Green tea, the world's most widely consumed beverage, is made from the fresh leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea has long been believed to be beneficial to health. Recently, scientists have investigated its medicinal benefits. It contains no saturated fat and cholesterol and supplies a significant amount of antioxidants. Before you decide to take green tea extracts, be sure to consult with your doctor.
Bladder Cancer
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA, Jonsson Cancer Center demonstrated the chemotherapeutic efficacy of green tea in vivo models of bladder cancer cells. It inhibits cancer cell proliferation and triggers cell death called apoptosis, which involves a variety of signaling pathways such as Rho protein signaling. Green tea also attacks a tumor's established blood supply, which seems to be important in sustaining tumor growth, explains Jian Yu Rao, a UCLA professor of pathology and epidemiology.
Periodontal Disease
The potent antimicrobial property of green tea might reduce the symptoms of periodontal gum disease, which affects millions of people in the United States, according to Richard Browne, Ph.D., of the Acupuncture and Massage College, Miami. Green tea polyphenols prevent the attachment of oral bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus sobrinus, which are major contributors to periodontal disease. These gram-negative bacteria secrete multiple enzymes that affect the gums and bones supporting the teeth.
Atherosclerosis
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, population-based clinical studies indicate that green tea polyphenols have antioxidant properties that may prevent human atherosclerosis, a condition that leads to hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is a major risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease. UMMC reports that researchers have estimated as much as 11 percent of a person's lifetime risk of having a heart attack can be inhibited by drinking only 3 cups of green tea per day. However, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the epidemiological evidence to support green tea's role in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease is not credible.
Diabetes
According to UMMC, animal experiments suggest that green tea may have anti-diabetic activity. It improves blood sugar control in subjects with type 1 diabetes and slows or delays the onset of hyperglycemia. With type 1 diabetes, your body no longer produces insulin, a hormone that is essential to utilize energy in foods.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Green Tea; September 20, 2010
- Acupuncture and Massage College: Green Tea's Antioxidants May Prevent Periodontal Disease; Richard Browne; March 12, 2009
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center: Green Tea Extract Shows Potential as an Anti-Cancer Agent, Study Finds; Jianyu Rao; February 15, 2005
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