Green Tea: A Deeper Look into its Benefits

Green tea has been around for more than 4,000 years. It has long been believed to be a health elixir because of its long list of medicinal qualities. Tea in general has various nutritional and health benefits.

It stimulates

• Mental clarity
• Optimizes blood flow
• Boosts the immune system
• Detoxifies the body
• Promotes and preserves young looking skin
• Helps in the digestive process
• Prolongs a healthy quality of life
• Fights against fatigue

Green tea does this and a whole lot more.

Green Tea: Medicinal Qualities

When consumed frequently it has been proven in clinical studies to help the heart resist cardiovascular diseases. The reason for this is the polyphenols which reduce risks of heart attack and other diseases. Below are a few of the greatest health benefits of drinking green tea above any other.

• Reduces blood pressure
• Natural blood thinner (helps prevent clotting in the heart)
• Reduces risks of heart attack
• Lowers bad cholesterol
• Increases good cholesterol
• Decreases risks of stroke
• Reduces risks of cancer
• Boosts the immune system
• Prevents cavities and gingivitis

Green Tea: Active Ingredients

What are the active ingredients that make green tea so healthy? Let's take a closer look.

• Polyphenols-These are antioxidants and are the main reason green tea prevents disease and according to clinical studies, it can treat/cure some medical conditions. The polyphenols include: EC, ECG, EGC, and EGCG.
• Caffeine-The caffeine in green tea is in very small amounts so the stimulant is actually helpful rather then harmful.
• Several nutrients-There are several vitamins and minerals and even amino acids to insure a healthy body.
• Aromatherapy-There are oils (counting 500 or more) in tea leaves that provide the delicious flavor.

Green Tea: Types of Tea Available

Choosing a type of green tea that you will be happy with is sometimes difficult. It is not difficult because some taste bad and others taste good-but it is more a question of availability and expense. There are several different types of green tea that are outlined below.

• Hyson-This tea is made from the thick yellow-green leaves and has a very strong and distinct flavor.
• Gunpowder-This green tea got its name because each leaf is rolled tightly into a pellet shape. It expands when the boiling water is added. It is also known as pearl tea because of its tightly rolled shape.
• Sencha- This is a green tea made in Japan and it is commonly found around the world.
• Matcha-This tea is made by crushing dry green tea leaves into a fine powder. The powder is so fine that when boiling water is added it dissolves it.
• Dragonwell-This has got to be one of China's favorite and most used green teas. It's light green and has a very soft-soothing taste.
• Pi Lo Chun- This is a rather rare Chinese green tea. The name means Green Snail Spring. The snail reference is used because the leaves are rolled and resemble tiny little snails.
• Gyokuro-This green tea is Japanese and has a beautiful green color when brewed and the taste is more sweet than earthy.
• Hojicha-Is a green tea that is traditionally roasted. The taste provides a nutty kind of flavor due to the roasting process.

Green Tea: Closing

The next time you wander aimlessly through the grocery store remember to pick up some green tea. Try as many as you can and drink to your health.