There’s been a lot of talk about green tea in the last decade. Have the Japanese had it right all along? Is it really as powerful as some say? Can it help you lose weight or is that an Oprah-fronted myth? DOES IT CURE CANCER?!
I have a few news sources in the world that I trust as the most neutral, informative, and trustworthy: The Guardian, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and lastly, the BBC.In combing the BBC’s archives, they’ve done a series of pieces about the potential health benefits of green tea. Naturally, many are simply reports on studies that have show some sign of health improvements with the consumption of green tea—unfortunately none yet can prove that it has some kind of magical effect on curing people of incurable ailments. But even though it’s not proven to be the almighty heal-all elixir some weight-loss companies promote it to be, the one sure thing we can glean from all this information? All research point in the same direction: Green tea is good for you. Here’s a few of the things we learned from the articles…
Green tea can potentially block cancer
- chemicals in green tea turn off a molecule which can play a significant role in the development of cancer
- these chemicals cooperate with the anti-oxidants (already show to likely have anti-cancer effects) in green tea and act as a multi-pronged attack on the illness
Green tea could cut arthritis risk
Green tea extract may fight HIV
- two compounds (ECG and EGCG) found in green tea can block the enzymes that cause cartilage to be destroyed, helping to prevent arthritis
Green tea may protect the heart
- scientists have found a component of green tea can stop HIV from attaching itself to healthy immune cells (which is how HIV spreads)
- if more research is done, green tea could provide the basis for a whole new generation of HIV drugs
- A chemical found in the tea can reduce the numbers of of cells dying after trauma such as a heart attack or stroke
- cell death is what causes tissue death, or worse, organ failure—so this is a very powerful thing!
Green tea extract is cancer aid
Tea ‘healthier’ drink than water (THIS IS NOT AN ONION ARTICLE)
- Four leukemia patients at the respected Mayo Clinic in the U.S. took green tea extract tablets containing an antioxidant thought to fight cancer cells
- three out of four showed signs of cancer regressing, with a fourth having a slight improvement that was simply not enough to be clinically relevant
- this was a small-scale experiment that proved successful but needs to be tested more widely to prove its power
- three or more cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water and may even have extra health benefits
- Tea rehydrates as well as water does, but can also protect against heart disease and some cancers in a way that water can’t
- Experts believe flavonoids are the key ingredient in tea that promote health.
Most fortunately, these studies were done by neutral parties—not sponsored by tea companies, or the pharmaceutical industry, but rather by schools ie. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology or the UK’s Institute of Child Health. Not bad, eh? In conclusion there are two things we know for sure about green tea:1. It tastes absolutely delicious—hot, cold, ground like matcha, blended.. anything!2. Drinking it can’t hurt… so why not take the risk of doing yourself some good with green tea?
