What is Green Tea?

Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for headaches, general body ache, poor digestion, depression, and to increase life expectancy. Recently, many studies have been done to try and evaluate the various health benefits that proponents of green tea consumption have claimed.

Green tea contains many volatile oils, vitamins, and minerals, as well as caffeine. The part responsible for its medicinal value, however, is polyphenols, including catechins. Green Tea acts as an antioxidant, which can help protect the body from many diseases.

Green Tea is useful in treating:

• Heart disease: It lowers cholesterol, reduces platelet aggregation (clumping), and lowers blood pressure, all of which may contribute to decreasing risk of heart disease.

• Cancer Prevention: Evidence is increasing that consumption of green tea may have beneficial effects on prevention of several cancers, including colon, pancreatic and stomach.

• Green tea may stimulate the immune system to help defend the body against bacterial infections, including dental plaque. Green tea has antibacterial properties and stimulates the production of immune cells.

• When taken in large quantities (more than ten cups daily), it appears to protect against liver damage. However, since such high levels of caffeine can cause other complications, this therapy should not be undertaken without a health provider's consultation.

Recommended dosage for Green Tea:

Three cups daily. Capsulized extracts are available, and a typical dosage is 100 to 150 mg 3 times daily of a green tea extract standardized to contain 80% total polyphenols and 50% epigallocatechin gallate. The efficacy of these preparations compared to the consumption of the tea itself is not known at this point.

Important Green Tea Note:

Green tea contains caffeine. Individuals with conditions that may be complicated by high caffeine intake (including insomnia, depression, and pregnancy) should speak with a health professional before adding green tea to their diet. People taking the class of antidepressant called MAO inhibitors may want to avoid the caffeine in green tea.

 

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