Green Without Envy

Green tea has a long history of medicinal use throughout the world. Some great recent news, released on September 13, 2006 in of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows that green tea consumption as studied over an 11-year period up to 2005 proved the health benefits. Researchers analyzed information on over 40,000 Japanese adults between ages 40 and 79 years old. After the 11-year study, 4,209 adults had died. Adults who drank the most green tea were least likely to die from cardiovascular disease, especially stroke. Men who consumed at least five cups of green tea each day were 12% less likely to die from any cause. Women who drank five cups or more of green tea each day were 23% less likely to die from any cause and 31% less likely to die from cardiovascular problems.

Green tea leaves are processed with either steam or dry heat, and are not allowed to ferment. On the other hand the more common American tea, Black tea,undergoes fermentation to strengthen its flavor. Unfortunately fermentation destroys practically all of the EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), a substance in tea that appears to provide an insulin-enhancing boost. The more efficient your insulin is, the less insulin your pancreas has to produce. EGCG also has anti-cancer and fat-burning properties. The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. Research at Rutgers University found that black tea contains only about 10 percent of the EGCG of green tea. Green tea contains an average of 20—30 mg of caffeine per 5 oz. cup. On the other hand brewed coffee averages over 100 mg caffeine per cup and instant coffee 65 mg.

There are a number of studies supporting green tea’s health benefits in addition to the one listed at the top of this article. Other studies have shown:

• The oral consumption of green tea can help treat acne problems. Certain compounds in tea are known to modulate both the production and action of male hormones (in both males and females). These are the hormones that can trigger acne, baldness, prostate enlargement, and cancer in the reproductive organs. Green tea and green tea extracts have been shown to help in each of these conditions.

• A study from the University of Sheffield shows that two compounds in green tea can help prevent osteoarthritis by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.

• A report from Australia shows that green tea can help prevent ovarian cancer. After studying more than 900 Chinese patients, researchers found that the risk of ovarian cancer was lower in individuals who drank green tea daily and even lower in folks who had consumed it for many years.

Here’s a summary of just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:
• Cancer
• Arthritis
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular disease
• Infection
• Impaired immune function
• Weight control
• Tooth decay

And there are hundreds of other studies that shows green tea should be a part of everyone's diet.