Tea (camelia sinensis) is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after the fresh water. Modern medical research shows many health benefits of green tea. Most of the benefits associated with green tea polyphenols, phytochemicals are strong antioxidants that give a bitter taste in green tea.
There are four primary polyphenols found in tea leaves are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate a (ECG) and epicatechin (EC). More recently, researchers have focused on amino acid called theanine tea. Theanine (also called L-theanine) is the major amino acid in green tea leaves, which give a distinctive flavor of tea.
Here are the benefits of green tea for health:
1. Reduce the risk of heart disease and colorectal cancer.
People who regularly drink green tea can significantly reduce the risk of death from heart disease or colorectal cancer. People who drank at least 7 cups per day lowered the risk of death from heart disease by 75%. The researchers also found that the risk of colorectal cancer is 31% lower in those who drank seven cups of green tea a day than those who drank less than 3 cups of green tea a day. Benefits of green tea on cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer is mainly due to the polyphenol content of green tea is high (30-40%) compared to only 3-10% in black tea.
2. Helps fight cancer of the esophagus and bladder cancer
Drinking green tea reduces the risk of esophageal cancer by 60%. An August 2009 study concluded that green tea may be useful against bladder cancer.
3. Reduce cholesterol and blood pressure
green tea may reduce hypertension, but no effect on normal blood pressure. The Japanese researchers found that theanine lowers cholesterol, increases good cholesterol to bad cholesterol and prevent it because of oxidation.
4. Reduce depression and stress
Green tea contains a small amount of natural caffeine to stimulate. Theanine balance the stimulatory effects of caffeine on the nervous system. Theanine creates a sense of relaxation within 30-40 minutes after ingestion via two ways. First, it stimulates the brain's electrical activity to produce alpha waves in the brain. This creates relaxation and mental alertness similar to that achieved through meditation. Then theanine affects brain chemistry to enhance the neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin.
5. Increase the concentration of study
Theanine contained in green tea increases the ability to learn, remember and concentrate. That's why historically the monks and scholars to drink tea to aid in meditation and study. A 2007 study found that green tea works synergistically with caffeine to stimulate cell activity in the brain. The researchers found that 100 milligrams of theanine (from 4 cups of tea) is enough to make you more focused on complex tasks.
6. Improve the quality of life of cancer patients
Theanine from green tea can help improve the quality of life of cancer patients by optimizing the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs, and relaxing. The study found that theanine increases the concentration of anti-cancer drug in the tumor while reducing the levels of these drugs in normal tissues. These beneficial effects of theanine increases the effectiveness of treatment and reduce side effects. Theanine also inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors. Surveys conducted in Japan, where green tea is very popular, has found that drinking green tea reduced the incidence of liver cancer, pancreatic, breast, prostate, lung, throat and stomach.
7. Strengthen the immune system
Theanine in green tea boost immunity against colds and flu, and can enhance a strong immune response.
8. Help you lose weight
Theanine in green tea help you lose weight play a role. In studies conducted in animals, giving theanine increases your metabolism and lose weight, body fat and triglycerides (blood fats).
9. Strengthen bones
One of the major components of green tea (epigallocatechin, EGC) stimulates key enzymes that promote bone growth. Epigallocatechin also increase bone mineralization in cells, which strengthens bones and reduces the activity of osteoclasts that weakens bones.
10. Reduce the risk of colon cancer in women
Drink at least 5 cups of green tea a day 20% lower risk for developing colon cancer. The researchers say that the components of green tea to fight against the bacteria associated with colon cancer. Instead, he apparently did not get the anti-cancer benefits of green tea colon.
Posted in: Nutritious Food
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