Green tea is a product that comes from the unfermented leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Traditionally, green tea has been consumed in many Asian countries to promote health and satisfy thirst. Today, green tea is a common beverage consumed by hundreds of millions of people across the world. It is actually prepared by steeping the young, green leaves of Camellia sinensis into hot water. Green tea is moderately safe for adults, although its safety for pregnant women has not been confirmed. So, if you're pregnant, then you must consume green tea only under the supervision of your medical service provider.
Plant Description
Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub that is native to China and other countries in the Orient, including India, Thailand and Japan. Today, Camellia sinensis has become naturalized elsewhere, including the United States and Europe. It belongs to the plant family Theaceae, and it grows to a height of 6 to 8 feet. The leaves are small, 4 to 15cm in diameter. Usually, the tip and first 2 to 3 leaves are harvested for tea production.
Green Tea Composition
Green tea contains many biologically active ingredients; however, scientists are particularly interested in the potential health benefits of a class of powerful antioxidant compounds in green tea known as catechins. These compounds inhibit the formation of cell-damaging free radicals, thereby protecting your body from oxidative damage. Green tea also contains volatile oils, alkaloids, caffeine, tannins, polysaccharides, organic acids, fluoride, vitamins, and minerals.
Green Tea and Pregnancy
Women must avoid consuming green tea in large amounts during pregnancy. Green tea caffeine has a central nervous system stimulating effect, thus it may cause sleep-related problems in nursing infants when green tea passes into breast milk. Pregnant women also must consume green tea with care because excessive caffeine intake can interfere with iron metabolism in infants, leading to the development of microcytic anemia, a potentially life-threatening condition.
Precautions
Green tea is a natural drink, which boosts antioxidants and energy; nevertheless, you must not consume more green tea than you actually need to. When over dosing on green tea, it is common to experience side effects associated with nervous system and the heart, such as nervousness, restlessness, sleep deprivation and heart beat irregularities, called tachycardia. People with peptic ulcers also must keep their green intake at low levels, because the tannin and chlorogenic acid content of the tea may cause severe heartburn.
References
- University of Michigan Health Services: Caffeine
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center: Green Tea: A Review of Potential Health Benefits
- Fairfax Country Public Schools: Herbal Supplements
- Colorado State University, Extension: Weight Loss Products and Programs; J. Anderson, L. Young and J Roach; December 2008
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