Health Benefits of Green Tea and Green Tea Extracts

Green tea, and more recently green tea extracts,American Association for the Advancment of Science:
have been used for centuries as not only a beverage,"Green tea shows antioxidant benefits in human
but as a medicine as well. Practitioners of naturalplasma". A recent analysis of green tea brands found
healing and medicines have long expressed a belief inhowever, that antioxidant levels of common teas have
several health benefits of green tea. Green Teaa great deal of variance. Therefore, if you are unsure
Extract [Immune System, Circulatory System] containsof the affect of your green tea brand, you might
catechins, a type of polyphenol with powerfulconsider green tea extracts as an altenative or
antioxidants that neutralize free radicals. Green teasupplement.A recent Penn State study supports the
also provides antimicrobial immune system support,view that the flavonoids in tea can reduce the risks for
helps support the vascular blood clotting function andcardiovascular disease. Just to make the news better,
helps maintain cholesterol levels already within thethe study also found that chocolate had similar health
normal range. It also appears to support healthy kidneybenefits as well. Green tea and green tea extracts
function.GREEN TEA AND WEIGHT LOSSA studyhave high antioxidant properties.In addition to the
published in the December 1999 issue of the Americannormally brewed tea which is available in almost any
Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Urology show thatneighborhood grocery store, green tea extract is a
substances which are abundant in green tea extractshandy option for those who like to supplement their
may promote weight loss through thermogenesis (thenutritional intake without having to find a place and time
body's rate of burning calories). Green tea seems toto actually brew a pot or cup of green tea.GREEN
help in raising the metabolic rate and burning fat. In thisTEA AND CHOLESTEROLStudies have indicated
study, subjects taking a green tea extract burnedthat green tea and green tea extracts can help lower
more fat calories than those in a control group.cholesterol levels.The author is retired from the Army
Another interesting point is that the affect wasafter 21 years of service, has worked as an
accomplished without the increase in heart rateaccountant, optical lab manager, restaurant manager,
experienced with more common diet pills and weightand instructor. He has been a member of Mensa for
loss supplements which often have a stimulantseveral years, and has written and published poetry,
base.One obesity study indicates that long-term teaessays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40
drinkers (those who drink tea over a period of years)years. He developed an interest in health and fitness in
appear to have lower body fat percentages.GREENthe '70s after reading numerous books, including Dr.
TEA AND HEART HEALTHCatechins, found in greenKenneth Cooper's "Aerobics". This has led him to
tea, apparently increase the antioxidant capacity ofcontinue his personal research into health and fitness
human plasma, which could help reduce cardiovascularfor over 30 years, and to pursue course work on
disease risk. This was reported in an article from thehealth and fitness.