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Green tea
The Asian paradox

Green tea extract - a convenient protector

Green tea is more lightly processed than black tea and has a different, delicate flavor. As the name implies, green tea extract is made by concentrating the antioxidants found in green tea. One capsule 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 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.

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, liver cancer, intestinal 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.

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 believed to be the consequence of the great quantities of green tea they consume. Read more about that here.

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