Youve no doubt heard a lot recently about the benefits of green tea: how it helps people live longer, healthier lives, how it contains powerful antioxidants and other therapeutic compounds, how it can help promote weight loss. Well, research indicates that all of these claims may be true, and scientists are discovering more green tea benefits by the day.

There are hundreds of different types of green tea, which is a regular tea which has been processed in a way that prevents oxidation (black teas are actually fermented). Green teas from Zhejiang Province, China, are considered to be among the highest quality, especially Xi Hu Longjing; unfortunately, teas marketed as Longjing are usually counterfeit or grown elsewhere. Another famous tea from Dong Ting, China, is Bi Luo Chun also frequently counterfeited. Japanese tea is almost invariably green tea, with the best grown in Uji, Kyoto. Unlike black teas, green teas are brewed with hot but not boiling water so that the bitter flavors in the leaves are not picked up.

Grocery store varieties probably provide green tea benefits, but may not be as tasty particularly if theyre just labeled green tea rather than as a specific type. For the best green teas, shop in Chinatown or in an Asian market. Or if you dont like the taste of green tea, or dont like the idea of drinking so much tea every day, you can purchase green tea extracts and supplements that provide green tea benefits without the trouble or taste.

Green Tea Health Benefits

Medicinal benefits of green tea have been discussed for more than a millennium. Early Zen priests believed that green tea health benefits included positive effects on the heart as well as other vital organs. It was also believed to be a stimulant, a hangover cure, a fatigue cure, a treatment for indigestion, and a cure for beriberi.

Today, medical studies have investigated hundreds of claimed benefits of green tea, especially in an apparent lowered incidence of cancer in many studies. While the results have been mixed, there does appear to be a link. More importantly, there are no apparent risks to drinking in large amounts provided it isnt used to replace medications. Proponents of green tea benefits claim it also helps for the brain, for arthritis and multiple sclerosis, burning fat, lowering LDL cholesterol (when used in large amounts), and even helping HIV sufferers remain healthy.

The most likely green tea health benefits are in fighting LDL cholesterol. The incidence of cholesterol-related heart disease in Asians following a traditional diet including green tea and seafood is much lower than in most other populations. While much of that can be ascribed to the much higher levels of omega 3 included in such a diet, it appears that some of these benefits also come from green tea.

The benefits of green tea also seem to include stress reduction and other unanticipated effects. When applied directly to the skin, it helps people with radiation damage to the skin (as in post cancer treatment), which indicates it might have other benefits for sensitive and damaged skin. One study found that drinking green tea three times a day increased metabolic rate by four percent on average, indicating it might be useful as a fat burner.

Because of the caffeine, pregnant and breast-feeding women should drink it in smaller amounts. People who have anxiety problems and/or irregular heartbeats should also drink in moderation. The health benefits of green tea in these people are likely offset by the risks.

Michael Browne has been studying the brain and mental disorders for over a dozen years. He is a contributor to many health sites, including the Green Tea and Weight Loss section of Herbal Supplements Guide, a site focusing on natural remedies for general wellness and various health conditions.

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