Green Tea Health Benefits

Latest research proves green tea, a ubiquitous drink in Japan, contains a unique antioxidant so powerful that it works as well as any diet pill. Researchers in Tokyo and Geneva discovered Japan’s high consumption of green tea might be an even greater contributor. Green tea, contains a unique antioxidant so powerful that it works as well as any diet pill.International research supports the possibility of green tea being your weight loss miracle. Based on these studies, adding green tea to any diet will lead to slimming – no diet overhaul needed.

Green tea doesn’t limit its fat-burning power to the abdominal region alone. The Nagao study also showed that tea drinkers lost nearly three times more body fat than the control group. Nagao credits the tea’s ability to increase thermogenesis, the rate at which the body burns nutrients to generate heat.

Another study by at the University of Geneva reported that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most prevalent catachin in green tea, boosts the body’s daytime thermogenesis up to 43%. Subjects given 90 mg of EGCG (the amount in about two cups of green tea), plus 50 mg of caffeine (found naturally in tea) with three daily meals, burned 10 percent more stored fat.

In 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent.

University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

A study by Cleveland's Western Reserve University concluded that drinking four or more cups of green tea per day could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, or reduce symptoms in individuals already suffering from the disease. And Japanese scientists at the Saitama Cancer Research Institute discovered that there were fewer recurrances of breast cancer, and the disease spread less quickly, in women with a history of drinking five cups or more of green tea daily.

Here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:
cancer
rheumatoid arthritis
high cholesterol levels
cariovascular disease
infection
impaired immune function

Whether or not you'll obtain health benefits remains to be determined by further research.

A great, healthy thirst-quencher for hot summer days.
INGREDIENTS:
6 green tea teabags ~6 cups cold water~2 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
1. Place teabags in a large teapot or pitcher.
2. Put sliced peaches in a saucepan, add cold water, and bring to a brisk boil, then pour water and peaches over teabags.
3. Steep for 6 minutes, then add sweetener (maple syrup, honey or Succanat are recommended). Allow tea to cool, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
4. Include a few peach slices in each glass and serve with a spoon, garnished with a sprig of mint, if you like.
Even Easier Alternative Method: Make a pitcher of green tea and add the contents of a can of organic sliced peaches. Chill thoroughly.
Makes 6 servings.

Enjoy!