Thursday - November 05, 2009
Is Green Tea Central to Good Health?
Green tea has been confirmed in newly published studies to have a powerful impact on the health of your heart, colon and stomach. But what is it about the properties found in green tea that make it so special? Some say it is epigallocatechin gallate, a potent antioxidant compound that helps keep your cells healthy and strong.
Is green tea on your list of required daily supplements? If not, I strongly feel that it should be. Researchers conducted a prospective study, published in the October 2009 issue of the Annals of Epidemiology, involving 14,000 elderly residents living throughout Japan. At the outset of the study, individuals completed a food questionnaire, including the frequency of green tea consumption. These individuals were then followed for six years, up to March 2006.
At the end of the study, it was found that those who consumed seven or more cups a day of green tea (compared to those who consumed less than one cup a day) had an overall reduction in cardiovascular mortality by a whopping 76%. In addition, green tea consumption appeared to be inversely related to mortality from abnormal cellular growth of the colon-rectal area.
In an article published in the October 2009 edition of the journal Gut, researchers analyzed six studies involving almost 220,000 individuals. It was found that women who consumed five or more cups of green tea daily appeared to experience a reduction in abnormal cellular growth of the stomach.
It seems that the "secret ingredient" in green tea is a nutrient called epigallocatechin gallate, also known as EGCG. It appears to inhibit the growth of abnormal cells and has also been shown to support healthy LDL cholesterol levels already within normal range and help reduce the formation of abnormal blood clots. Some studies have even demonstrated that EGCG may be twice as powerful as resveratrol in regard to promoting healthy heart function. In addition, previous data suggests that green tea extract may help burn calories more effectively. Its beneficial effects have even been seen to help inhibit dental plaque and tooth decay.
Drinking five to seven cups of green tea each day is no simple task. Aside from the time and effort required to prepare the tea, drinking a half dozen cups a day can be difficult to fit into your schedule. A much more convenient and effective way to get EGCG is through supplementation.
