Green tea is consumed by millions of people every day. Though interest in green tea has experienced a recent upsurge in Western societies, it has been popular in countries like India, China and Japan for ages. Traditional healers in those societies have long touted green tea as a boon to health, and modern clinicians are backing up some of those claims.
What Is Green Tea?
Green, black, oolong and white teas are all derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. The difference between these teas lies in how they are processed. Black tea undergoes a process called fermentation, in which the tea leaves are rolled or bruised. This process causes oxidation to occur, and removes some of the beneficial flavanols from the tea. Oolong tea is partially fermented. White and green teas do not undergo fermentation, and so have the highest concentration of beneficial flavanols.
Cardiovascular Effects
Green tea appears to have a beneficial effect on your cardiovascular system. According to MedlinePlus, green tea may be effective in decreasing the amount of fat that circulates in your blood. Since high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood are closely linked to heart disease, green tea may help lower your risk of cardiovascular disorders. Jane Higdon, Ph.D., of the Linus Pauling Institute states that drinking 3 cups of green tea daily may decrease your risk of heart disease by 11 percent.
Neurological Disorders
Green tea may also help protect your nervous system. Drinking 1 to 4 cups of green tea daily may help prevent Parkinson's disease, according to MedlinePlus. The Pennington Nutrition series adds that substances found in green tea have also shown the ability to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease in laboratory animals and cell cultures.
Cancer
Green tea is rich in flavanols, bioactive compounds that appear to have cancer-fighting qualities, according to Higdon. These results have been demonstrated in animal studies, and more research into the effects of green tea on cancer in humans is necessary to confirm its cancer-fighting effects.
Flavanols and Health
Green tea contains high concentrations of flavanols called catechins. A cup of green tea contains about 150 mg of epigallocatechin-3-gallate, which is believed to be the source of its most potent health benefits. Green tea catechins are antioxidants, meaning they scavenge unstable molecules in your body that can cause cell damage and oxidize low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in your body. LDL cholesterol is associated with arterial hardening and heart disease.
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