Green Tea BlogAll you need to know about Green Tea

For centuries now, the benefits of green tea diets have been the subject of countless writings and scientific investigations.

More than four thousand years ago, green tea diet has become a staple beverage for most Asians because of its countless health and medicinal benefits. It is said that the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung was the first one to have discovered green tea diet. Emperor Shen Nung was reported to have been boiling water when some leaves of a nearby plant fell into his pot. The leaves actually came from Camellia sinensis, the herb from which green tea diet is extracted.

Having a green tea diet is associated with several health benefits. One of the benefits of having a green tea diet is providing a potential cure for cancer. According to some studies, certain substances in green tea diet can destroy cancer cells without harming any neighboring healthy tissues. This substance in green tea diets is called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

The results of the study on the cancer benefit of green tea diets were astounding and it led to further more researches that investigate other aspects of green tea diet. In a study conducted by American and Swiss scientists in the University of Geneva, it has been found that the EGCG found in green tea diets can increase the 24-hour energy expenditure of the body. They concluded that this is due to the ability of antioxidants present in green tea diet to stimulate thermogenesis, otherwise known as fat metabolism. According to their findings, people who were on a green tea diet exhibited a significant four percent increase in their normal metabolic rates. This led the scientists to conclude that green tea diet has a major contributing factor in weight loss.

Another study conducted in China was designed to investigate further on green tea diet’s weight loss benefit. They decided that since green tea diet can significantly increase fat metabolism, then green tea diet probably would help lowering down cholesterol levels as well. Their hypothesis was proven when they introduced green tea diet on 240 people with mild to extremely high cholesterol levels. After only twelve weeks, they observed that those on a green tea diet dropped sixteen percent in their cholesterol levels.

Based on the above study, it can also be hypothesized that green tea diet can cure obesity. Green tea diet’s catechin polyphenols can delay the reaction of gastric and pancreatic lipases in the body. These enzymes are the ones responsible for storing calories into fats in the body. By delaying these enzymes, green tea diets can therefore lessen fat concentration and prevent obesity in people.

This being a truly remarkable nutritional supplement, green tea dieting is used to improve the body’s health in many ways. Further studies were made on the benefits of green tea diets. The latest ones were able to prove that green tea diet can effectively protect the skin from damage due to ultraviolet light radiation. Green tea diet is also widely recognized as a substance that can protect against many different cancers such as stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, cancer of the colon, oral cancer, prostate cancer, and breast and cervical cancers.

The health benefits of green tea are just limitless! Read below to find out how green tea helps in curing and preventing acne.

Green Tea has been proven to be a good remedy for acne. Medical studies show that green tea is just as effective as benzoyl peroxide (an ingredient found in many over-the-counter acne treatments) and without the side effects. Green tea is inexpensive, and can be found in health and nutrition stores, on the internet, and in certain grocery stores in the “tea” or the “natural foods” sections.

Many acne sufferers swear by green tea as “the ultimate natural acne cure.” In fact, just drinking the tea has been known to clear acne in some cases. Green tea is also a great treatment for eczema and skin problems in general.

The Key

The best results for curing acne include applying green tea to your face, and any other acne areas – and also drinking green tea 2 to 3 times a day. After you finish drinking the tea, dab the tea bag on acne areas, or use a cotton ball to apply the tea. You don’t have to wash it off right away – you can leave it on your skin.

Notes

Green tea must be decaffeinated. It is because caffeine makes acne worse, so it’s a good idea not only to use decaffeinated green tea, but also decaffeinated every thing else.

When drinking green tea, don’t add sugar or anything else to it – it has been stated that if sugar or artificial sweeteners are added, it tends to cancel most of the beneficial properties.

Because of this, additional health benefits of green tea not previously discussed (in this blog) are enumerated below:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-bacterial – has been shown to kill acne bacteria.
• Anti-viral
• Rejuvenates skin

If, for some reason, you prefer not to drink green tea or apply tea to your skin, you can try green tea skin creams, and green tea in pill form.

