Nov 19, 2008

How To Prepare Maccha Green Tea Powder Video

How To Prepare Maccha Green Tea Powder Video

How Gyokuro and Matcha Japanese Green Tea Is Grown

This video shows how gyokuro and matcha Japanese green tea is made in Uji Japan.

Japanese Green Tea. Different Green Tea Review Video

Japanese Green Tea. Different Green Tea Review Video

Japanese green tea offers a huge spectrum of diverse brews, ranging from very light and grassy to deep and roasted. Join Christine Savage as she delves into the subtle and not so subtle differences of Japanese Green Tea.

Green Tea. What Is Green Tea Video

Green Tea Video

Green Tea is not fermented or oxidized. Learn more about green tea with tips from a tea lounge owner in this free tea brewing video.

Types Of Green Tea. Green Tea Benefits

Types Of Green Tea. Green Tea Benefits

1) Gunpowder green tea

Gunpowder tea comes from China and comes in the form of small pellets that open up when placed in hot water. It has a slightly smoky flavor which many people enjoy. This tea is also high in fluoride which may help to reduce dental caries.

2) Bancha green tea

Bancha tea has a slightly stronger, more astringent taste than most higher-end green teas. It’s one of the least expensive green teas and is the most common green tea consumed in Japan. It also has the distinction of having one of the lowest caffeine contents of the green teas, which makes it suitable for those who are sensitive to caffeine. Despite being low in caffeine, it retains the polyphenols and other components that are associated with the health benefits of green tea.

You can also get a subtype of bancha green tea known as genmaicha which is a blend of bancha tea and toasted rice. This type of tea has a somewhat nutty flavor due to the toasted rice. Another type of bancha green tea is hojicha made of roasted green tea leaves. It also has a distinctively nutty flavor.

3) China green tea

China green has a more subtle flavor than gunpowder or bancha and is a good standard, everyday tea.

4) Sencha green tea

Sencha tea is made from smaller, more delicate leaves than those used for the lower priced bancha which gives it a more refined flavor. This tea has a natural sweetness which is brought out by steeping it at a slightly lower temperature of around 160 degrees Farenheit. It’s a green tea that the Japanese are most likely to serve their guests. Sencha also may have the most health benefits since it has the highest concentration of polyphenols.

5) Matcha green tea

This is the type of green tea used in the traditional Japanese green tea ceremonies. Matcha tea comes in the form of a fine green powder which is added to hot water and stirred with a bamboo whisk to dissolve the powder before drinking. It can also be incorporated into a variety of recipes including lattes, cookies, and ice cream.

6) Gyokuro green tea

Gyokuro tea is considered to be one of the highest grades of tea available and may not be offered at your local tea store, although it can be purchased online. It’s made from the first flush leaves and tends to have a greener color than most other forms of green tea with a sweet, slightly vegetative flavor. It’s considered to be Japan’s best green tea, and some types of gyokura may sell for as much as a thousand dollars a pound, although it can be found at more reasonable prices.

The next time you visit your local tea store, you won’t be so confused by the different types of green tea available to you. Try a variety and you’ll get the wonderful health benefits of green tea without ever getting bored!

Bancha Tea. Benefits of Ban Cha Tea

Bancha Tea. Benefits of Ban Cha Tea


Bancha tea is a japanese green tea that is highly suitable for children. This is inexpensive and low in caffeine.

This japanese green tea has a slightly toasty and woodsy taste, containing only a trace amount of caffeine.

Interestingly, this tea has a mellow flavor and a yellowish brown liquor. Indeed, it is considered an everyday drink.

The flavor can be intensified with longer brewing depending on your taste and preference.

Don't be fooled by the simplicity of bancha because it contains a hefty amount of calcium, vitamin A, niacin, and iron.

Bancha is a pungent tea made from the large coarse, older leaves that are pruned from the tea plant at the end of the season.

Bancha has two subcategories:

1) Hojicha - this is made from roasted bancha leaves. The result is a toasted, earthy aroma, and a light-golden colored brew.

2) Genmaicha - this is a mixture of bancha leaves and fire-toasted rice. This light brown brew has a savory, grainy, slightly salty taste.

Bancha tea is frequently described as "three-year tea" because the leaves up to three years old are harvested.

This tea is particularly recommended in a microbiotic diet.

Aug 22, 2008

How Natural Is Green Tea?

How Natural Is Green Tea?


Green tea leaves have for many years been used throughout Asia continent as a natural medicine for poor digestion, body aches and pains, headaches and general improved wellness.

Very little processing is required to produce green tea. In most cases the leaves are dried immediately after harvesting or briefly treated with steam prior to drying. There are a few types of tea that are also lightly roasted. Because of this minimal processing, the leaves keep their green color and more importantly they keep the very valuable ingredients that contribute to their healing properties. Green tea leaves contain caffeine, tannins, essential oils, proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements such as fluoride, zinc and potassium.

Green tea is naturally found to be rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are used by the body to protect cells from free radicals (unstable molecules found in our cells) damage. Too much damage, over time, could lead to diseases which includes cancer. As part of our body cell renewal, antioxidants attach themselves to free radicals and this results in the neutralization these molecules. Drinking green tea frequently has been linked (confirmed by research) with the prevention of cancer; it lowers high blood cholesterol, prevents harmful blood clotting and acts to minimize the risk of strokes.

Green tea is very good for arthritis sufferers because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

As reported earlier, Green Tea has some caffeine which helps invigorate and improve concentration.

Green tea is also antibacterial. The tea contains the trace element fluorine whichs helps to fight tooth decay. It is suggested that just one cup of tea a day will be beneficial in the prevention of decay. Green tea is also ideal after dinner as a palette cleanser.

Many Naturopaths recommend green tea to cleanse the body. It is a useful addition to all types of detoxification diets. It contains no calories, no carbs and is referred to as the 'fat eater' in China due to its cholesterol-lowering properties.

Green Tea is fantatic for quenching your thirst, and can be enjoyed at any time of the day - either hot or cold. Sometimes lemon juice is added, or the tea is poured over ice to produce a really refreshing drink.

How to prepare Green Tea:

Put one level teaspoon of tea leaves per cup; then Boil your water and then let the water stand for a couple of minutes - allowing it to cool slightly. Pour the water over the green tea and leave the tea to brew.

Brewing the tea for 2-3 minutes will give you a mild tasting but highly stimulating tea.

Brewing the tea for 4-6 minutes yields a less stimulating and stronger tasting tea.

