Scientists today have discovered that green tea can be helpful for many medical purposes. This healthful tea has been around for thousands of years and today it is popular all over the world. Some scientists also say that green tea can reduce the risk of esophageal and colon cancer by almost sixty percent. Through research scientists have discovered that green tea can also help with high cholesterol, infection and even weight loss. But what makes this tea so spectacular? Certain properties in green tea enable it to attack and kill cancer cells, it is also high in EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) a powerful anti-oxidant that can help protect your skin against UV rays.
What Makes Green Tea Different?
Green tea comes from the plant (Camellia sinensis) which is the same plant from which normal black tea is made. The main difference is that green tea goes through minimal oxidation while processing, giving it a much lighter color than regular black tea. It also comes in a variety of flavors, and is usually not served with any type of cream or sugar. Another special quality that green tea possesses is that it can also increase metabolism, which also aids weight loss and lowering cholesterol. The way green tea is harvested also makes a difference. It is harvested usually in early spring, which is done by hand and then dried. The Chinese used to steam the tea to stop fermentation, but today most is done by roasting.
History of Green Tea
Green tea has been around for approximately 5,000 years, but the story of its origin is unclear. Some say that the emperor Shen Nung discovered the plant when a leaf fell into his cup. But another story says that a man by the name of Shien Non Shei found the plant and tasted it, discovering that it was in fact, delicious and decided upon making a beverage out of it. But whatever its origin, the Chinese have been drinking green tea for thousands of years. In ancient China Green tea was the drink of the wealthy and political leaders, because it was a very costly drink. But as time passed the drink was more widely spread among the people of China and Japan. Green tea was introduced into the US by Europeans involved in the tea trade from Asia. And grew rapidly in popularity, making tea a very important part of the trade market in the new world.
Negative Side Effects
Green tea has only one side effect, due to its amount of caffeine, However green tea actually contains less caffeine then some other teas and coffees. But to some people who are sensitive to caffeine, they may experience insomnia, or other side effects involved in excess of caffeine. But the amount you drink is sometimes a question for scientists. A study by the Saitama Cancer Research Institute in Japan, discovered that there were fewer cases of breast cancer in woman who drank five or more cups daily. Another study discovered that by drinking at least four cups a day, it could help prevent some types of arthritis, and can also reduce the symptoms in patience who already have arthritis. Some people might say that green tea is a natural healer, but further research is needed still to prove it.
