Made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, green tea undergoes the least amount of processing of all teas and contains potent antioxidants and caffeine. Green tea can be consumed as a beverage or tablet. They both produce similar effects on the body. Taking one green tea tablet provides approximately 100 mg of EGCG, the main antioxidant in green tea, which is the equivalent of the EGCG found in three to four cups of green tea. Evidence suggests that taking approximately two green tea tablets can provide an abundance of benefits, from combating cancer to improving blood vessel function. Consult your health care provider before taking supplements.
Combats Cancer
Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants called catechins, which might combat cancer, according to a study conducted by Dr. Thomas Gasiewicz and colleagues from the University of Rochester's Environmental Health Science Center. They discovered that two main catechins, epigallocatechingallate and epigallocatechin, inhibit the activity of aryl hydrocarbon receptor, a molecule that turns on genes that can cause cancer in the body, according to research reported in the July 2003 issue of the journal "Chemical Research in Toxicology."
Lowers Depressive Symptoms
Green tea might lower depressive symptoms in the elderly. Atsushi Hozawa led a team of researchers from the Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering in an investigation of the relationship between green tea consumption and depressive symptoms in the elderly. The study, which was published in the December 2009 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," showed that subjects drinking green tea had a lower incidence of depressive symptoms compared to people who did not drink green tea.
Improves Bone Health
Lead author Ping Chung Leung and researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong studied the impact of green tea consumption on bone health. The report, which was published in the September 2009 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," revealed that green tea catechins increased bone growth and inhibited the activity of osteoclasts, cells that break down bone.
Boosts Blood Vessel Function
Green tea might improve blood vessel function and boost cardiovascular health. A team of researchers from Athens Medical School in Greece, led by Charalambos Vlachopoulos, discovered that subjects consuming green tea experienced improvements in blood vessel function compared to subjects receiving caffeine and hot water, the July 2008 issue of the "European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation" reported.
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