Green tea is a beverage that is enjoyed around the world for its numerous health benefits. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, tea, including green tea, is one of the most popular beverages in the world. The main types of tea include green, oolong and black tea.
History
Tea has been consumed for thousands of years. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, archaeological evidence has shown that tea was consumed as far back as 5,000 years ago. Tea was originally grown in eastern Asian countries, including India, China and Thailand. It has been used in traditional herbal and native medicines to heal and promote states of well-being.
Features
Green tea is the unfermented version of the leaves harvested from the Camellia sinensis tree. According to the George Mateljan Foundation World's Healthiest Foods website, only the smallest and youngest leaves are picked from this plant to produce tea. Green tea is processed the least and therefore retains the most health benefits.
Production
Green tea is produced primarily in China, India, Japan and Sri Lanka. According to the George Mateljan Foundation World's Healthiest Foods website, Sri Lanka is the largest supplier of green tea to the United States, although China ranks as the world's largest grower of green tea.
Benefits
Green tea has a high amount of polyphenols, an antioxidant compound that is found in all types of tea but is most present in green tea due to its lack of fermentation. Antioxidants fight free radical damage in your body, which occurs due to exposure to pollutants like cigarette smoke and also as a result of natural processes like digestion. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, green tea may help to prevent heart diseases such as atherosclerosis, lower levels of cholesterol in the blood and prevent certain types of cancer, including breast, bladder and ovarian cancer. Some studies also show that drinking green tea may act as a weight loss aid. It can help to increase your metabolic rate and help you burn fat. According to the George Mateljan Foundation World's Healthiest Foods website, drinking green tea can help weight loss by promoting the loss of visceral fat, which is the fat that tends to accumulate in the abdominal area.
Warning
Green tea is generally considered to be a safe drink for most people. However, you should not consume green tea if you suffer from heart problems, anxiety disorder or kidney or stomach problems, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Additionally, people who are caffeine-sensitive should not drink excessive amounts of green tea.
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