Green Tea
Long a staple of Eastern society, proponents tout multiple health benefits.
BACKGROUND
A few decades ago, if you were to sip a cup of tea, it most likely would have been a Lipton tea bag sweetened with a sugar cube and maybe a splash of milk. But fast-forward a decade or two and countless research studies later where tea, particularly green tea, has been enjoying its time in the health spotlight.
Long known for its powerful health benefits in Japan and China, people from all over the world have been drinking green tea for thousands of year. Green tea is produced from the Camellia Sinensis plant, the same plant that produces black and oolong teas. What makes the green tea is its method of production: Fresh leaves from the Camellia Sinensis plant are steamed creating green tea leaves that can be brewed and consumed or extracted and used in capsules or beauty products.
This darling of the Camelia Sinensis plant is known for its key component epigallocatechin gallete, or EGCG. This antioxidant has been used to prevent and treat a variety of cancers, including breast, stomach, and skin cancers. Green tea and green tea extracts have also been used for improving mental alertness, aiding in weight loss, lowering cholesterol levels, and protecting skin from sun damage. There is not yet enough accurate data to determine whether green tea can assist in weight loss, lower blood cholesterol levels, or protect the skin from the damaging effects of the sun.
What science does know is that green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants, which are disease-fighting compounds that can help prevent a number of illnesses and conditions.
PRO
- Green tea is a powerful antioxidant
- Might be able to prevent certain cancers and diseases
- Increases mental alertness through its caffeine content
- Less caffeine than coffee
CON
- Since it contains caffeine, might incite jitteriness, nausea or abdominal cramping
- Green tea contains small amounts of vitamin K, which can make anticoagulant drugs less effective
- Not recommended for children
INGREDIENTS
Green tea contains about one third of the caffeine as coffee. A typical cup of green tea includes about 1 teaspoon dried green tea leaves to one six ounce cup of 180 F water. Generally, green tea is brewed for 2-3 minutes. The longer it brews, the more bitter the taste.
Green tea contains the highest levels of polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that help rid the body of free radicals. Free radicals that circulate in the body have been linked to heart disease, certain cancers and degenerative conditions because the damage the cell's DNA structure. Antioxidants, like polyphenols neutralize free radicals and prevent them from inflicting harm on the cell's structure.
An average cup of green tea contains between 50 to 150 mg polyphenols.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Even though green tea is a nutritional powerhouse, it should not be consumed by just anyone. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not drink or take green tea in any form. Because of its caffeine component, individuals with anxiety disorders, heart problems, kidney disorders, stomach ulcers should also avoid green tea.
Additionally, there are many potentially dangerous drug interactions that can occur while consuming green tea. If you take certain antibiotics, aspirin, lithium, benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, blood thinners, chemotherapy medication, or oral contraceptives, talk to your doctor before you brew yourself a cup of green tea.
Even though green tea has shown limited success in aiding weight loss, there is no strong evidence to support the theory that drinking green tea will help you lose weight.
CONCLUSION
Green tea has exploded in popularity in the West in the past years because of its health benefits, derived from antioxidants. From cancer to heart disease and possibly weight loss, the advantages of making a cup or two of green tea a daily part of your diet routine are numerous.
Even though there are many diet products on the market that include green tea extracts, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that green tea will make a marked difference in helping you lose those unwanted pounds. But studies are currently underway to test this hypothesis further and provide more comprehensive information on the role of green tea and diet.
Common Misspellings
Grean tea, Green tee, GreenTea, tea 100, Green tea drink, green tee, green tea diet, green tea deit, green teas, oolong tea, diet tea
Related Diets: GreenTea500, Hoodia, Thermo Green Tea Caps, Wu-Yi Tea, Wulong Tea
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i jus started drinkin it like 2 wks ago i heard of it before but i never believe an didnt care to try it but finally decided to give it a try an i lost about 4 lbs. so far well see if it keeps workin i havent even begun the exercise part yet! i like it so far
Im currently on day 2 of this diet now, Its going ok, but jesus it tastes so boring.
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i love green tea. i swapped my many cups of coffee for green tea, i have lost weight but im guessing its cos im not taking coffee whitner now. i feel more alert and my skin looks bright . also its very refreshing and i dont seem to need biscuits with it so there again may be a reason im loosing weight. but on a WHOLE id recommend it to anyone.
Yeah.. it is very good to have green tea.. what is the diet.. just have green tea(Drink instead of the capsules) ..
Bottom line... green tea is good for you... but why not make green tea yourself... check the link after the jump...
it's awesome...
it seems to be a good idea to drink instead of reaching for a soda or coffee...and if you can't stand drinking straight water every day. I have a ton more energy, have noticed some weight change (though I just switched from drinking regular tea to green tea), and enjoy it a lot.
when i starting drink green tea i observed its feel me better specialy on my wieght.u can try it and see the benifits on your health...
if ur switching to luttle or no soda.. Yes u will lose a whole lot of weight. I have. Additionally, my skin and fresh bright and feels rejuvenated. Again, it's the water. I've replaced 8 cups of water for 8 cups of green tea. But only use 2 bags of tea to keep from having too much. U will never no if side effects exist or not. Afterall testing is just beginning. Better safe than sorry
Green Tea is Great and i have Lost a Lot of weight because i switched from Soda to tea... do it and you will see too!!!
Green tea is good for you, but it seems like you have to drink so much to see the benefits
i drink green tea, basically it just generally makes you feel GOOD. your mood, your health and it gives you some weight loss.
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