Green Tea and Cholesterol Facts
By Lorraine Bevere
A green and lush oasis in the middle of a scorching dessert.
A cool breeze on a hot summer night. A bright light in the end
of a cold and dark tunnel. Green tea and cholesterol.
For the millions and millions of people suffering from high cholesterol
green tea may be that light. You can browse and search the Internet
for topics on green tea and cholesterol and would come up with
hundred of hits.
Cholesterol, triglycerides, the protein apoB in LDLs, are words
dreaded by humans of the modern age. This new century is expected
to become the century of medical miracles, the green tea, lowly
as it may sound looks very promising as several researches have
shown. This could be the decade of green tea and cholesterol.
More good news is it's not just green tea and cholesterol; it's
also green tea and cancer. Several studies have shown that the
antioxidants are present in green tea. 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. Another
research done by the University of Purdue researchers recently
concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of
cancer cells. In another study by the University of Kansas determined
that EGCG may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese
men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent
are smokers.
And more good news! It's not just green tea and cholesterol;
it's also green tea and high blood pressure. Habitually drinking
5 to 10 cups a day of green tea lowers high blood pressure.
For more that 4,000 years the Chinese have known about the medicinal
benefits of green tea since using it to treat everything from
headaches to depression. So it's not just green tea and cholesterol;
it's also green tea and depression!
Drinking green also is reported to be helpful with rheumatoid
arthritis, Cardiovascular disease, infection, and impaired immune
function.
Green tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin
gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a good anti-cancer element. Polyphenol
limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet.
There's more! It's not just green tea and cholesterol; it's also
green tea and weight loss. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
published a report that found out that men who were given a combination
of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those
given only caffeine.
How about green tea and tooth decay anyone? Its bacteria-destroying
abilities kill the bacteria that cause dental decay. So it's not
just green tea and cholesterol, it's also green tea and bacteria.
Why is it that it's green tea and cholesterol not oolong tea
or black tea? As we all know there are 3 types of tea, green,
oolong and black. All of these come from the leaves of the Camellia
sinensis plant. But why green? Green tea leaves are steamed, which
prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized while black and
oolong tea leaves are made from dried or fermented leaves, which
causes loss of EGCG.
We should have learned speaking mandarin or fukien a long time
ago and got to know green tea and cholesterol lowering the Chinese
way.
There is more to green tea and cholesterol, search the web and
get to know more of the heath benefits you may get from green
tea. Does anyone know how to say green tea in Chinese? •
© 2005 Lorraine Bevere
About the Author
Lorraine Bevere is well known for documenting the amazing qualities
of green tea.
Discover other tea "secrets" at her site www.fogtea.com. 09/05/05
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