Health Care

In green tea there are numerous beneficial nutrients and compounds to be found. Green tea contains certain polyphenol antioxidants. These antioxidants are known to combat harmful free radicals and thus help to to keep the body free from a great many diseases. For instance, they can prevent tissue- and cell damage and therefore have anticarcinogenic effects. They can decrease cholesterol and help prevent artherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases.

One particular green tea antioxidant has been found to be able to protect the brain and prevent diseases such as Alzheimers. In 2005 the Journal of Neuroscience published a study in which high doses of the green tea polyphenol EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) significantly reduced the formations of beta-amyloid proteins in the brains of mice that had been altered to develop Alzheimers disease.

EGCG is one among a group of antioxidants called flavenoids that are found in many plants. What exactly are flavenoids? Flavenoids are chemical antioxidants that help lower cholesterol levels, boost the immune system, help in the fight against heart disease, support weight control, and even shield against some cancers. EGCG is a very powerful antioxidant, it not only inhibits the growth of cancer cells, it actually kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It effectively lowers LDL cholesterol levels and inhibits the abnormal formation of blood clots. This is especially important when you consider that thrombosis is the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes.

The EGCG in green tea has been found to be at least 100 times more effective than vitamin C and at least 25 times more effetive than the vitamins E and A in protecting fragile DNA and cells from destructive free radicals.

Generally, it is important to both acknowledge and understand the antioxidants found in green tea and the role they play in our health.