Green Tea Leaf
The discovery of green tea is attributed to a historical legend belonging to Chinese tradition. According to the legend the green tea leaf was discovered more than four thousand years ago. With time traditional Chinese medicine made use of the leaf to for various medicinal purposes such as treating headaches, pains, depression, gastrointestinal disorders as well as a detoxification agent and an immune system enhancer…
Today the market is full of an array of green tea products. All of these products are made using the leaves of the same plant. The only differences in the many green tea products exist because of the processing which they have gone through in order to reach their final state.
Green tea is different because it does not go through the same process as the normal black tea does. This means that green tea is not fermented. If it were to be fermented it would lose all its beneficial qualities. Green tea goes through the process of steaming rather than fermenting which allows it to retain the active constituents that are beneficial for health.
The green tea leaf contains a mix of special chemical compounds as well as beneficial minerals and vitamins. Along with this it has certain essential nutrients and volatile oils. The primary compounds however that are believed to form the back bone of the green tea leaf are polyphenols. The particular polyphenol found in green tea and renowned for its beneficial qualities is epigallocatechin gallate known as EGCG in short.
How does the green tea leaf work in the body?
Once green tea enters you’re your body in any form whatsoever it starts to take its action in different ways. One of the areas where green tea is known to be effective is to balance the cholesterol level of the body. It does this by reducing the LDL cholesterol to restore the optimum balance for a healthy body.
Green tea & cardiovascular health
Studies have also shown that green tea promotes cardiovascular health. It does this by affecting the blood platelets. The effect that it has on the blood platelets is that it makes them less sticky which in turn promotes a healthy functioning of the heart.
Green tea detox
One of the more commonly known benefits of green tea is the fact that it acts as a detoxifier. Thus the consumption of green tea ensures that the oxidation level does not exceed the desired level for the body. This can also prevent harmful diseases like atherosclerosis from developing in the body.
Green tea cancer treatment
The most remarkable discovery that scientific research has made with regards to the medicinal potentials of the green tea leaf is the fact that it can actually help inhibit cancer. Many tests have been conducted on animals which have shown positive results. Not only does green tea help in the destruction of cancer cells it also repairs damaged cells present in the body.
It is however recommended not to over dose on the drink although there are no reported side effects of the drink as such. Nonetheless one should consult a doctor especially if using it for a particular medicinal purpose. Otherwise the green tea leaf is a great gift of nature with manifold benefits to enjoy.