Health Benefits of Green Tea

There are various kinds of tea today, black, red, oolong, white and green tea. It may surprise us but all teas come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The different kinds of tea are results on how the leaves are processed after picking them. The difference between the green tea and the others is that green tea is not fermented, thus keeping in the powerful antioxidants lost in the fermenting process. Fermentation or oxidation is the natural chemical process that all vegetable matter undergoes after being picked. Green tea has undergone the shortest period of oxidation. It also contains polyphenols such as tannins (a nutrient antioxidant), catchins (EGCG which is a powerful antioxidant), and flavenoids, as well as other vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin C. The antioxidants help your body fight against free radicals, which can mutate cells and make you sick.

These days people has become so busy because of the demand of technology, career advancement, luxurious lifestyle and the list goes on. People has become more workaholic, and to keep them company, coffee is here to the rescue. However, many people forget about the unhealthy health warnings caffeine can bring to our body. Yes, coffee is great with cakes, cookies, your favorite nuts, etc. But it also helps bring heart problems and weight issues as well as interferes with certain vitamins needed by the body.

In order to avoid the health risks caffeine can bring, it is recommended to take alternatives which will satisfy our craving but at the same time not endanger our body's health. According to new research, drinking three or more cups of loose leaf tea a day has found to be equally healthy as drinking water. In the study of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it was found out that tea not only re-hydrates like water, but protects the body also against heart diseases and certain cancers.

Here are some of the known health benefits of drinking green tea:

* Boosts you immune system
* Lowers blood sugar
* Helps prevent cavities and tooth decay
* Slows the aging process
* Helps reduce the risk of cancer
* Lowers cholesterol
* Aids in weight loss by burning calories
* Reduces high blood pressure
* Prevents arthritis
* Reduces the risk of heart disease
* Reduces the risk of stroke
* Lowers the risk of blood clot