Drinking hot green tea is popular worldwide, especially throughout Asia. Green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush, which contains high amounts of antioxidants called flavonoids and polyphenols. Scientific evidence based on epidemiological studies of populations has indicated that drinking green tea may lower your risk of chronic diseases. Consult your doctor or nutritionist about your health and the benefits of including hot green tea in your daily diet.
Memory
Green tea may reduce the risk of memory impairment associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Research by scientists at Daejeon University in Cheongju, Korea, and published in the "Journal of Medical Food" in 2011 discovered that a combination of green tea extract and l-theanine, an antioxidant in green tea that has a calming effect, improves memory in humans with cognitive impairment. Drinking green tea may also reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, according to research by scientists at the Rappaport Family Research Institute in Haifa, Israel, and published in the "Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry" in 2004.
Influenza
Influenza is among the most virulent and fatal infectious diseases. Drinking green tea may reduce your risk of influenza. Research by scientists at the University of Shizuoka in Shizuoka, Japan, and published in "BMC Complementary Alternative Medicine" in 2011 found that catechins and theanine in green tea may be effective in prophylaxis of influenza infection. The research results demonstrate that health care workers who consume green tea catechins and theanine have a significantly lower rate of clinical signs of influenza than health care workers who take placebo.
Liver Cancer
Drinking green tea every day may reduce your risk of liver cancer. Research by scientists at the State University of New York at Buffalo and published in "Cancer Epidemiology" in 2011 discovered that drinking green tea may protect against the development of liver cancer. The results of the research show that the longer duration and larger quantities of green tea consumed, the less likely it is that you will have liver cancer.
Atherosclerosis
Consumption of green tea may reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis is a cardiovascular disease characterized by clogged arteries from cholesterol and unhealthy fats. Research by scientists at First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, and published in "Circulation Journal" in 2010 found that green tea consumption could protect against the development of coronary atherosclerosis. The research results demonstrate that increased frequency, duration and concentration of consuming green tea are associated with greater protective effects.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Drinking Tea May Offer Health Benefits, but Evidence Still Limited; April 2 2008
- "Journal of Medicinal Food"; A Combination of Green Tea Extract and L-Theanine Improves Memory and Attention in Subjects With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study; S.K. Park, et al.; Feb. 8, 2011
- "Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry"; Neurological Mechanisms of Green Tea Polyphenols in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases; Orly Weinreb, et al.; September 2004
- "BMC Complement Altern Med"; Effects of Green Tea Catechins and Theanine on Preventing Influenza Infection Among Health Care Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial; Keiji Matsumoto, et al.; 2011
- "Cancer Epidemiology"; Green Tea Consumption, Inflammation and the Risk of Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Chinese Population; Y. Li, et al.; Feb. 9, 2011
- "Circulation Journal"; Association Between Green Tea Intake and Coronary Artery Disease in a Chinese Population; Qi-Ming Wang, et al.; February 2010
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