Green Tea Part 2 - Health Benefits
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Green tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, especially the antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). EGCG has been found to prevent the growth of cancer cells, lower LDL cholesterol levels, lower high blood pressure, prevent blood from clotting, and improve cardiovascular health.
Researchers at Yale University investigated what they call the „Asian paradox“, referring to the comparatively low rate of heart disease and cancer in Asia despite a high rate of cigarette smoking. They conclude that the high amount of green tea consumed in Asia may have a favorable effect, as people who regularly drink green tea are provided with high levels of EGCG which are known to prevent the growth of cancer cells.
Green tea may also help dieters. In December 1999 the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Urology published a study indicating that certain compounds containted in green tea extracts might promote weight loss. At the University of Geneva, Switzerland, the results of a study showed that probands who were given green tea capsules burned more calories than those of a comparison group. Green tea and losing weight may also be connected through the assumption that green tea can be an active combatant against fat. In studies, probands who drank a bottle of tea fortified with green tea extract every day for three months lost more body fat than probands who drank a regular bottle of oolong tea. It is supposed that the polyphenols in green tea delay the reaction of gastric and pancreatic lipases in the body. These enzymes are responsible for converting calories into fat. By delaying these enzymes, fat is stopped from being stored and thus obesity is prevented.
Finally, green tea has also been found to help prevent tooth decay and to have a positive effect on the skin, especially on acne and eczema.
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