Important: The caffeine in green tea may cause heart palpitations in some sensitive people. To reduce the amount of caffeine in your tea, put one teaspoon of leaves in your cup, pour a little bit of hot water over it and allow it to stand for 30 seconds then strain. Now use the leaves to prepare your tea as usual - or of-course buy non-caffeine Green Tea, which is available in many health food stores.

Herbal Tea Remedies

Herbal Tea Remedies - Everything You Need To Know!


Herbal teas have been around almost as long as humans have had access to hot water and herbs, which has been a rather long time. Tea has been known in places like China for centuries, and archaeologists believe that even prehistoric man made teas for drinking and soothing ailments.

It is also clear that the uses of water infused with herbs have long been known in tribal cultures around the world, and have been handed down throughout the generations in almost every society. Herbal teas have traditionally held a very important place in natural medicine, before science was able to diagnose and treat with antibiotics and other modern methods. Those who had the knowledge of herbs and how to make herbal teas were highly respected, as their teas had the ability to greatly aid those who suffered from various ailments.

Herbal teas are still very useful today, especially for people who want to limit their chemical intake, and enjoy nature's methods of healing.

From sleeplessness, to period pain, to detoxify the body and help clear the mind, herbal teas have multiple uses. You'd be surprised what effects even common herbs can have on your body. For example, the nettle plant is known to have a positive effect on the bones, skin, nails, and hair. Parsley can help if you're bloating or retaining water, and peppermint is an excellent aid to the digestion.

It is not just ailments of the body that herbal teas can help with, but some are also excellent for the mind. If you are feeling stressed, a tea made from chamomile and rosehips can help you to feel more relaxed. There are also teas containing the herb valerian, which can help you to sleep. Herbal teas can even aid with weight loss. An infusion of blackberry leaves, myrtle leaves, sage, juniper berry and nettle leaves can help you flush your system and control the urges to snack and eat all the time.

Of course, herbal teas are no substitute for medical attention. You should never try and use an herbal remedy when you are seriously sick. Most practitioners agree that herbal teas are an excellent supplement to treatment, and a great preventative, but they will not cure your ills alone. You should also exercise caution when trying new herbal teas, as some people are allergic to certain herbs, and you may have a nasty reaction.

Apart from these common sense measures, you should feel free to enjoy the great tastes and positive effects that herbal teas have. Try blending your own if you're feeling adventurous, or purchase some from the health store. Many experts believe that herbal teas are best made from loose tea leaves, but there is certainly nothing wrong with using herbal tea bags if the convenience suits you better.

Drinking herbal tea is an excellent way to maintain your health, experience new tastes, and be part of a legacy that has stretched throughout human history.

Green Tea Differs From Black Tea

Green Tea Has More Antioxidants Than Black Tea

Processing green tea differs from the way black tea is processed. Antioxidants in the tea leaves are nearly exhausted after black tea is processed whereas in green tea, almost all of its antioxidants are left in the leaves after processing.

Antioxidants in an apple

Antioxidants are active when an apple is sliced. You must have noticed that after slicing an apple, its flesh slowly turns into brown. That is because the apple's flesh is reacting to oxygen when it is exposed to air. This reaction produces free radicals and could create a chain reaction.

All fruits have antioxidants. Different types of fruits have different types of antioxidants. This is nature's defense for the fruit from oxidizing.

Let's get back to the apple. When free radicals are formed in the exposed flesh, the antioxidants in the apple quenches these free radicals to prevent a chain reaction. All of the exposed area of the flesh reacts to oxygen and therefore all these areas forms free radicals which are then quenched by the apple's antioxidants. Chain reaction cannot continue to the inside flesh as antioxidants quench these free radicals.

The discoloration you see in the exposed flesh are the result of molecules which reacted to oxygen. Scrape off that layer and you will see what the antioxidants in the apple has accomplished. It stopped the oxidation from going further inside the flesh.

Black Tea Processing

The following are the basic processing of black tea.

1. Harvesting
2. Withering - the leaves are spread and left to dry.
3. Rolling - the leaves are twisted and rolled either by hand or machinery. This process breaks or cracks the surface of the leaves exposing it to oxygen.
4. Oxidation or fermentation - the leaves are left to dry for several hours until it is about 80% dry.
5. Drying - the leaves further dried by applying heat without burning the leaves. This stops the oxidation process.

Just like the apple when the membranes of the leaves cracked in the rolling process, it exposed the insides of the leaves to oxygen. The free radicals produced are quenched by the antioxidants inside the tea leaves. Therefore those antioxidants that quenched the free radicals are already spent and will not be available in the finished product.

Green Tea Processing

This process differs a little bit from the way black tea is processed.

1. Harvesting
2. Withering
3. Drying

As you can see, the steps that can oxidize the leaves, rolling and oxidation, are omitted leaving the antioxidant content of the leaves almost intact.

Which do you prefer?

Now that you have seen the difference in processing and the final outcome of antioxidant content, what do you prefer? Tea with more antioxidant content? Others prefer the stronger taste of black tea against the milder taste of green tea. Others prefer green tea because of its healthful benefits.

How to get more antioxidants from tea

Our body can absorb only a small percentage of the antioxidants in tea. By combining it with citrus juices or vitamin c, our body's absorption of the antioxidants in tea can multiply more than 5 times.

By: Feel Good Article Source: www.articlesnatch.com

Jul 29, 2008

Green, Black, Oolong Tea Differences

Green, Black or Oolong Tea

All “true” tea comes from the Camellia sinensis bush, but the way it’s processed determines whether the end product will be green, black or oolong tea.

Black Tea
To make black tea, the freshly picked tea leaf is deliberately exposed to the air, left on trays in the sun to wither and dry for 18-24 hours. Then the leaves are broken and allowed to ferment for a time, before being fired.

Oolong Tea
Making oolong tea is similar, although the withering and fermenting processes are shorter, resulting in a partially-fermented leaf.

Green Tea
But green tea leaf isn’t fermented at all – in fact, just the opposite! The tea leaves are steamed almost immediately after picking in order to stop the fermentation process, after which they are rolled and dried. So black tea is fermented, green tea is unfermented and oolong is somewhere in between.

To Ferment or Not to Ferment?
Whether or not the tea leaf is fermented has a great effect on the catechin content of the resulting tea. In green tea, the catechins make up about 15-30% of the dry weight of the leaves, compared to just 8-20% of oolong and a miserly 3-10% of black tea.

