Green Tea Comes From the Same Leaf as Black Tea.

Green tea and black tea come from the same plant, even though black tea is more well known in the United States. The tea plant originated in the rain forests of southeastern Asia and it’s grown in many parts of the world, including Japan, India, China, Pakistan, Turkey, and Africa. The leaves are limp and downy at first, and they become rounded and thick when fully grown. Only the young leaves and leaf buds are used to make tea.

The green variety of tea goes through less processing than black tea and as a result, more plant compounds are contained in the herb. This herb has high amounts of compounds called polyphenols. Polyphenols are known to have powerful antioxidant, antibiotic, antitumorigenic, and anticarcinogenic qualities.

Green Tea has many health benefits

The Chinese say that tea is the medicine for all ailments and there is a lot of truth in the saying. This herb is known to heal a diverse range of conditions and is an antioxidant as well as a stimulant. The polyphenols in this tea are known to be powerful and potent antioxidants. In fact, scientists have discovered that epigallocatechin, a substance found in this tea, also called EGCG, is many hundreds of times stronger than vitamin E when it comes to neutralizing free radicals. It’s also an energy booster that speeds up metabolism.

This tea is beneficial for many other conditions and uses, including the following :

• Promotes a long, healthy life – Researchers in Japan conducted a population study involving over 40,500 people and followed them for over 11 years. They found that those who drank 5 cups of the beverage a day were 16% less likely to die than those who drank less than one cup per day. They were also 26% less likely to develop heart disease.

• Slows the aging process – This tea contains large amounts of potent antioxidants called catechins. Experts believe these antioxidants slow down the aging process and fight against heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

• Helps keep the arteries clear – As we get older, our arteries can get clogged with cholesterol, platelets, and fat. When the arteries harden and get clogged, a heart attack or stroke is more likely to happen. Studies show that drinking green tea can reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke by up to 46%

• Lowers cholesterol levels – This tea has been shown to lower cholesterol, triglycerides, and help prevent blood clots.
• Reduce blood pressure – Studies have shown that people who drink this tea daily are 65% less likely to develop high blood pressure.

• Fights cancer – Studies show that the polyphenols in this tea can protect against several forms of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, and lung cancer. Other substances in this tea may protect against the damage caused by radiation treatment.

• Diabetes – This tea slows the absorption of sugar into the blood stream by blocking the production of enzymes that break down complex carbohydrates into simple sugars in the body.

• Flu – Green Tea fights against the flu by keeping the influenza A virus from replicating itself. This tea also fights the influenza B virus.

  Green Tea and weight loss

  One of the biggest benefits of drinking this tea is weight loss. A study from the American Journal of Nutrition has shown that extracts of this tea greatly increase metabolic rate (energy consumption).

  Experts also say the catechins in this tea block the movement of sugar into fat cells. This inhibits the insulin response and fat storage in the body.

  
  
  

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