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| The leaf and bud of the Camellia sinensis plant are the basis of both green and black tea. Its most effective polyphenol is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The health benefits of Tea have become well known in recent years. Their anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-bacterial and lipid controlling properties have been the center of many studies over the past several years. Green Tea differs from black tea in that black tea has been through a fermenting process (Oolong varieties are semi-fermented.) While both green and black tea contain similar, complex chemical characteristics, most of the clinical studies have been performed with green tea. Green Tea is most often used by steeping in hot water, as a supplmement in capsules, or added to food products. Function; Reasons For Use Green Tea has demonstrated superior antioxidant properties in experimental studies than vitamin C or E. Green Tea also has the capability to increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes. This increase in energy expenditure is probably the mechanism causing weight loss. Tea contains between 1 and 5% caffeine as well as other alkaloids. It contains numerous cancer-fighting polyphenol compounds, including the antioxidant flavonoid catechin. Green tea extract may also help dieters shed fat. EGCG inhibits growth as well as the actual initiation of cancer. Skin care products may contain EGCG. Oxygen is very important to us, but it can also be a very harmful agent in the form of active or free radical oxygen. When the active oxygen is combined with fats in our body, it is called lipid peroxide. As we get older, this lipid peroxide is more easily generated and less easily purged and tends to accumulate in our body, causing more serious diseases and also weakens the skin against infectious changes in cell tissues. Side-Effects Unlike some other antioxidants, those found in Green Tea cause no toxic side-effects. The most worrisome chemical in green tea is caffeine, but this occurs in small amounts (an average of 20 to 30mg per cup, if brewed for two to three minutes). |
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