Why is the catechin content so much lower in black tea? The minute a tea leaf is plucked, an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase combines with oxygen and begins to change the catechins into compounds called theaflavins and thearubigens. This process is encouraged in the manufacture of black tea. Not only are the tea leaves left to wither in the sun for 18-24 hours, they are also twisted and broken to accelerate the process of converting catechins into theaflavins and thearubigens. These compounds are responsible for the distinctive taste, aroma and dark color of black tea. And while they do have some health benefits, they don’t have the same wide-ranging antioxidant and disease-fighting prowess as the catechins.

The Number One Rule in Green Tea Processing
Every green tea processor knows that, above all, they must protect the catechins from the effects of polyphenol oxidase -- to preserve the look, taste and health benefits of this amazing beverage. They do this by steaming or pan-firing the tea leaves just as soon as they are plucked, to inactivate the enzyme. This means the tea leaves must be rushed to the manufacturing plant as soon as they are picked, and care must be taken not to break or bruise the leaves in the process.

Then, once the leaves have been steamed, they can safely be rolled, twisted, dried and packaged without obliterating the catechins. Still, even after the leaves have been processed and packaged, the catechins in green tea can be destroyed if exposed to oxygen for too long. That’s why you should always keep your green tea in an airtight container, even if it comes in tea bag form. Remember: Oxygen is the catechins’ worst enemy.


Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. presents GreenTeaLibrary.com, the most comprehensive collection of scientific information describing the many health benefits and properties of green tea.

Does Bottled Green Tea Have Health Benefits

Does Bottled Green Tea Have Health Benefits

Have you ever wondered if bottled green tea has the same health benefits as freshly brewed green tea? Well, sorry to break the news to all of you bottled tea drinkers but in most cases, the answer appears to be no.

In December 2006, the U.S. Department of Agriculture made public its database on the flavonoid content of foods.1 (Flavonoids, a type of polyphenol, are a group of compounds found primarily in fruits and vegetables that act as powerful antioxidants. Green tea’s catechins are a sub-group of the flavonoids.) The USDA list, which includes the levels of catechins found in green tea that was prepared in different ways, is a real eye-opener for those who drink bottled tea for health reasons!

For example, the level of EGCg (green tea’s most potent catechin) in brewed loose-leaf tea was 77.81 mg per 100 grams of infusion. Decaffeinated green tea, however, had just one-third that amount, weighing in at 26.05 mg. But ready-to-drink green tea (the kind that comes in a can or a bottle) contained a minuscule 3.96 mg of EGCg, just 5 percent the amount found in freshly brewed green tea. And instant green tea was even worse, with a practically nonexistent .5mg EGCg!

Similar studies measuring the health-promoting compounds in green tea were done in 2005 by researchers at Oregon State University.2 They found that the polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in some bottled tea products were 10 to 100 times lower than those found in brewed tea!

Why does bottled (or canned) green tea have such low levels of catechins? A major reason is that the catechins are sensitive to heat and oxygen, making them easy to destroy during the processing, transporting and storing of bottled tea. Also, many bottled tea products are made from tea extracts, which have far fewer antioxidants to begin with than brewed tea. Then, to make matters worse, bottled tea products are often loaded with sugar or high fructose corn syrup which, besides being unhealthy and unnecessary, can contribute to catechin breakdown.

If you still want to drink bottled green tea, be sure to look for a high quality product made from brewed tea that contains no added sweeteners and has the polyphenol or catechin content listed on the label. Your best bet is a product that contains at least 75 mg polyphenols or 50 mg EGCg per cup. If you can’t find one, how about just settling for a nice bottle of water?


What Is Green Tea. Why Drink Green Tea

What Is Green Tea, Anyway?

First things first: The word “tea” is only used correctly when it refers to leaves taken from the Camellia sinensis bush. And that means that herbal teas really aren’t tea – only green, black and oolong tea are the “real thing.” That said, the way the Camellia sinensis leaves are processed will determine which of these three choices the end product becomes.

To make black tea, the freshly picked tea leaves must undergo a process called oxidation. Oxidation occurs when an enzyme in the tea leaf called polyphenol oxidase is brought into contact with the air. To do this, the leaves are left in the sun for 18-24 hours to wither and dry; then they’re broken up to encourage further oxidation. Steaming, pan-firing or roasting the leaves stops the oxidation process, after which they are rolled, twisted and dried. Making oolong tea involves a similar process, although the leaves are withered for a shorter period, which produces a partially-oxidized leaf. But for green tea, the leaf isn’t withered or broken at all – in fact, just the opposite! The tea leaves are steamed almost immediately after picking in order to stop the oxidation process, after which they are rolled and dried.

The health benefits of the resulting tea will largely be determined by whether or not the tea leaf has been oxidized. That’s because the fresh tea leaf contains large amounts of catechins (pronounced “CAT-i-kins”), which are the powerful disease fighters and potent antioxidants that give green tea its health-enhancing abilities. But when exposed to air and polyphenol oxidase, the catechins change into completely different compounds called theaflavins and thearubigens. The theaflavins and thearubigens, which give black tea its distinctive taste, aroma and dark color, do have some health benefits, but not the same wide-ranging antioxidant and disease-fighting prowess seen in the catechins.

So in green tea manufacturing, it’s extremely important to rush the freshly picked leaves from the field to the manufacturing plant, being careful not to break or bruise them. There, the leaves are steamed or pan-fired immediately to inactivate the polyphenol oxidase. Afterwards, it’s safe to roll, twist, dry and package the leaves without worrying about obliterating the catechins. Yet even after the manufacturing process has been completed, green tea catechins can be destroyed if exposed to oxygen for too long. That’s why you should always keep your green tea in an air-tight container, even if it’s already in tea bag form. Remember: oxygen is the catechins’ worst enemy!

Green Tea Help Bladder Inflammation

Green tea prevents bladder inflammation

Green tea might be useful as an herbal remedy to treat or prevent inflammatory bladder disease, according to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Anaheim, California, two of the chemicals that naturally occur in green tea protected cultures of bladder cells from oxidative damage.

Researchers exposed cultures of both normal and cancerous bladder cells to epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), two varieties of a flavonoid group called catechins, for 23 hours. They then exposed the cell cultures to hydrogen peroxide, which is highly damaging to cells and may even kill them.

"We discovered that catechins found in green tea protected both normal and cancerous bladder cells from inflammation when we exposed the cells to hydrogen peroxide," said researcher Michael B. Chancellor, a professor of urology and gynecology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

"Although further studies are needed, these results indicate [that] herbal supplements from green tea could be a treatment option for various bladder conditions that are caused by injury or inflammation."

Catechins occur naturally in the leaves of the tea plant, and thus are present in green, black, white and Oolong tea. These chemicals compose, on average, approximately one-quarter of the dry weight of a fresh tea leaf -- although the exact content varies by individual plant, growing season and location.