Imagine a limitless supply of green tea. In this post, we will tell you (in 9 easy steps) how to grow your own green tea plant (scientific name, Camellia sinensis) at home, and enjoy the benefits of green tea all year round.

1. Buy or get some cuttings from a green tree plant from your local greenhouse.
2. Plant your green tea plant in sandy soil. Water frequently and add occasional fertilizer.
3. Place mulch around your green tea plant to reduce weeds and maintain soil moisture.

Notes

If you follow the steps above and grow green tea from cuttings, it can take up to three years to get a viable green tea plant for harvesting. If you want to grow a green tea plant from seeds, it will take longer to get a viable plant to harvest.

Ready to harvest?

1. Harvest only the youngest tea leaves and buds by plucking the terminal three leaves along with the terminal bud.
2. Allow the plucked green tea leaves to dry away from direct contact with the sun for several hours.
3. Once the leaves are dry, steam the leaves in a pan on the stove to a temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit for 14 minutes. Move the pan continuously to keep the leaves from burning.
4. To dry the leaves, place them in an oven at a temperature of around 225 degrees Fahrenheit for ten minutes.
5. Store the green tea leaves in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to use them.
6. Brew and drink as any other tea.

Voila! Enjoy that healthy-smelling green tea aroma.

Josh Burnstein

Is there such a thing?

Of course there is, and it will probably be made by you (not bought). What you’re looking for here is a simple infusion – a tea infusion if you will.

A hot cup of green tea infused with a robust dose of echinacea is a great way to keep your immune system strong and help prevent coming down with that ever dreaded common cold. By using a simple combination of two highly supported “immune boosters” such as green tea and echinacea on a daily basis, not only do you stand to shorten and lessen the severity of cold and flu symptoms, but you could even fortify an immune system that may prevent coming down with these symptoms entirely. By either using dried echinacea, an echinacea tincture, or fresh echinacea from your garden in your morning tea, this great herb could be the “ounce of prevention” you were looking fore.

Perhaps one of the soundest cornerstones of holistic medicine, the almost philosophic belief in emphasizing prevention over the treatment of disease alone, maintaining a healthy lifestyle still stands as one of the best ways to prevent contracting serious symptoms from what should be otherwise simple and common diseases. Both green tea and echinacea, though still the subjects of passionate scientific study, are herbal remedies that have found use as powerful preventative tools against the symptoms of colds and flu.

The text below was compiled from various sources. We believe it to be most accurate as we have omitted several unsupported claims scattered all over the internet.

Quick fact

Green tea has been around for hundreds of centuries, dating back in Chinese literature as far as 5,000 years. It dates back to 2737 BC based on some Chinese legends, stories and some literature.

The Story of the Emperor and Green Tea

Emperor Chien-lung of the Ching Dynasty who reigned from 1736 to 1796 A.D. disguised himself as a commoner, traveling with two cabinet ministers incognito to the countryside. Since the Manchu Imperial family originally came from a northern minority, Chien-lung was used to drinking black tea only. When his entourage was passing a tea plantation in south-central China, the servants offered him a cup of choice green tea. After a few sips, the emperor commented: “Too bland. Tasteless,” and continued his journey on horseback. Riding about half of a mile later, the emperor turned to his ministers and said, “Good tea.” The perceptive king suddenly realized that the characteristic soothing savory sweet tea-taste of a choice green tea only comes a few minutes after the sip. Since then, green tea was introduced to the Manchu ruling family as the beverage of choice and a special misty hillside in Zhejiang Province was designated as the Imperial Tea Plantation.

