Raw Food Blog

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Green Tea - An Herbal Wonder!

by: Patricia Zelkovsky

There are more than a hundred varieties of teas, but you may be surprised to learn that most teas have medicinal benefits, specifically green tea. If you are a tea drinker, you may be benefiting from its herbal tea remedies at this very moment. How about a cup of green tea as an herbal remedy?

Green Tea is fast becoming the tea of choice as one of several herbal tea remedies. Well known for its antioxidant properties, it also has anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties as well. According to Jennifer Warner, "...drinking green tea may also fight fat. A study showed that people who drank a bottle of tea fortified with green tea extract every day for three months lost more body fat than those who drank a bottle of regular oolong tea." If that isn't an incentive to drink green tea, what is?

You've had a stressful day at work. The heat is overwhelming, and you just want to get home and relax. Have a cup of green tea. It will calm your nerves; detox and de-stress your body. No doubt you've seen all of the new green tea products in your local supermarket. Lipton, specifically, came out with green iced tea. How terrific is that?

Continuing research on the beneficial properties of green tea to human health has produced several new findings. "Most notable is a study by Japanese scientists of the Saitama Cancer Research Institute relating the delay of cancer onset with the consumption of green tea. The study shows that early stage breast cancer spreads less rapidly in women with a history of drinking five or more cups of green tea a day. As a result, there is a lower recurrence rate and a longer disease-free period."

Green tea antioxidants have been shown to have a direct effect on lowering cholesterol levels as well. Green tea also causes carbohydrates to be released slowly, preventing sharp increases in blood-insulin levels. This promotes the burning of fat. Many scientists believe there is a connection between all of the components of green tea; and these combined properties account for its health-enhancing properties. Unfermented green tea leaves, by the way, are the most natural way to gain these benefits.

Did you know that green tea can even help prevent tooth decay? Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria, which causes dental plaque. On another front, skin treatments containing green tea from deodorants to creams are starting to appear on the market. For those of you who have been drinking green tea for some time; good for you! It's time for the rest of you to consider its beneficial affects as well.

Patricia is a health focused content author, today helping you learn more about Green Tea Benefits

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Zelkovsky

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Saturday, November 10, 2007

The Green Tea Secret

by Kristy Haugen

The chemical compound known as a phenol is characterized by an aromatic benzene ring with a hydroxyl group (OH) attached. This makes sense that poly-phenols refer to a chemical substance with more than one phenol group. Phenols function as potent antioxidants, reacting with free radicals. Phenols are responsible for the bright coloring in many fruits and vegetables. These fruit and vegetable phenols protect the plants from damage by disease and ultraviolet light.

Polyphenols are phytonutrients or phytochemicals. Phytonutrients are biologically active compounds in food. However, these phytonutrients are not classified as essential nutrients. This is because the body does not depend on these nutrients for proper bodily function. Phytonutrients do play a vital role in affecting our health just as significantly as vitamins and minerals do.

Polyphenols are classified as flavonoids, which is a class of phytonutrient. Polyphenols can form complexes with metal cations such as iron, zinc, and copper. This reduces the absorption of the mineral. This is beneficial because excess levels of these cations promotes the generation of free radicals. Polyphenols are potent free radical scavengers in the body. Polyphenols also protect and regenerate other dietary oxidants such as vitamin E.

Polyphenols are plentiful in green tea. Polyphenols have been found to be more powerful as an antioxidant than even vitamins C and E. In particular, EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate is the major polyphenolic constituent of green tea. EGCG is a potent antioxidant. A number of chronic diseases have been thought to be caused by free radical damage such as cancer, aging, and heart disease.

Antioxidants protect the body from free radical damage. What are free radicals? Free radicals are caused by cigarette smoking, radiation, pollution, and herbicides. Free radicals are atoms with unpaired electrons in the outer shell. The unpaired electrons make free radicals unstable. Free radicals want only to be stable. Free radical stability requires the electrons to be paired. Free radicals are extremely reactive and will oxidize the nearest molecule.