Catechins are also found in chocolate, wine and certain fruits and vegetables. Previous studies have linked consumption of these chemicals to reductions in the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

According to the researchers, the doses of EGCG and ECG used in the Pittsburgh study are low enough to be achieved through dietary intake.

Approximately ten million people in the United States suffer from some form of bladder disease.

Green Tea May Help Keep Skin Cancer Away

A Cup of Green Tea Per Day May Help Keep Skin Cancer Away


Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and it is estimated that more than 1 million cases of basal and squamous cell cancer will be diagnosed this year according to the Centers for Disease Control.

While avoiding prolonged sun exposure, the regular and proper use of sunscreen, and regular examinations by a board-certified dermatologist are the main actions for preventing skin cancer, green tea may help as well.

Green tea is reported to have antibacterial, antioxidant, and antitumor properties,” says Lawrence Osman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Los Angeles. Polyphenolic antioxidants are derived from the extracts of green tea. Also, the most widely studied component of green tea, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, may work by inhibiting ultraviolet induced DNA damage. Inhibiting ultraviolet induced DNA damage may be important because many cases of skin cancer are directly related to ultraviolet exposure from the sun or tanning beds.

The constituents of green tea have already proven effective in helping to prevent skin cancer in the lab. Accordingly, drinking green tea, in addition to avoiding prolonged sun exposure, the regular and proper use of sunscreen, and regular examinations by a board-certified dermatologist, may help prevent skin cancer in life.

About Lawrence Osman, M.D., F.A.A.D. Dr. Lawrence Osman is a board-certified dermatologist practicing comprehensive medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. He attended the Keck/USC School of Medicine and completed his dermatology training at the prestigious Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He has particular expertise in skin cancer surgery, laser surgery, and tumescent liposuction. He was voted as one of the best dermatologists by the readers of the Los Angeles Daily News. Dr. Osman may be contacted by calling (818) 885-0455 or visiting www.drosman.com.

Green Tea Can Ease Inflammation, Arthritis Pain

Green tea found to ease inflammation, arthritis pain

A new study has found that a compound in green tea may help people with rheumatoid arthritis avoid inflammation and joint damage. The study, conducted by University of Michigan researchers, was presented April 29 at the Experimental Biology 2007 conference in Washington, D.C.

"Our research is a very promising step in the search for therapies for the joint destruction experienced by people who have rheumatoid arthritis," said Salah-uddin Ahmed, Ph.D., the study's lead researcher. According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than two million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis.

Ahmed and his co-workers isolated cells called synovial fibroblasts, which form a lining of tissue that surrounds the joints. In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, this lining becomes inflamed, resulting in chronic pain and long-term joint damage.

The researchers cultured synovial fibroblasts from rheumatoid arthritis patients and then exposed the cells to epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a naturally occurring compound in green tea. They found that EGCG blocked two potent molecules that cause the bone breakdown in rheumatoid arthritis-affected joints. Ahmed stated that the EGCG "significantly" blocked the harmful molecules. He and his co-workers observed that EGCG also blocked production prostaglandin E2, which causes joint inflammation.

Ahmed said that people might want to try drinking three or four 8-ounce cups of green tea per day. "Drink it continuously throughout the day," he said, to keep blood levels constant.

While this is the first study measuring the effects of EGCG on synovia fibroblasts, an earlier study demonstrated that polyphenols in green tea could prevent the onset of arthritis. In 1999, researchers at Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine studied the effects of green tea on mice; the researchers found that mice given green tea were significantly less likely to develop arthritis than mice in a control group. The extract given to the mice was the equivalent of a human intake of four cups of green tea per day.

When sourcing green tea products, make a special effort to find organic green tea products. Many cheaper, imported green teas are contaminated with harmful fluoride.

Green Tea Can Reduce Ovarian and Colorectal Cancers

Green Tea Shown to Reduce Risk of Ovarian and Colorectal Cancers


Green tea has rapidly entered the American market as a claimed cure and preventative for almost everything that ails mankind. It seems too good to be true, but now we are finding out that it is true. Recent studies reveal green tea's benefits as an antioxidant, promoter of glucose tolerance, protector of the liver and detoxification system, and benefactor of the cardiovascular system. Two recent studies show that green tea is also a powerful agent in the prevention and cure of cancers.

Studies and Results

The March, 2008 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, contains a study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. In a population based study in Washington state, 781 women with epithelial ovarian cancer diagnosed between 2002 and 2005, and 1,263 controls completed self-administered questionnaires detailing consumption of caffeinated and non-caffeinated coffee, teas, and colas. They also completed in-person interviews regarding reproductive and hormonal exposures.

Researchers assessed risk associated with coffee, tea, and cola drinking and with total caffeine consumption using logistic regression to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals. Results indicate that neither caffeinated nor decaffeinated coffees were associated with ovarian cancer risk. They also observed no association of total caffeine with risk using a combined index that summed intake from coffee, tea and carbonated soft drinks.

Among teas, neither herbal/decaffeinated nor black teas were associated with risk. However, women who reported drinking green teas had a 54% reduction in risk of ovarian cancer. Associations of green tea with risk were similar when invasive and borderline cases were considered separately and when Asian women were excluded from analysis.

In the second study from Cancer Biology and Therapy, researchers from the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an China, reported progress in identifying the underlying mechanism by which green tea possesses therapeutic cancer effects through induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death) in colorectal cancer. Two different lines of colorectal cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of green tea, which led to repression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in both cell lines.

The researchers concluded that the p-53 up-regulated modulator gene plays a critical role in green tea induced apoptosis pathways in colorectal cancer cells. Their demonstration of this effect may be useful in the therapeutic target selection for p53 deficient colorectal cancer.

Additional Implications

The results of these studies suggest that green tea may also be a factor for inducing apoptosis in breast cells and endometrial cells, thereby acting as both a preventative and a factor in the cure for these cancers.

A further implication for the first study may be drawn from its conclusion that the administration of caffeine containing coffee, tea, and colas yielded no association with risk for ovarian cancers.

About Green Tea

According to Phyllis and James Balch in their book Prescription for Nutritional Healing, green tea contains polyphenols, including phytochemicals with antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and other health enhancing properties. Epigalloacatechin gallate (EGCG) is a particular type of polyphenol in green tea that has shown in tests to be able to penetrate the body’s cells and shield DNA from the potent free radical, hydrogen peroxide.

In addition to protecting against cancers, green tea lowers cholesterol levels, and reduces the clotting tendency of blood. It shows promise as a weight-loss aid that can promote the burning of fat and the regulation of insulin levels and blood sugar.

