healthwise
GREEN tea for your health
Green tea is somewhat of a wonder drink, acting as an anti-diabetes, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant all wrapped into one. Its health properties leave nutrition research scientists like Christopher Ochner, PhD, in wonder. “It the healthiest thing I can think of to drink”, says Ochner. For green tea’s therapeutic properties, we have a compound called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (or EGCG) to thank. This compound, especially present in green and white tea, appears to inhibit melanoma growth as well as other types of cancer. The EGCG present has the ability to combat and possibly prevent cell damage. The nutrient levels in green tea do vary however, and processed green tea generally has less EGCG.
If you’re looking for a quick science lesson in heath, free radicals are the molecules to guard against. Free radicals are oxygen molecules that have been destabilized by losing an electron. In the process of looking for another electron, the free radicals attack cell membranes and tissues in order to gain it back. Things such as over exposure to sunlight, air pollution, and smoking excels the growth of free radicals. When free radicals are not controlled, they can result in cell damage and and add to heart disease and cancer. Fortunately enough, antioxidants are compounds that delay and prevent the damage that free radicals can inflict on the body. It’s a good thing that antioxidants are easy to find at the bottom of a tea cup.
The next compound to look for in a healthy diet are flavonoids. Flavonoids are the structures that have incredible amounts of antioxidative properties and are found in apples, red wine, red grapes, as well as black and green tea. The flavonoids in black tea especially can slow down the growth of plaque in the arteries and can lead to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.
All this being said, there are things green tea just can’t do. Firstly, the caffeine present in green tea could also negatively affect you. In addition, there is a great deal of research suggesting it can help you lose weight or even prevent cancer and other serious illness, but research is still ongoing and should not be taken as a sole remedy. On its website, the National Cancer Institute states it “does not recommend for or against the use of tea to reduce the risk of any type of cancer”.
On the brighter side, there are still ways to harness green tea’s health benefits, such as adding lemon. When vitamin C is added, it makes the catechin compound easier to take in. Alternatively, adding milk will slow down this process and make the EGCG harder to absorb. When it comes to the water, avoid adding boiling water as it can damage of the catechin. Instead, add water that has a temperature between 160-170 degrees. In addition, “if you substitute 1-2 cups of green tea for one can of soda, over the next year you’d save over 50,00 calories” according to Ochner. Just don’t douse it in honey or sugar if you’re using it as an alternative. If you’re relying on a fat heavy diet, green tea has shown in the long term to decrease the risk of coronary disease and type II diabetes.
We all know how relaxing it can be to sit down with a cup of tea, but it’s not just in your head. The tea plant has a chemical present called theanine, which has been shown to reduce mental and physical stress. When this compound is mixed with caffeine, as green tea is, it can also increase cognition and improve one’s mood. Theanine works both quickly and efficiently when the drinker is stressed from too many thoughts. Through research, it seems that this amino acid helps the mind relax while allowing it focus on the task at hand. So instead of an unhealthy stress relief, try a cup of green tea to help you unwind!
