Drink (green tea) to your health!

A very good article on one of my favorite drinks, Green Tea. In fact I'm having a cup right now!


Drink (green tea) to your health!
By jane sadler



Today, my physician assistant needed something to calm her pregnancy-related nausea. She was green as a glass of green tea and in need of assistance. As she cannot tolerate routine prescription anti-nausea medication, I offered her a more natural alternative with a cup of diluted green tea to calm her symptoms.

Green tea has been used in both traditional Chinese and Indian medicine to decrease and control bleeding, improve heart and mental health and aid in digestion.  Some studies have shown that green tea may be an adjunct to successful weight loss and even improve liver health in some diabetics.

A new study suggests that green tea “disrupts the metabolism of cancer cells” in pancreatic cancer and could reduce the risk of other cancers or slow its progression.

While facts have been contested, Anti-oxidants may help your body to prevent inflammation that can cause organ damage and adversely affect your immune system. Green tea contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a potent anti-oxidant. EGCG is the active ingredient in green tea that is thought to be helpful for stomach problems like vomiting and diarrhea, lower blood pressure, improve type 2 diabetes, cholesterol, memory retention and cancer prevention.

Recently, Veregen, a green tea extract, has been tested and approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to treat genital warts.

Green tea, like black tea, is made from the Camellia sinesis plant, a shrub native to Asia. Unlike black tea, green tea is thought to have higher levels of antioxidants because green tea is less fermented.  These less processed plants better retain their vital nutrients.

Studies investigating green tea have not been conclusive; therefore, the FDA does not currently recommend using green tea to treat the above conditions.

The amount of green tea that needs to be consumed to show benefits varies in studies from 3-10 cups per day. It has been suggested that bottled green teas may not have as high levels of EGCG as natural steeped tea and may contain extra ingredients. At 20-45mg per 8 ounces, its caffeine content is approximately ½ the caffeine contained in a cup of coffee.

Talk to your doctor before consuming large amounts of green tea as there can be side effects. Unregulated (i.e. imported) green tea extract may not be safe as they may contain unknown ingredients such as lead.

 As for my physician assistant, she looks much less green after her green tea.

 **Written with the assistance of Texas A&M medical student, Rhoda Jamadar


http://healthblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/drink-green-tea-to-your-health.html/