Try Green Tea for Great Taste and Good Health

Green tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant, just as black tea does. It is a shrub that has white flowers and is native to Asia and China. It is grown commercially in Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The tea is processed differently from black tea, being that the young buds and leaves are steamed fresh at high temperatures. This leaves a huge part of the enzymes and the nutritional content intact. When black tea is processed, it uses the fermented dry leaves. The nutrition in green tea lies in the catechin polyphenols, an anti-oxidant. The chemistry compounds in the tea interact with the proteins, which act as an astringent and have antioxidant activity. The EGCC polyphenols in this tea are said to be 200 times more powerful than vitamin E.

There are known health benefits that come from drinking this tea and having the tea extract in your daily diet. The Chinese have always used this tea's medicinal benefits to treat things such as headaches and depression. Studies revealed that the extracts can reduce fat digestion using digestive enzymes. This tea is not a miracle weight loss food, but it does help the fat burning process. The leaves and antioxidants in this tea have been known to lower cholesterol. Other medical conditions that green tea is known to be helpful for are impaired immune function, cardiovascular disease infection, cancer, diabetes, stroke, dementia and rheumatoid arthritis. While the tea is good both hot and cold, it is better and more effective as a hot beverage.

Other benefits of green tea are that it helps prevent tooth decay. It can kill dental plaque bacteria and is strong enough to help prevent food poisoning. The tea relaxes muscles that support the bronchial tubes, thus decreasing the chances of a severe asthma attack. It is also starting to be included for external use in skin care products. In hair, green tea improves the shine, tensile strength and gloss.

Green tea is so popular because of its benefits to health. The antioxidants in this tea have a capacity so great that it's better than spinach, broccoli or carrots. A few cups of this tea each day will show positive results in your health. Green tea has been around for thousands of years to help aid in the treatment of various ailments. It's no wonder word has gotten around and popularized this great substance.