5 Things You Need to Know About the Health Benefits of Green Tea

1. Catechin Polyphenols: Powerful Antioxidants

Green tea has the reputation of being an incredibly healthful drink, and this reputation is well-deserved. A cup of green tea is brimming full of catechin polyphenols, a source of powerful antioxidants that are an effective force against cancer and heart disease, and also help boost the immune system. Green tea has more catechin polyphenols than black or oolong tea because the tea leaves are steamed and not fermented, and have not been subjected to oxidization.

2. Fight Cancer With Green Tea

Two of the antioxidant compounds found in green tea, epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) and epigallocatechin (EGC), are particularly useful in fighting cancer. These compounds sweep through the body and destroy free radicals--unstable molecules can damage cells and leave them vulnerable to cancer--and may also slow the growth of tumors by disrupting the communication between cancer cells. Green tea has shown to be effective against skin, bladder, esophagus, mouth and other cancers.

3. Cholesterol, Heart Disease and Stoke

Green tea helps you balance your cholesterol by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in your body and raising HDL (good) levels. Studies have shown that drinking green tea daily may lower your risk of a heart attack and other heart disease by helping to keep the arteries clear and functioning properly. Green tea also prevents the formation of abnormal blood clots that contribute to the risk for heart attack and stroke.

4. Green Tea and Arthritis

The antioxidant compound EGCG found in green tea is also helpful in battling rheumatoid arthritis by blocking the molecules that contribute to joint degradation. Drinking green tea can not only reducing your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, but it can also help relieve the pain and reduce the severity of existing arthritis, since green tea has powerful anti-inflammatory qualities.

5. How to Drink Green Tea

The key to getting the maximum amount of the healthful catechin polyphenols--as well as make a really fine cup of tea--is to properly brew your tea. Use loose leaf tea instead of tea bags, and buy high quality, fragrant tea. Check oriental grocery stores for a wide variety of Chinese and Japanese green teas. Bring freshly drawn water to a rolling boil, allow the kettle to "rest" a minute, then pour the hot water over the tea leaves, using 1 heaping teaspoon of loose leaf tea per cup of water. Steep your green tea for 2 to 5 minutes, then remove the tea leaves (over-steeping your tea will make it bitter). Add sugar, honey, lemon or milk as desired. If you're taking green tea therapeutically, it's best to drink at least 3 cups every day--or you can be like the Japanese, and sip up to 10 cups throughout the day. Green tea has no side effects except for occasional, mild insomnia due to its small amounts of caffeine. If you are sensitive to caffeine, choose decaf green tea.