly consume green and oolong tea. The difference between the teas is in their processing. Green tea is made from unfermented leaves, the leaves of oolong tea are partially fermented, and black tea is fully fermented. The more the leaves are fermented, the higher the caffeine content and the lower the polyphenol content. Green tea has the highest polyphenol content.

Green tea is reported contains polyphenols,  the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that scavenge free radicals  (damaging compounds in the bodythat  tamper with DNA (genetic material), alter cells and even cause cell death). Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but environmental toxins  including  cigarette smoke,  radiationand air pollution and ultraviolet rays from the sun) also give rise to these damaging particles. Scientists believe that free radicals contribute to the development of a number of health problems, including cancer and heart disease.

There are numerous benefits which can be had from regular consumption of green tea extract. Scientific testing has revealed the following:

  • Reduction in heart disease.
  • Reduction high cholesterol levels
  • Helps in weight loss,  increase in metabolic rate / fat oxidization with green tea diet.
  • Prevention of the death of brain cells – meaning less chance of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases.
  • Lower incidence of cancers.
  • Cariovascular disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Impaired immune function

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