Green Tea Can Be Beneficial to General Health

Tea—both green or black or anything in between—has been a traditional daily beverage in Asian countries for centuries. The color of the tea is dependent upon the length of the leaves that are fermented (oxidized). The longer the fermentation process, the darker the color is. Black tea has a long fermentation process and a bitter, strong flavor. Green tea, on the other hand, is not fermented at all; rather it’s steamed after the leaves are harvested and dried. The majority of tea consumed in western countries is black.

Tea has long been considered to have health benefits starting as early as the Han dynasty in China (206-220 BC). Recent research has identified more than 700 distinct compounds in tea. Most of these compounds have anti-oxidant properties, meaning that these compounds can protect cells from being damaged by free radicals.

Tea also contains caffeine. However, the amount of caffeine found in tea depends on both the length of time that it’s steeped and the type of tea. Generally speaking, caffeine found in teas is less than that found in coffee.

Many different free radicals can be produced within our cells or brought into our body by inhalation. During physical activity or endurance sports events, oxygen intake is increased due to increased energy needs because efficient energy production requires an adequate supply of oxygen. This increased oxygen intake increases the production of free radicals, too.

Anti-oxidants such as vitamins C and E and CoQ 10 can neutralize the free radicals and reduce the amount of damage that they cause to cells.

Studies have shown that drinking 2 cups of green tea can reduce the risk of endometrial cancers by 25% as well as reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.

Several recent studies examined the relationship between green tea consumption and physical performance. One study that was conducted in the United Kingdom has demonstrated that ingestion of green tea extract increased fat oxidation (more fat broken down and utilized for energy production) during moderate intensity exercise when compared to the placebo phase. Furthermore, green tea extract improved insulin sensitivity. No effect of green tea extract on performance was examined.

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