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.

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.

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

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!

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.