At Two Leaves and a Bud, we went and searched for some good reasons why you should switch from coffee to tea, as a New Year's Resolution.
Green Tea: A Strong Antioxidant
Researchers seeking an explanation for green tea's apparent health-giving qualities believe they have found it in the form of substances known as polyphenols, which are strong antioxidants that have the potential to quell disease-promoting molecules known as free radicals.
Furthermore, research suggests that the most potent weapon against diseases that green tea contains is a compound known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG has been found to have a number of cancer-protective actions in the body, including an ability to help in the deactivation of cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens).
Health Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea has been linked with a reduced risk of cancer in both men and women. In one study published in 2004, women consuming green tea every day were found to have a 47 percent reduced risk of breast cancer compared to those consuming none at all. In another study published the same year, researchers found that men taking green tea each day had about a quarter of the risk of prostate cancer compared to those who took no green tea. Other research has found that increased green tea consumption appears to protect against other forms of cancer too, including those of the stomach, colon, lung, and skin.
The benefits of green tea seem to extend the circulatory system too. Research has found that individuals who consume green tea tend to have lower blood levels of cholesterol. Studies have also shown a decrease in blood pressure. These benefits go at least some way to explaining research which links green tea consumption with a reduced risk of stroke and heart disease.
Green tea has also been linked with a boost in metabolism. Some studies have shown that people can shed a few pounds by simply swapping coffee for green tea. A healthy diet and plenty of exercise is of course the best way to lose weight, but a little green tea may add to an overall lifestyle change.
Why Choose Green Tea?
All tea, including green, black, and oolong come from the same plant. However, green tea, unlike the others is unoxidized so the active health-giving ingredients remain unaltered. The other teas (from the Camellia sinensis plant), which go through an oxidation process, still contain some of the healthy properties, but appear to be more muted.
It should be noted that one can drink too much green tea. The majority of our liquid should be water, but a cup or two of green tea a day can offer some amazing healing benefits.
Learn more in Dr. Perricone's 7 Secrets to Beauty, Health, and Longevity: The Miracle of Cellular Rejuvenation by Dr. Perricone, available in a variety of online book stores.