Chinese Tea Drinkers

Green tea has been used in China as a healthy, medicinal drink for approximately 5,000 years. Green tea was the drink of choice among the leaders and the wealthy. The tea leaves were used fresh from the plant for tea brewing, lightly heat processed, or even eaten right away. In ancient China, tea was a costly drink, consumed only by the rich and wealthy of the population. However, following the fall of the Mongolian Empire back in 1368 AD, the whole population of China began to experience the wonderful consumption of tea, including green tea.

Between 1405 and 1433, when China had the power of the sea, the seamen were given the necessary amount of green tea. The antioxidants in the green tea they drank fought off scurvy, which killed many Europeans sailors several years later.

Tea consumption was introduced to the United States by Europe, as a part of the worldwide tea trade, and also by Chinese immigrants who owned Chinese restaurants in the United States and served their tea. This dates back before 1945.

Timeline

In 350 AD, a record was made in a Chinese literature for a method of brewing green tea. In 520 AD, Buddhists chew the leaves while meditating, to assist in meditation. In 729 AD, tea cultivation begins to spread in Japan when the Japanese Emperor gives gifts of powdered green tea to Buddhist monks. In 780 AD, in China, a book titled “The Book of Tea” is written by Lu Yu. In the book, the author explains that there are numerous health benefits of green tea, and was given the name the “patron saint” of tea. In 1211 AD, Eisai Myoan, the creator of Zen Buddhism, authors a book titled, “Tea Drinking is Good for Health”. He becomes an advocate for tea as a remedy for nearly anything. In the 1400s, the creation of the tea ceremony is created by a Japanese Zen priest. In 1517 AD, Europe is presented with Chinese tea by way of Portuguese traders. In 1559 AD, a Venetian merchant writes a book called “Voyages and Travels”, which mentions the healthful assets of tea. In the 1657 AD, the London people begin to sell tea in the city.
From the 1600s to now, water is the most popular drink of choice, and tea turns out to be the second most popular drink among people.

Except for water, Green Tea is the most widely consumed drink in the world. Green tea is a staple in the diets of many Asian families around the world and Green tea is a part of Japanese and Chinese cultures. Green tea is the most popular tea in China, and while there are many varieties, green teas are favored because of their fresh and subtle taste. One difference between Japanese and Chinese tea is that Japanese green tea is often steam-dried rather than oven-dried. The green tea is grown in an area near the border of the Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. The best Japanese green tea is said to be that from the Uji region of Kyoto. Green tea is dried, but not fermented.

Scientific studies show that green tea is good for you. Two studies in China, where green tea is a mainstay of the diet, resulted in promising findings. The only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia because it contains caffeine. Green tea is known for its high content of vitamins and minerals. Green tea is a natural antioxidant and is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis, or tea plant. Green tea is made from unfermented leaves and is reputed to contain the highest concentration of polyphenols, chemicals that act as powerful antioxidants. Theamine in green tea is touted for its tranquilizing effect on the brain, and makes green tea a better choice than the coffee bean. A study, began in 1994, included 40,530 adults (age 40 to 79 years) in northeastern Japan, where green tea is widely consumed.

The study confirmed Green tea is good for weight loss and is great for your skin. Low in caffeine, high in antioxidants and vitamin C, green tea is unfermented. Green Tea is high in polyphenols with potent antioxidant and anti-cancer support properties. With tastes that are light and refreshing, green tea is the perfect addition to any diet. Although you can buy green tea that has been packaged in tea bags, green tea is best when it is brewed from the whole leaf.

For many centuries, green tea has been regarded as the drink of choice, not just for plain drinking, but also as herbal medicine, treatment for illnesses and for weight loss. Below are the different green tea extract benefit and the reasons why the beverage has enjoyed such reputation for over a long period time.

Several studies were done over the last few years to find out the component in green tea that makes it a powerful health drink. Researchers have discovered that the beneficial effects of green tea are attributed to the polyphenols, particularly the catechins, which make up 30 percent of the dry weight of green tea leaves.

