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Green tea

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Green tea extract - a convenient protector

Green tea extract is a powder which is made by drying and concentrating green tea, conserving the antioxidants in the green tea. Green tea is more lightly processed than black tea and has a different, delicate flavor.

One capsule of green tea extract contains about the same amount of antioxidants as one and a half cups of green tea. It is a supremely rich source of polyphenols, substances that have great potential as cancer fighters. All types of tea contain polyphenols, and all have proven health benefits, but the substance is more concentrated in green and white tea that in black tea.

People who regularly drink green tea have significantly lower rates of cancer in the stomach, the lungs, the esophagus, the pancreas and the colon than those who don’t.

A recent study in Japan found that women who drink a lot of green tea - as many as ten cups daily - had a significantly reduced risk of developing cancer compared to women who did not drink green tea. It is probably not necessary to drink that much tea to reap most of the benefits. Even two or three cups a day could give a good prophylactic benefit.

The Asian paradox

An interesting effect of green tea is the phenomenon known as the Asian paradox. Briefly stated, the people of East Asia on average smoke a lot more than westerners, but even so have much lower incidences of several types of cancer. This is a consequence of the great quantities of green tea they consume. It is not unusual for adult Asians to drink 5-8 cups of green tea per day. Clearly, the antioxidants in green tea is s great protector, pne which the Asians have unknowingly used for thousands of years.

Anti-cancer antioxidants

Green tea polyphenols stimulate the production of powerful antioxidants and detoxifying enzymes that block cancerous changes. One main antioxidant in green tea is epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG). Some scientists believe that EGCG is one of the strongest anti-cancer substances ever discovered, protecting cells from damage and boosting the body’s own production of antioxidant enzymes.

Green tea extract contains proanthocyanidins similar to those found in grape seed extract. The anti-aging properties of green tea are excellent.

Here are some of the things green tea extract is believed to help with:

Inhibit cancer, specifically breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, and more.

Prevent bacteria from attaching themselves to the teeth, preventing tooth decay

Protect the liver and stomach

Protect the blood vessels from damage by free radicals

Inhibit the aging process of the cells of the body

To get the full beneficial effects of green tea, you would have to drink at least 4 cups daily. In fact, most studies that conclude with green tea having beneficial effects on your health are done with the test subjects drinking up to ten cups a day. How thirsty are you?

Although green tea has less caffeine than coffee, even as little as 4 cups might make you jittery. Green tea extract tablets do not contain caffeine. One tablet of green tea extract is the equivalent to about 2 cups of green tea.

To many, it is probably more convenient to swallow a couple of tablets with a meal than to brew five or more cups of tea a day. You don’t get any caffeine and the benefits are the same or even better.

Green tea extract has no known side effects.

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