Oxidizing causes the free radical to gain an electron but also creates another free radical. This creates a chain reaction continuing until the disruption of a living cell. Free radicals can attack proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and DNA. However, DNA is usually preferred. DNA and free radical interactions usually result in mutations that adversely affect the cell cycle and potentially lead to malignancy. In fact, researchers believe this is how many forms of cancer arise.

Antioxidants protect the body from damaging oxidation reactions. Antioxidants safely interact with free radicals to prevent damage to vital molecules. Antioxidants donate an electron to the free radical, hence stabilizing the free radical and preventing damage. The antioxidant is stable with or without the electron, making this a win-win situation.

Polyphenols can be found in white, black, and green tea. Of course, the level of polyphenols along with other nutrients is based on how the tea is processed. Steamed white and green tea retains more polyphenols and nutrients than roasting and fermenting. Black teas and some green teas are fermented and roasted, damaging the bioactive substances in the tea leaf.

Why should you drink green tea? Many studies have been done on the health benefits of green tea. Dietary intake of green tea has been linked to a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease. Regular consumption of green tea shows no significant side effects. Green tea helps prevent cavities, strengthens teeth, and is thought to kill oral bacteria that is responsible for bad breath. Green tea has been shown to protect the brain from oxidative stress and lower monoamine oxidase activity; preventing age related brain degeneration. Green tea studies suggest an increase in exercise endurance by improving the metabolism of fat.

Green tea offers many health benefits to those who drink green tea regularly. Besides offering antioxidant benefits, green tea is excellent as a weight loss supplement offering weight loss results and safety. Of course, green tea should be used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise program. If you take medications for a health condition, consult your doctor before adding green tea to your diet.

Kristy is a mother and experienced nurse. She has a Bachelor in Biology and Chemistry and writes to inform individuals interested in health information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristy_Haugen

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Antioxidants in Green Tea and Black Tea

Antioxidants in green tea are higher compared to black tea because of the processing method. The article below shows you why green tea has more antioxidants(catechins) than black tea.

Catechins in Green and Black Tea

By Brigita Feltham

Although both green and black tea come from the camellia sinensis plant, the quantity and kinds of catechins found in green and black tea vary due to their different processing methods.

How are green and black tea processed?

When green tea is processed the leaves are immediately steamed after picking, this halts the oxidation of the leaves, which means a high concentration of catechins is retained in the leaves.

When black tea is processed the leaves are first withered. The leaves are dried in the open air or air is pumped through the layers of leaves. The leaves are left to oxidise for an extended period and this causes the leaves to change colour from green to coppery brown. During this process the catechins are converted to complex flavanoids known as theaflavins and thearubigins.

The processing of black tea produces the distinctive taste and aroma of black tea, but also means much of catechin content and goodness is destroyed.

What do the catechins in green tea do?

There are four catechins in green tea. The catechins found in green tea are epicatechin (EC), gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECg) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) The most active and beneficial catechin in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

A cup of green tea contains approximately 40-90mg of EGCg.

A cup of black tea contains approximately 5-10mg of EGCG.

Catechins work by neutralizing and inhibiting free radicals which destroy healthy cells and tissues in the body and contribute to aging and disease.

Conclusion

The catechins found in green and black tea differ due to their different processing methods. Green tea is an unfermented tea (not exposed to oxygen after picking) and is able to retain its high catechin content. While black tea is fully fermented (extensively oxidised), which means much of the beneficial catechin components are destroyed.

Although both green and black tea contain catechins, green tea has the higher catechin content of the two. To fully reap all the health benefits of green tea, it is suggested you should drink between 3-10 cups a day. I personally recommend brewing your own green tea leaves rather than using tea bags. The flavour and quality of the leaves is superior and also you can re-brew with the same leaves a few times over.

Brigita Feltham is the creator and owner of Infusious Tea. After spending 4 years in Japan, green tea became a part of Brigita's daily lifestyle.

Brigita began to study tea ceremony and found out that not only does green tea have wonderful health benefits, but it also has a rich cultural tradition in Japan.

For more information on Japanese green tea please visit http://www.japan-green-tea.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brigita_Feltham