While there appears to be a lot of scientific research into the benefits of green tea, proper research on the other categories of tea are largely done in the Orient.

This section covers some of these health benefits. The links page of this site contains more references to research on tea benefits.

 

Recent studies have shown green tea has far greater antioxidant protection than the well known polyphenols in antioxidant vitamins such as C and E.

Although oxygen is necessary for human life, it can be a harmful agent in the form of active or free radical oxygen. Active oxygen can combine with anything in the body and oxidize it with consequent destruction of cell membranes, damage to DNA, and oxidation of lipids (fats). All of these can lead to cancer.

So how can we prevent all of this unnecessary oxygen?

The simple answer is by drinking green tea. The antioxidant properties of green tea have been shown to efficiently scavenge these toxins. Green tea's antioxidant activity is particularly important for preventing lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation is a factor in the spoilage of oils and fatty constituents of foods. This spoilage often plays a key role in the build up of atherosclerotic plaque. The antioxidant properties of green tea help prevent this spoilage.

 

Green Tea and Black Tea both come from the same tea plant (Camellia Sinensis). However in a study comparing green tea to black tea, researchers have found that green tea is 6% more potent as an antioxidant. Michael Murray, M.D. explains this is because "green tea is produced by lightly steaming the fresh cut black tea leaf. To produce black tea, the leaves are oxidized. During oxidation, many of the polyphenol substances, compounds with potent antioxidant and anticancer properties, are destroyed. Unlike black tea, green tea is very high in polyphenols."

The anticancer effects are the result of green tea polyphenols blocking the formation of cancer causing compounds as well as effectively detoxifying or trapping cancer causing chemicals.

The forms of cancer that green tea show the most aid in preventing are cancers of the gastrointestinal tract such as cancer of the stomach, small intestine, pancreas, and colon. Also, green tea has shown preventative properties for lung cancer and estrogen-related cancers such as most breast cancers. A report from the National Cancer Institute found that Chinese men and women who drink green tea have a reduced risk of developing esophageal skin cancer.

It is also thought that the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) contained in green tea is a powerful anti-cancer compound.

A detailed, technical account of polyphenols and flavonoids appears on the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition website.

 

Cholesterol is usually cited as the 'bad guy' for causing various diseases in adults, but it's a chemical that is naturally present and necessary in our bodies for important processes such as manufacturing cell membranes and fusing cells.

But there is 'good' cholesterol and 'bad' cholesterol. Researchers found that by drinking green tea the 'bad' cholesterol can be reduced, and tea-drinkers can eat almost twice the foods containing cholesterol as those who don't drink green tea, but still have an equal cholesterol count.

According to the results of the Kunming Medical College First Hospital, the St Antoine Hospital and a medical centre in Japan, fresh Pu-Er and fresh Tuo Cha (compressed tea) is good for normalizing cholesterol levels and reducing body weight and does not have any side effects

 

High blood pressure is known to give the vascular system serious problems and contributes to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis will then initiate heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Green tea has been extensively tested and been found to be highly beneficial in lowering blood pressure and aiding the recovery of heart attack victims.

 

Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make tea potentially or in theory effective for treating everything from tooth decay to HIV. In studies green tea has even protected rats from cholera, and has been shown to inhibit the spread of disease. Green tea can aid with relieving influenza or diarrhea.

 

About 60 years ago, Dr. Minowada of Kyoto University noticed that sugar in the urine of patients hospitalized for diabetes fell markedly during periods when they regularly participated in a Tea Ceremony. Modern science is studying and confirming this.

 

The all-important chemical compounds in tea have also shown many other benefits and potential uses.

•   Preventing and hastening recovery from colds and flu.
•   Preventing bad breath (halitosis).
•   Aiding with the prevention and relief of type-two diabetes.
•   Eradicating free radicals.
•   Delaying the signs of ageing.
•   Maintaining healthy fluid balance.
•   Relieving fatigue and stress.
•   Boosting the immune function of skin cells.
•   Relieving and preventing arthritis.
•   Reducing the risk of stroke.
•   Preventing osteoporosis.
•   Reducing DNA damage in smokers.
•   Blocking key receptors in producing allergic reactions.
•   Aiding Parkinson's disease sufferers.
•   Slowing the HIV infection process.
•   Improving bone structure.
•   Preventing dangerous blood-clotting.
•   Calorie burning.

Green tea is increasingly being used as part of a healthy diet, as it can play a role in controlling body weight and composition via the activation of thermogenesis, fat oxidation, or both. It works by increasing energy expenditure, and has thermogenic properties which promote fat burning.

There was no evidence that tea consumption was harmful to health. However, research suggests that tea can impair the body's ability to absorb iron from food, meaning people at risk of anaemia should avoid drinking tea around mealtimes.