Green tea is simply the unprocessed leaves of the tea plant, unlike black tea which is fermented. During processing, much of the polyphenols of black tea are lost.

In addition to brewing and drinking green tea, there are green tea supplements available. Some of these contain the whole plant, while others contain extracts. Whole plant supplements are usually preferable because they are backed by the integrity of the whole plant. Many green tea supplements are standardized to provide a quantifiable amount of EGCG, viewed as its most beneficial component.

About the author
Barbara is a school psychologist, a published author in the area of personal finance, a breast cancer survivor using "alternative" treatments, a born existentialist, and a student of nature and all things natural

Green Tea Compounds Prevent Memory Loss From Lack of Oxygen

Green Tea Compounds Prevent Memory Loss From Lack of Oxygen

People with sleep apnea, a disorder that affects more than 12 million people in the United States, literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes for a minute or longer. With the most serious form, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), this can happen hundreds of times during a single night and deprive the brain of oxygen.

The result? Possible brain damage causing memory problems. In fact, people with OSA are known to have increased markers of oxidative stress and exhibit changes in their brain tissue in areas involved in learning and memory.

But natural substances in green tea appear to stave off these OSA-caused cognitive deficits according to new research published in the second issue for May of the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Scientists studied the effects of green tea polyphenols (GTP, for short) on rats who were intermittently deprived of oxygen in order to simulate the lack of oxygen, known as hypoxia, that humans with OSA experience. Chronic hypoxia in rats is known to produce similar neurological deficit patterns seen in humans with sleep apnea.

Previous research has shown that GTPs may reduce the risk of a variety of different diseases, most likely because they possess anti-oxidant properties and act as free radical scavengers. “OSA has been increasingly recognized as a serious and frequent health condition with potential long-term morbidities that include learning and psychological disabilities,” David Gozal, M.D., professor and director of Kosair Children’s Hospital Research Institute at the University of Louisville, said in a prepared release for the press. “A growing body of evidence suggests that the adverse neurobehavioral consequences imposed by hypoxia stem, at least in part, from oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling cascades.”

Dr. Gozal and his colleagues divided 106 male rats into two groups that underwent intermittent oxygen deprivation during the 12-hour “night” cycle for 2 weeks. One group received drinking water containing GTPs while the other group received plain drinking water.

Then the animals were tested for markers of inflammation and oxidative stress and their spatial learning and memory was measured by putting them through in a water “maze”. To get out of the water, the rats had to memorize the location of a hidden platform.

The rats who received the green tea-treated water clearly had the better memories and performed significantly better in the water maze than the rats that drank plain water. So the researchers concluded GTPs “may represent a potential interventional strategy for patients” with sleep-disordered breathing, according to Dr. Gozal, who headed the research team.

Using green tea instead of drugs prevents brain deficits due to hypoxia and could be an important aid to preserving the memories of millions of people suffering from sleep apnea. What’s more, green tea may well contain substances that offer hope for a variety of other brain-injuring diseases. “Recent studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective activity of GTP in animal models of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Gozal wrote.

About the author
Sherry Baker is a widely published writer whose work has appeared in Newsweek, Health, the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Yoga Journal, Optometry, Atlanta, Arthritis Today, Natural Healing Newsletter, OMNI, UCLA’s "Healthy Years" newsletter, Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s "Focus on Health Aging" newsletter, the Cleveland Clinic’s "Men’s Health Advisor" newsletter and many others.

May 14, 2008

Green Tea For Diets And Health Body

Due to the inactive lifestyle some people live and the unhealthy eating patterns; obesity has become one of the major health issues in our society today.

It is estimated that more that 50% of the American population is overweight or obese. An increasing awareness on the risks of obesity, a lot of people are now aiming to lose weight and live healthy lifestyles. Although it takes having better eating habits and more active lifestyles, being on a diet plan is also a very popular because it helps on the goal to lose weight.

While it is critical to lose weight, people also realize that the diets they join must be risk free and do not have any negative side effects in the short or long term. This is where green tea comes in.

Green tea is a natural ingredient which not only helps with weight loss, but also brings various health benefits for improved body vitality and longevity.

What Is Its Background?

The green tea diet has been extremely appreciated by the Chinese as an herbal and medicinal drink for four thousands of years. It comes from the plant called Carmellia sinensis. The key health benefits of green tea diets are due to the fact that it is steamed during the process of making it, thus preserving the natural antioxidants in its original form. This is very beneficial to one’s health as the body can easily and quickly absorb these antioxidants.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Green Tea Diet?

There are many health benefits associated with the diet.

For one it can help prevent cancer. Some specific substances called epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG in green tea diets help in destroying cancer cells without harming any neighboring tissues.

EGCG is also helpful in boosting the 24-hour energy expenditure of the body. Based on a study on the special diet conducted by American and Swiss scientists at the University of Geneva, it was shown the tea causes an additional increase of 4% in the body’s natural energy expenditure. People who were on a green tea diet were more likely to use up more fats than those not on the diet, thus helping with reducing stored fat.

Green tea diets have also been shown to greatly help in reducing cholesterol levels. Another study was conducted in China using 240 people with high cholesterol levels as subjects. These people were placed on a green tea diet of one capsule (equivalent to seven cups of green tea) every day. After 3 months, those who were on the diet dropped 16% in their cholesterol levels.

In recent studies, it has also been shown that green tea diets can also be a potential cure to obesity. The catechin polyphenols available in the diet can holdup the reaction of gastric and pancreatic lipases in the body. These enzymes are responsible for converting calories in the body into fats. By delaying these enzymes, the diet can therefore stop fat from being stored and prevent obesity in people.

In addition, the special type of diet contains considerable quantity of caffeine which means it mildly suppresses appetite. However, the caffeine is not as high as those found in other caffeine-based beverages, like coffee. These high levels of caffeine are potentially harmful for the body since an excess of it can cause heart palpitations, hypertension, and insomnia. Because green tea contains only very low levels of caffeine, there is no risk of experiencing these negative side-effects.

Green tea can potentially offer several benefits to your diet. It is recommended to include the wonderful drink in your diet. With this weight loss strategy, not only can you drop those pounds, but you can also boost your overall health and vitality.

Learn more about diets and diet scams at
http://fat-burner-diet-reviews.blogspot.com

May 11, 2008

The Origins of Tea

The Origins of Tea

The British have been drinking tea for more than 350 years, but tea in other countries predates this by more than 4 millennia!!

