Green tea is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea consumption began more than 5,000 years ago in East Asia. For thousands of years, green tea has been a staple beverage in Chinese, Japanese and Indian cultures. Green tea reportedly reached the West sometime during the sixth century. Today this popular beverage is consumed for its reported ability to protect the body against a number of common health threats.
Active Ingredients
The main active ingredients in green tea are called polyphenols. EGCG is reportedly the most powerful polyphenol found in green tea. It is also believed to be the source of most of green tea's reported health benefits. Polyphenols are antioxidants that help destroy harmful molecules in your body called free radicals. These dangerous molecules damage and destroy your cells and can even alter your DNA. According to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, 1 cup of green tea can contain between 80 and 100 mg of polyphenols.
Cancer-Fighting Properties
Green tea is commonly consumed as a way to help prevent certain types of cancer such as breast cancer, skin cancer and stomach cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, the polyphenols contained in green tea may potentially halt cancer-causing enzyme activities, obstruct new tumor growth, destroy existing cancer cells and prevent free radicals from damaging your cells. While research studies investigating the cancer-fighting properties of green tea have been promising, the National Cancer Institute states that these results remain inconclusive.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Some studies suggest that drinking green tea may benefit your cardiovascular system by reducing your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, increasing your HDL cholesterol levels and reducing your risk of developing heart disease. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, some studies indicate that antioxidants obtained from drinking green tea might also help protect against atherosclerosis. However, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, asserts that current research findings do not conclusively confirm green tea's effectiveness in reducing blood cholesterol levels.
Improves Mental Alertness
As a result of its caffeine content, drinking green tea can also help improve your mental alertness. Caffeine is an alkaloid that produces a stimulating effect on the nervous system that helps keep you up and alert. According to the NIH, 1 cup of green tea contains around 50 mg of caffeine.
Warnings
Despite its potential benefits, you should still talk to your doctor before adopting green tea as a part of your permanent health care regimen. The NIH recommends avoiding or limiting your consumption of green tea if you have certain health problems like diabetes or severe liver disease, or if you are allergic to caffeine. According to NCCAM, the caffeine found in green tea can cause side effects like anxiety, irritability, insomnia, upset stomach, skin rashes, frequent urination, nausea or diarrhea. NCCAM also warns that the caffeine and vitamin K in green tea can potentially interact with some prescription drugs like antidepressants, proton pump inhibitors, anticoagulants and blood thinners.
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