Surprisingly, although the health benefits of green tea go back centuries, it is only in the last decade or so that it has come under the intense scrutiny of the scientific community. This has been largely due to the widespread problems of obesity and a search for functional foods to aid in weight control. The health benefits of green tea have not only been shown to include effectiveness in weight control but also a host of other beneficial effects.
Although green, black and oolong tea all come from the same plant Camellia sinensis, its favored in its different forms in different parts of the world. In the USA, for example, black tea is preferred, which is produced through fermentation and usually, but not always has significantly more caffeine than green tea.
Green tea, however, with its high concentration of catechin and polyphenols is the form under the spotlight of investigation. These substances have been demonstrated in numerous studies to increase the metabolism and cause the body to burn more fat. Although this is good news for weight watchers there is much more.
The polyphenols in green tea have potent antioxidant properties. There are a multitude of commercial food products consumed by large portions of the population, which are essentially carcinogenic. Much of the processed food lining the shelves of the modern supermarkets has been subjected to high temperature and pressure causing the formation of free radicals.
Free radicals are molecules, which have an unpaired or free electron. When we ingest these they are a threat to our systems because they do not like to remain unpaired. Kinda like a lonely fellow looking for a girlfriend or vise versa. When they are on the prowl we want to steer our beau clear of them.
The same is true with the free radicals in our bodies. They look for electrons to pair with and like some uncouth lovers will take whatever they can get. Hence, they are a breeding ground for cancer. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, which has been used therapeutically to fight cancer.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by giving them their missing pair. Researchers claim that the antioxidant effects of polyphenols seem to be even more potent than vitamin C. Thus it comes as no surprise that the health benefits of green tea have been linked to the prevention of a wide variety of cancers both through clinical population studies as well as carefully controlled laboratory studies.
Population based clinical studies have also shown that green tea consumed in sufficient quantities appears to minimize the risk of coronary heart disease, liver disease and diabetes.
Free tips about metabolic cooking could get you started on totally transforming your culinary habits.
Written by Jim S Lovasz
Dieting is the byword of fashion, however it is in the archives of good health too! Good Diet and nutrition are essence to healthy living and fitness both physical and the mental fitness. Depression is a medical condition affecting the unhealthy body and mind. Supervised dieting and balanced diet can achieve health body and a fit mind. However in the mad rush to social and economic nirvana frequent dieting is common is often practised and one is often sacrificing the most essential of all assets-a fit body!
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