Here's a detailed history of the origins of tea and how it became the world's favourite drink.

the first cup of tea was an accident

Our story begins over four and a half thousand years ago. According to Chinese mythology, in 2737 BC the Chinese Emperor, Shen Nung, scholar and herbalist, was sitting beneath a tree while his servant boiled drinking water. A leaf from the tree dropped into the water and Shen Nung decided to try the brew. The tree was a wild tea tree.

There are many authentic and supposed references to tea in the centuries before Christ, according to the Chinese dictionary dated circa 350 AD. The Chinese t'u was often used to describe shrubs other than tea, hence the confusion when Confucius allegedly referred to tea or t'u when writing about the "sow thistle" plant in the Book of Odes.

tea gets its name

From the earliest times tea was renowned for its properties as a healthy, refreshing drink. By the third century AD many stories were being told and some written about tea and the benefits of tea drinking, but it was not until the Tang Dynasty (618 AD - 906 AD) that tea became China's national drink and the word ch'a was used to describe tea.

The first book on tea "Ch'a Ching", circa 780 AD, was written by the Chinese author Lu Yu. It comprises three volumes and covers tea from its growth through to its making and drinking, as well as covering a historical summary and famous early tea plantation. There are many illustrations of tea making utensils and some say that the book inspired the Buddhist priests to create the Japanese tea ceremony.

The modern term "tea" derives from early Chinese dialect words - such as Tchai, Cha and Tay - used both to describe the beverage and the leaf. Known as Camellia sinensis, tea is an evergreen plant of the Camellia family. It has smooth, shiny pointed leaves which look similar to the privet hedge leaf found in British gardens.

tea drinking catches on

As Buddhist priests start to move around China and Japan, the spread of cultivation and tea drinking follows them.

The Indian and Japanese legends both attribute it to Bodhidharma the devout Buddhist priest who founded Zen Buddhism. The Indian legend tells how in the fifth year of a seven year sleepless contemplation of Buddha he began to feel drowsy. He immediately plucked a few leaves from a nearby bush and chewed them which dispelled his tiredness. The bush was a wild tea tree.

The first mention of tea outside China and Japan is said to be by the Arabs in 850 AD and it was they who were reputed to have brought it to Europe via the Venetians circa 1559. However, it is the Portuguese and Dutch who claim the credit bringing tea and tea drinking to Europe.

The Portuguese opened up the sea routes to China, some say as early as 1515. Jesuit priests travelling on the ships brought the tea drinking habit back to Portugal, while the sailors manning the ships encouraged the Dutch merchants to enter the trade. Subsequently a regular shipment of tea to ports in France, Holland and the Baltic coast was set up in 1610. England entered the trade via the East India Company, or the John Company as it was known, in the mid to late 17th Century.

Japanese Green Tea Health Benefits

Japanese Green Tea Health Benefits

Japanese tea is called Ocha and is referred to Green tea. Green tea is one of the most popular beverages in Japan. Green tea harvest starts around May 1 every year in Japan. Green tea farms are fulled with bright green tea leaves.

Japanese Green tea is known as a drink which has many benefits for your health. Dr. Oguni, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences in University of Shizuoka, Hamamatsu College, Japan discusses the healthy benefits of green tea in his site, Green Tea and Human Health.

* Preventing food poisoning

Catechin, the bitter ingredients of green tea in green tea effectively kills bacteria which causes food poisoning and also kills the toxins produced by those bacteria.

* Reducing the risk of cancer

Catechin is said to be effective to reduce the growth of cancer.

* Practicing good oral hygiene

Catechin suppresses the formation of plaque by cariogenic bacteria and also kills the bacteria themselves. It also kills other bacteria that cause bad breath. Green tea contains natural fluorine which helps prevent cavities.

* Preventing the increase of cholesterol

Catechin prevents the excessive buildup of blood cholesterol.

* Controlling high blood pressure

Catechin suppresses production of angiotensin II which leads to high blood pressure.

* Lowering blood sugar

Catechin and polysaccharides are effective in lowering blood sugar.

* Slowing the aging process

Consuming agents that are effective antioxidants will slow the aging process. Green tea is rich in vitamin E, which works as antioxidant. Also, catechin in green tea is a very strong antioxidant.

Japanese people like to drink green tea after meals.

Green Tea Health Benefits

Green Tea Benefits

Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

* cancer
* rheumatoid arthritis
* high cholesterol levels
* cariovascular disease
* infection
*impaired immune function

The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.

Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.

May 2, 2008

Different Types of Green Tea

Different Types of Green Tea


If you try to buy green tea in a supermarket – even in a very large one – the chances are that you’ll only find one kind of green tea: the kind with ‘green tea’ written on the packet. The green tea that these packets contain tends to be of the absolute lowest quality, and so they are best avoided. Instead, you should try to buy your tea from Chinese markets or food stores, or order it over the Internet, as then you will be able to choose from the full range of green teas.

So which different green teas are there? Well, the most common green tea in Western countries is low-grade Gunpowder – that’s the stuff you’ll generally find in the supermarket. It is used because it is cheap, and stays fresher for longer than other green teas, because of the way it is rolled up into little balls.

The most popular green tea in China is Dragon Well, or Lung Ching, a bright green and quite expensive kind of tea. Many consider it to be the best green tea, but because it is expensive and not very much is produced, it is prone to imitation – make sure you trust whoever you’re buying this tea from to sell you the real thing.

In Japan, green tea drinkers prefer Sencha, a sweeter kind of green tea. It is cheaper than Dragon Well, more the kind of tea you could drink every day, but none the worse for it. Sencha is also more readily available over here than Chinese green teas tend to be, and there is a slightly cheaper version called Bancha as well.

The sweetest kind of green tea is Macha, the tea used in the Japanese tea ceremonies. It is very expensive and very nice, and tastes more like a luxury dessert than the everyday tea you’re probably used to – in Japan, it is a popular flavour of sweets and ice cream. If you ever get a chance to drink Macha, it’s well worth trying, because it really is the king of green teas.

Herbal Green Tea. Green Tea and Herb Combinations

Green Tea and Herb Combinations
There are many herbal green tea varieties available, and these green tea and herb combinations can add interesting dimensions of flavor to green tea. For example, mint leaves give green tea a refreshing twist. Rooibos added to green tea imparts a slight fruity taste, as well as the additional benefits of rooibos antioxidants.

Herbal Green Tea for Health
Adding certain herbs to green tea can also provide remedies for illness. Echinacea herbal green tea may help strengthen the immune system to fight flu and cold. Ginseng herbal green tea is a revitalizing and energy boosting combination. Ginger herbal green tea is a useful blend to ease a sore throat or to aid digestion.