Recent studies have shown that catechins are instrumental in one significant green tea extract benefit – weight loss promotion. Catechins in green tea extract affect metabolism in a number of ways: suppressing appetite, inhibiting intestinal lipases, decreasing fat absorption, increasing fat excretion, increasing uncoupling proteins, accelerating thermogenesis, and decreasing lipogenic enzymes. Due to its potential therapeutic advantages and its role in the promotion of weight loss, green tea extract has now become the subject of global studies.

Numerous studies suggest that one green tea extract benefit is its ability to increase metabolism and help burn fat more effectively. A study made a confirmation that when green tea and caffeine are combined, there is significant improvement in the efforts of a moderately obese individual who is trying to lose weight and maintain it. Several researchers believe that catechins are the main causes of the fat-burning effect of the herb.

According to one researcher, there are only a couple of ways to attain weight loss – reduce energy intake or increase energy expenditure. Apparently, the compounds found in green tea are capable of giving a boost to the body’s normal metabolism rate, thereby providing a green tea extract benefit, particularly the weight loss advantage.

Other studies also say that an important body process involving losing weight is enhanced with the help of green tea. Because of the caffeine in green tea and green tea itself, the process of thermogenesis, which is also referred to as increased caloric expenditure, is said to increase by 28 percent to 77 percent, depending on dose. Caffeine alone did not yield significant results. One study has shown that the thermogenic effect caused by green tea extract may be a result of an interaction between its high concentrations of catechin-polyphenols together with caffeine.

A study on bladder cancer cell lines also outlined one more green tea extract benefit, which involves the anti-cancer properties of green tea. The study revealed that green tea extract shows promise in beating cancer. For the first time, the study was able to determine that green tea indeed targets cancer cells and leaves the healthy, normal cells alone. It has been shown in the study that the green tea extract benefit of destroying cancer cells inhibited the growth of an independent blood supply, which cancers develop so they can grow and spread. In the study, it was observed that green tea extract breaks up a process that’s important in permitting bladder cancer to invade and spread to different parts of the body.

Green tea’s ability to fight cancer is even more potent and varied than scientists suspected, say researchers who have discovered that chemicals in green tea shut down one of the key molecules that tobacco relies upon to cause cancer. It’s a find that could help explain why people who drink green tea are less likely to develop cancer. The finding by scientists at the University of Rochester’s Environmental Health Science Center appears in the July 21 issue of Chemical Research in Toxicology, published by the American Chemical Society.

Graduate students and medical doctors set out to measure the effects of the chemicals found in green tea on a molecule known as the aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptor, a molecule that frequently plays a role in turning on genes that are oftentimes harmful. Gasiewicz has previously shown how both tobacco smoke and dioxin manipulate the molecule – a favorite target of toxic substances – to cause havoc within the body.

The team isolated the chemicals that make up green tea and found two that inhibit AH activity. The two substances, epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) and epigallocatechin (EGC), are close molecular cousins to other flavonoids found in broccoli, cabbage, grapes and red wine that are known to help prevent cancer.

While green tea has been much-ballyhooed for its anti-cancer effects as well as other purported abilities such as preventing rheumatoid arthritis and lowering cholesterol, just how the substance works has been a mystery. Scientists do know that green tea contains chemicals that are anti-oxidants and quench harmful molecules. But its effects on the AH receptor have not been thoroughly evaluated until now.

Studies show that the compounds in green tea act through many different pathways. Green tea may work differently than what previous findings thought on its anti-cancer effectiveness.

It showed that the chemicals shut down the AH receptor in cancerous mouse cells, and early results indicate the same is true in human cells as well.

In the laboratory the AH-inhibiting effects of green tea become evident when EGCG and EGC reach levels typical of those found in a cup of green tea. But the scientists say that how green tea is metabolized by the body is crucial to its effectiveness, and that results in the laboratory don’t necessarily translate directly to the dinner table.

Today we are unsure if drinking the amount of green tea that a person normally drinks would make a difference, but the work is giving insight into how the proteins work. There are a lot of differences between various kinds of green tea, so a lot more research is needed.

