Scientists now look at findings, which indicate 5 cups of green tea
is the best cancer defense. The studies look at three different types
of cancer and the reduction of the incidence of cancer in those that
drank five or more cups of green tea every day. They also believe the
significantly lower rate has a logical scientific explanation.
Green
tea comes from the same leaves as black or oolong tea. The difference
between these three types of tea is the amount of processing the leaves
experience before they are packaged and ready for you to dip, steep and
dunk in your hot water. Green tea has the least amount of processing. It
seems amazing that even this century old drink confirms the fact that
less is more when it comes to human intervention and processing foods.
Instead
of allowing the leaves to ferment and change color, they're immediately
steamed, rolled, spread out and then either pan-fried in a wok or dried
with a blast of hot air. This leaves the most anti-oxidants in the
leaves. The most important of these is the polyphenol catechin,
epigallocatechin 3-gallate. If the name is a lot harder to swallow than
the green tea, just call it EGCG.
Two studies lead reveal a
close relationship to the consumption of 5 or more cups of natures
healing nectar and lower rates of blood cancer, lymph node cancer and
bile duct cancer. One study from the Tohoku School of Medicine in Japan
tracked the food and drink consumption of almost 42,000 men and women of
that country. While few things varied in eating pattern and liquid
consumption of the participants over the nine-year study period, one
difference was apparent when comparing those that eventually developed
cancer and the cancer free population of the study. Since the study took
place in Japan, where tea reigns over coffee, it was no surprise that
all participants drank at least one cup of tea every day. Those cancer
free participants went a step farther and drank at least five cups or
more.
The second study followed 2623 participants
consumption of tea. In the group, 627 of the participants had bile tract
cancer, 959 were simply a control group and 1037 people were plagued
with bile stones. Their findings were quite interesting. The female tea
drinkers, ones that consumed at least a cup of tea each day in a six
month period, had a 44 percent reduced risk of gallbladder cancer, a 35
percent reduction in bile duct cancer and a 27 percent reduced chance of
bile stones. The male tea drinkers showed no significant difference
from their tea-free counterparts.
These two studies are
just a small amount of research showing the benefits of consuming green
tea. Other studies on the benevolent beverage show that it protects the
body in a myriad of other ways. It's particularly effective in
preventing periodontal disease, increasing bone density thus preventing
osteoporosis, decreases cardiovascular disease, prevents damage to brain
cells from strokes of Parkinson's, prevents cognitive decline from
diseases such as Alzheimer's, protects the body from both bacterial and
viral infections, promotes improved cardiovascular health, promotes
weight loss and even increases your exercise endurance. For those that
imbibe in alcoholic beverages, green tea helped prevent liver damage in
lab rats that scientists intentionally forced into a 4-week bender where
they remained chronically intoxicated. Does this mean we'll soon be
seeing alcoholic delights like green tea martini's or rum and green tea?
Through all the studies, one fact is clear, green tea is definitely good for your health. So, Starbucks, look out. The senior tea drinkers will be jogging their way to the Oriental Drink Emporium for their green tea while your customers are still trying to remember not only where they left their refillable cup but also where they left the car.
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