Asian Green Tea

Asian Green Tea

Korean Green Tea
Chinese and Japanese green teas may be more widely known than Korean green tea, but tea is very much part of Korean culture, and there are varieties of traditional Korean green tea. Korean green teas are more rare, and therefore more expensive. Tea gardens in Jeju and Boseong produce green teas on an industrial scale. Korean green tea varieties include Ujeon, Sejak, and Jungjak.

Sri Lanka Ceylon Tea
Sri Lanka's tea industry was financed and developed by Thomas Lipton in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, tea is an important industry in Sri Lanka, and provides employment either directly or indirectly to over a million people.

Vietnamese Green Tea
The Vietnamese tea industry has experienced substantial growth in recent years, with the aim to provide tea internationally on a larger scale. Teas are grown in the lush midland area of Vietnam.

Chinese Green Tea. Chinese Green Tea Varieties

Chinese Green Tea


Cultivation of tea plants in China dates back thousands of years, and today green tea makes up over 50% of the teas produced in China. It is produced in all of China's tea growing provinces, and several Chinese green tea varieties known by the name of the province in which they were grown. Dozens of Chinese green tea varieties are available in the United States and other countries.

Chinese Green Tea Varieties
Numerous varieties of green tea are produced in China. Some of the Chinese green tea varieties are:

~ Dragon Pearls, a nutty, sweet tea with balled leaves that unfurl as they steep.
~ Dragon Well, the most popular green tea from China, is aromatic with a full-bodied flavor.
~ Jade Spring is somewhat sweet, and can be re-steeped without becoming bitter.
~ Chinese Gunpowder Green Tea is a blend of old and new tea leaves, and to avoid a bitter flavor it should not be overbrewed.

Green Tea - The Healthy Way To Lose Weight

Green Tea - The Healthy Way To Lose Weight


Weight loss and green tea seem to go together, hand in hand. Green tea has long been consumed in India and China due to its numerous benefits. In recent years western society has discovered its advantages. Few people believe that two glasses of green tea in a day are sufficient for good health, whereas others say that up to ten cups may be required. I would say that any amount between these two is enough.

The only known side effect of green tea is insomnia, due to the caffeine in it. However, it is very effective in weight loss. Thus, I recommend you to reduce the amount of coffee that you have during a day and replace it with green tea.

How is green tea useful to you?

Green tea is often used solely to help people lose weight. However, it is particularly effective when used in conjunction with other weight loss regimes. If you are in search of the best and the most effective method for reducing weight as well as maintaining it for life, you should add green tea to your daily diet as well as to your lifestyle. It will not only help you lose weight, but will also aid in keeping you fit when combined with other healthy lifestyle choices.

Well, first, through its components, it reduces the risk of cancer by being a very powerful anti-oxidant. Cancer rates tend to be low in countries that consume large quantities of green tea, such as Japan. Green tea prevents bladder cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal and lung cancer, pancreatic, skin, and prostate cancer, and stomach cancer.

A number of studies conducted in the past have proved that intake of green tea is extremely beneficial when it comes to weight loss. Green tea boosts up your metabolism, thus stimulating your body to burn the calories quicker. A particular study conducted by American Journal of Clinical Nutrition proved that all people who had regular intake of green tea and caffeine were burning calories at a much quicker pace in comparison to those who did not have them.

Not only this, green tea also has a number of other benefits. It helps in improving your digestion and bowel movements. It also protects your liver against various toxic substances such as alcohol and thus prevents liver cancer. It also helps in reducing your cholesterol level as well as help in prevention of a number of diseases like cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis. It is also believed to boost immunity and fight against infections, as well as improve the mental processes.

Green tea is also effective in controlling your blood sugar level. You must be aware that high blood sugar level is responsible for making us feel hungry and as a result, you end up eating more. Thus, maintaining your blood sugar level with green tea would also help you to lose weight.

So friends, what are you waiting for? Go to the market and get green tea for yourself today. Remember not to add sugar when you brew it. Though, it does not directly rid you of cellulite, it is indirectly effective as it eliminated toxins from our body and helps reduce weight.

Source: Pat King is a Nationally Renowned Health & Fitness Guru and Creator of http://www.FitnessLifeClub.com

Green Tea For Weight Loss> Green Tea Boost Metabolism

Green Tea For Weight Loss

Green Tea Helps Control Weight & Boost Metabolism

Green tea has significant healing powers and may lower cholesterol, slow up the wrinkle process, and fight certain cancers. It may also help shed those unwanted pounds!

While black tea and oolong tea do contain flavonoids and additional antioxidants, green tea is an even better source of these health boosters because it is an unfermented tea. However, even oolong tea has been associated with slightly accelerating the metabolism (by 3% or 67 calories per day) in health studies.

Studies on the health benefits of green tea pointed to an increase in metabolism and fat burning of 78 calories per day involving adults. Depending on an individual's size, of course, green tea burns different amounts of calories - more calories where more weight is involved, and less calories where less weight is involved. The specific amount of calories burned depends on the current weight of the individual, but not size alone. Keeping this in mind, an individual's 'calorie burn OR metabolism rate' is continuously affected by other factors - such as food combining, rate of physical activity for the day and so forth.

Researchers continue searching for a green tea weight loss link through studies.Perhaps we'll eventually discover the connection between weight loss and green tea. Could it be the caffeine in the green tea? The amount of tea that is consumed each day? Do other foods boost the health benefits of green tea?

History of Green Tea - How the Legend Began.....
It is believed that green tea originated in China about 5,000 years ago. Legend tells that green tea was accidentally discovered when an Emperor was boiling water and the tea leaves fell into the water.

Health Benefits of Green Tea - The following healthy benefits may be gained from a daily dose of green tea:


Circulatory & Blood Benefits from Green Tea:
Green tea may lower blood sugar levels, high blood pressure and bad cholesterol. Green tea may also reduce the risk of blood clots, strokes, heart disease, and heart attack.

Physical, Muscular & Skeletal Benefits of Green Tea:
Green tea may help prevent arthritis. May increase metabolism and accelerate weight loss. It may also slow the aging process and boost immunity. Green tea may also be useful in fighting infections.

Oral Health Benefits from Green Tea:
Green tea may help reduce cavities and prevent tooth decay. Gargling with green tea may help ward off flu viruses.

Green tea may also help prevent some types of cancers, as well as prevent certain diseases. It truly is one of the superheroes in the Beverage World as we know it.

