Juicing For Health - Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Name
Green Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Parts Used
Leaves.
Information
Green tea is a type of tea made with the leaves of Camellia sinensis that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan to the Middle East.
Green Tea is one of the more popular botanicals in the herbal kingdom and is also one of the most researched and studied for its many health benefits. Studies have shown green tea to prevent and fight cancer, as a weight loss aid, protect against heart disease, as beneficially impact bone density, cognitive function, dental cavities, and kidney stones.
Green tea has been said to have a massive list of potential health benefits such as stimulating the immune system, preventing tooth decay and gum disease, regulate blood sugar and insulin, combatting mental fatigue, asthma, weight loss aid, prevent enlargeed prostate, reduce clotting tendancy of blood, protect and prevent cancer and prevent heart disease.
Benefits
- Anti-Oxident
- Atherosclerosis
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- High Cholesterol
- Weight Loss
Green tea is a rich source of polyphenols which are thought to improve health, particularly catechins, the most abundant of which is epigallocatechin gallate.
Green tea has been shown to effectively lower risk of atherosclerosis by lowering LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, lipid peroxides (free radicals that damage LDL cholesterol and other lipids or fats) and fibrinogen (a protein in the blood involved in the formation of blood clots), while improving the ratio of LDL (bad) to HDL (good) cholesterol.
Research has shown that green tea has powerful effects in preventing many cancers. Laboratory cell culture studies show that green tea polyphenols are powerful triggers of apoptosis (cell suicide) and cell cycle arrest in cancerous but not in normal cells. (Cell cycling is the process cells go through to divide and replicate.)
These anticancer properties of green tea are thought to be due to the powerful antioxidant effects of green tea's catechins, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).
Green tea has been used traditionally to control blood sugar in the body. Animal studies suggest that green tea may help prevent the development of type 1 diabetes and slow the progression once it has developed. Green tea may also help regulate glucose in the body.
Research shows that green tea lowers total cholesterol and raises HDL ("good") cholesterol in both animals and people.
Studies suggest that green tea may boost metabolism and help burn fat. One study confirmed that the combination of green tea and caffeine improved weight loss and maintenance in overweight and moderately obese individuals. Some researchers believe green teas polyphenols, specifically the catechins, are responsible for the herb's fat-burning effect.
Side Effects/Precautions
Green tea contains caffiene so persons with anxiety or irregular heart beat should either avoid or limit to no more than 2 cups daily.
Should not be used in large quantities by pregnant woman or nursing mothers.
Buying Information
Good product sources can be purchased from the links below.
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