Tea in general is a good addition to any diet and all teas have antioxidants to boost your immunity against a wide variety of issues. Green tea is no exception, but there are more benefits of green tea due to its increased amount of antioxidants. The ancient Chinese used this tea on a regular basis and modern studies have proven what they have known for hundreds, even thousands, of years.
Understanding where the benefits of green tea come from is as important as understanding all that it does for you. Green tea has a particularly strong dose of catechin polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is an anti-oxidant that is significantly more powerful than resveratrol. Resveratrol is found in red wine. The boost in benefits of green tea come from that part of the processing where the leaves are steamed instead of left to ferment, as they are with black and oolong teas. Steaming allows the EGCG to be sealed inside the tea leaf in greater quantities than if the leaf is allowed to oxidize and ferment.
Studies have linked the benefits of green tea to protection against infection, cancer, arthritis, impaired immune system, cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol levels. The Chinese, however, used it for depression, headaches, weight loss as well as many other problems. Part of the reason that there are so many benefits of green tea is that there are antiviral and antibacterial properties in it. The tea literally starts working from the time you sip it. Studies have been done that shows a link in reduced tooth decay and green tea. It is believed that the anti-bacterial properties help to fight the bacteria that promote tooth decay.
There are studies that have linked green tea drinkers to higher metabolisms which can help with weight loss and maintenance. There is a compound in green tea that inhibits cancer growth. This explains why the Chinese use green tea to treat some types of cancers. It has also shown to boost insulin sensitivity in lab mice, which means that it might help prevent or treat diabetes in humans.
In 1191 a book was written about tea and promoting the benefits of green tea as being particularly healthy for the five vital organs, especially the heart. The book outlines other benefits of green tea including curing indigestion, boosting brain function, and soothing the symptoms of hangover. The book even goes on to give specific dosing for ailments.
Sipping just a cup a day of green tea has proven to be worth the effort. The only draw back is the caffeine found in green tea. It's important to know that the caffeine found in green tea is a relatively small amount compared to coffee and outweighs the benefits of green tea overall.
