If you search the web for information on green tea, much of what you find will argue that the drink is a health scam. Yet a substantial number of web sites tout the drink’s merits in terms of nutrition and its wide array of health benefits. So, what is the truth? Let’s debunk the myths and highlight the truths about green tea.
Green Tea Combats the Aging Process
Green tea really is a powerful anti-aging tool. The tea is loaded with antioxidants that seek out free-radical cells within the body. These antioxidants safeguard tissues to ward off damage and keep the body looking/feeling as young as possible. Though green tea’s catechins seem to assist in the protection against harmful ultraviolet rays, additional research must be conducted to determine the extent of green tea’s benefits in the context of anti-aging. The bottom line is that merely drinking green tea is not enough to significantly slow the aging process. It is only one piece of the puzzle.
Can Green Tea Consumption Really Extend Your Life?
A study conducted in Japan determined those who consume more than five cups of green tea on a daily basis lived 16 percent longer than those who consumed a single cup per day. In general, those who live in the eastern hemisphere tend to live longer than those in the west. Green tea consumption in the eastern portion of the globe is significantly higher than in the west. If you are willing to consume multiple cups of green tea per day, it just might help you become an octogenarian or a centenarian.
Green Tea Combats Heart Disease
Clinical studies show green tea might assist in the prevention of heart disease and atherosclerosis. Researchers have determined that consuming three cups of green tea each day decreases the rate of heart attack by more than 10 percent. Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association states those who consume more than five cups of green tea per day reduce their heart disease death rate by more than 25 percent. The study showed that women experienced the benefits of green tea more than men. It is widely believed that green tea’s abundance of antioxidants is responsible for green tea’s ability to reduce the odds of heart disease.
Can Green Tea Consumption Prevent Cancer?
There is conflicting data regarding the alleged benefits of green tea for cancer prevention. Some lab studies show that those with an advanced cancer stage do not improve after consuming green tea. Yet other studies show that consuming green tea extract can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. It cannot be definitively said that green tea consumption prevents cancer.
Green Tea’s Role in Combating Cholesterol
Green tea’s antioxidant known as catechin really does help lower cholesterol levels. Studies show that catechin reduces the “bad” LDL cholesterol, heightens the “good” HDL cholesterol and generally lowers overall cholesterol levels.
Can Green Tea Help Spur Weight Loss?
There are plenty of reports that green tea’s catechins burn fat and boost the metabolism. Green tea’s epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) allegedly helps spur fat loss. Yet the truth is that a single cup of green tea contains a mere 50 mg worth of EGCG. A study examining the effects of green tea enriched with catechin found those who drank green tea with an especially high concentration of the antioxidant lost nearly three pounds more than control groups across a 90-day span. However, the amount of tea one would have to consume to achieve such a result is absurdly large. One would need to consume 18 cups of the tea each day to enjoy such weight loss benefits. The study found that drinking the equivalent of 13 cups of green tea per day lost just slightly more weight than the control group.
A separate study published in the British Journal of Nutrition determined green tea extract with 600 mg of EGCG (equal to 12 cups per day) did not alter metabolic rate. Nor did green tea extract have an impact on the metabolism. A meta-analysis performed in 2012 examined nearly 20 studies on green tea’s alleged effect on weight loss. It was determined green tea caused a very minor “non-significant” weight loss in obese or overweight adults.
Green Tea Benefits the Skin
Green tea’s antioxidant properties help the skin look healthy and young. This is precisely why so many skincare product manufacturers infuse green tea into their skincare solutions. Green tea combats free radicals and subsequently slows the aging process. Green tea can even rejuvenate aged skin cells. Numerous studies have also found that green tea might help ward off skin cancer by combating a harmful enzyme.
The conclusion is that green tea is chalk full of healthy properties. The scam rating has come from major food and beverage companies trying to profit off of the drink’s newfound popularity. The green tea drinks that have flooded the market in recent years by big name companies rarely contain any of the nutrients and health properties that the original drink contained. The bottom line is be careful where you get your green tea from—if it’s made by a major retailer in the U.S. its most likely bogus.
~ Health Scams Exposed