Finally, green tea - as well as all teas, are natural, calorie free, fat free - as long as you don't add milk, sugar, honey, cream, artificial flavorings - etc. Tea is delicious and makes a great beverage whether hot or cold. And green tea, as well as oolong tea, just might help boost metabolism, burn fat and assist you in dropping pounds!

Green Tea And Weight Loss Go Hand in Hand.

Green Tea And Weight Loss Go Hand in Hand.

With the increased access to fast food and processed food much of today’s generation have grown up on microwavable meals and highly processed foods. This has resulted in poor eating habits and has led to a marked increase and worry over the number of adults and children who are suffering from obesity. A huge number of individuals spend millions of dollars on diet products and regimes just trying to lose weight. The varied daunting amount of diet and exercise products on the market today is huge and there aren’t many that most haven’t yet tried which makes us ask the question of why so many of us are still gaining weight. In many other nations the main diet differs significantlyto that of Americans and many don’t have exposure to the amount of processed food as we do. They also drink green tea regularly. It seems that some other people have had the knowledge for years that there is a connection between green tea and weight loss and general better health.

Green tea is derived from the plant Camellia Sinensis, the same plant that is also used to make black tea. Research has demonstrated effectiveness in encouraging weight loss. Drinking green tea may not be a quick fix that will make people slim in two months, and the individual must still maintain a healthy diet as well as continue to stay active. After {{{bearing all thiskeeping this all}} in mind, there is a connection between green tea and weight loss and now giant pharmaceutical companies such as Boots plc in the united Kingdom are putting Green Tea extract in to their latest dietary products.

Here are some of the main benefits of green teas contribution towards weight loss:

- Green tea increases the body’s metabolism over a longer period of time in the same way that exercise increases the body’s metabolism.
- Green tea uses fat for energy over the day making it a popular way for other people like body builders to burn away the excess fat.
- It slows the release of carbohydrates down in the body which acts as a dam by not letting large amounts of blood glucose to spike in the body.
- Green Tea with catechins helps to prevent obesity by slowing the glucose in fat cells.

The Hand in Hand Benefits of Green Tea and Weight Loss

People gain excess weight by consuming foods with fats and excess sugars. There are further studies needed on how green tea helps with weight loss however, there is certainly enough positive information between the studies to give a strong indication that green tea is a beneficial contributor towards weight loss and largely green tea has now been shown to help the body lose weight. While there is no definitive amount of green tea needed to induce its weight loss and the fat burning effects, a good recommendation for the amount of green tea needed to elicit weight loss and all of the other reported benefits would be 2-3 6-ounce servings/day, alternativley one can try dietary supplements and green tea fat burners in a capsule form if they really can’t drink too much tea through the day.

Green tea tastes good and it’s good for the body and there aren’t very many foods that taste good and are good! It’s too bad that the rest of our diets seem to taste good but are high in fat! Green tea and weight loss can go hand in had and green tea does have even more benefits than just helping. It might help one to live longer and stay healthy. That’s the best recipe ever put together.

Japanese Green Tea For Weight Loss And Health

Japanese Green Tea For Weight Loss And Health


Japanese green tea has for centuries within eastern cultures been taken for granted as a natural health aid and been thought to help relieve the symptoms of many ailments and today it is scientists that say Japanese green tea contains high levels of antioxidants, particularly Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), far more potent to the antioxidant qualities of vitamin C, which contribute towards helping the body’s natural ability to fight illness and disease.

Where to Find Japanese Green Tea

Tea such as that used in the Japanese tradition, is not your standard green tea Japanese green tea is very popular in today’s society. It’s so popular that you should see it in your local grocery store in the tea aisle, next to all the other brands and types of tea. Japanese green tea, however, is deemed to be the best for you and its health benefits have been proven to far outweigh that of any other tea or coffee available. There are many types of green tea available and they can be found online through specialist retailers and they can be delivered direct to your door.

Japanese Green Tea Weight Loss Benefits

It should be noted that the ingredients in Japanese green tea which aid weight loss are also those with disease fighting properties. Studies by experts agree that Japanese green tea can also help you control your weight. The all natural ingredients in Japanese green tea do this by making you feel full faster and with long term use can help you keep those pounds off. Remember though that if you add, let’s say, sugar or other substances to the tea, it may cancel out or negatively affect the healthful benefits you’re striving for. It is best to drink it warm and with no additives.

Drinking the tea may not work for everyone but it works for many and that is why it’s so popular more importantly many people drink it because they love the taste and it doesn’t give them the ‘jitters’ like coffee does. If you are a regular tea drinker then maybe ask your doctor about the benefits of Japanese green tea. Your doctor should be the one to gauge your health to determine if the effects of Japanese green tea are revealing themselves. But most importantly people drink it because they love the taste.

Try searching online if you want to find out more information Japanese green tea and in particular the types of green tea that you can buy, as well as information on how it can make you healthier and can help you control your weight. Search online for experts who advocate the drinking of the tea, as well as testimonials from people who have seen benefits from drinking it.

There are many people who include Japanese green tea in their diet who swear that they are healthier than they’ve ever been, and thinner too, so give it a try and, if consumed regularly, you should see a positive change in your health as well as a shrinking of your waist line.

Benefits of Green Tea. Green Tea Diets

Benefits of Green Tea. Green Tea Diets

Coffee might always be the hot drink of choice in the USA but with much of the hype over the benefits of drinking green tea, tea is making a comeback quickly. Many people in America have always liked to drink tea. Even as coffee became more popular after the many tussles of taxes over tea, people didn’t quit drinking it outright. Today many more people drink tea and the number continues to grow. With all of the talk about the benefits of green tea, many more are starting try it.

Having been brought up on a tea plantation in Africa, green tea poses a particular interest. The benefits of drinking green tea are always listed as health benefits and rightly so.

· Tea calms the stomach which in turn makes people calmer and in a better mood.

· Tea does have caffeine but a single cup of tea has 50% percent less caffeine than coffee. The effects of less caffeine and a calmer stomach make people more content. The jittery feeling people get from drinking coffee all day long is gone. Many people find that they actually do a better job at work and feel more energized. People who know the benefits of green tea are generally far better off than those who don’t.

· Caffeine in the green tea has been said to aid with weight loss by increasing the bodies’ basal metabolic rate.

· Four to five cups of green tea a day has been said to lower cholesterol. Flavonoids and vitamins C and E aid the knock on effect of preventing or at least delaying the onset of heart disease.

· Drinking more than four cups of green tea a day has been said to stem the symptoms and even help to prevent rheumatoid arthritis.

· Can possible help lessen the spread and reoccurrence of certain cancers.

· Green tea is very rich in anti oxidants called phenols (also found in berries and grapes) which may help the ageing process.