When age catches up and your skin starts sagging, no beauty therapy can come to your aid. You lose your self esteem and draw flak from your boss. Beauty has its share of goodness, even a grave mistake is easily forgiven when you are in the prime of your age. You cut a sorry figure wherever you go. However, oriental wisdom has discovered a magic potion that can curb aging.

Green tea, the wonder drug of this age is endowed with properties that can curb the ageing process. In china they have long identified the beneficial aspects of this drink. Now in the west it is fast catching up. Extracted from the Camellia Sinensis plant, an evergreen shrub, green tea undergoes minimal oxidation. Green tea made from unfermented leaves have highly concentrated anti-oxidants called polyphenols. Anti-oxidants in green tea fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals occur naturally in the body.

Environmental toxins like ultraviolet rays from the sun, smoking and radiation also release free radicals. These free radicals promote aging and cause cancer and heart diseases. The anti-oxidants in green tea can neutralize these free radicals and even reduce the damage they have done.

The super antioxidant power in green tea stimulates the immune system and slows down the aging process. When you are exhausted, the immune system is overworked and you are vulnerable to attack from viral and bacterial infection. So it is very important to protect the immune system from exhaustion to prevent diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Polyphenols in green tea can kill cancerous cells and curb their progression. In Japan people who suffer from cancer are less as they consume green tea every day. Be it a bladder cancer, stomach, breast or ovarian the polyphenols in green tea can prevent it from spreading. As green tea helps to regulate glucose in the body it can also be given to people who suffer from type 1 diabetes. Alcohol drinkers can heave a sigh of relief for green tea can protect your liver from total damage. Now booze around with your regular green tea.

The ever expanding waistline giving you sleepless nights? Just take Green tea pills and forget about it. No, it is not a joke. Green tea extracted from a shrub has the antioxidant polyphenol with thermogenic properties. It can burn those extra calories. No needs to go for sit-ups, no need for dieting; the magic of green tea pills burns away the fat without causing any side effects. Green tea can stimulate the bodies metabolism.

Now green tea comes in the form of gums and pills. If you have difficulty in sipping or don’t like the flavor, then it is easy to swallow the pill. As green tea is processed by drying without fermenting the beneficial chemicals are never lost. But anything in overdose can do you harm. Caffeine content in green tea can be a cause for concern. Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, and loss of appetite may result from overdose of caffeine. Decaffeination can to a great extent avert the side effects of drinking green tea.

Hannah, a mother of two from Poughkeepsie, asked us the following question:

Is Green Tea safe for children?

Now, research tells us that there really is no direct answer to this question, so it is still best to decide based on your own disgression. First and foremost, the only substance that seems to be preventing anyone from giving green tea to kids is caffeine, but then again, caffeine is found in most sodas.

We have scoured the internet for opinions and we have compiled the best ones below. Some, or a combination of quoted opinions below may give you the answer to what you’re looking for.

Actually, they say now that instead of using a.d.d. medication, a nice cup of espresso will have the same effect on kids, without the cost, or the chemicals in your childs system. I had tea every morning before school with toast or bread and jam, and my i.q. is very high, I’m a writer, a musician, and a chef, and artist so don’t go by my word –but it certainly didn’t hurt me. — Nancy (Yahoo! Answers)

I say so, in moderation. It beats giving them soda pop. Green tea is a wonderful drink, I drink it a lot. The green tea I use does not have a real high caffeine content. — Jackie Blue (Yahoo! Answers)

If you have young kids, it is advisable for them not to drink tea. This is because tea contains caffeine that may over-stimulate. It also contains tannins that may block nutrients absorption such as protein and fats in children. — amazing-green-tea.com

We therefore conclude that, like everything, giving green tea to children should be done in moderation (at most once a day) and, if your kids are really, really young (below 5 years), it’s best to wait a couple of years.