Drink Green Tea for Your Health

Credit: Kanko*

Green tea contains powerful polyphenols

Green tea has been enjoyed as a beverage and used for medicinal purposes in Asia for almost 5,000 years.

Unlike black or oolong teas, green tea is made from the unfermented leaves of the Camellia sinensis shrub, which allows the tea to retain high concentrations of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants are important in that they are known to help neutralize the effects of free radicals – compounds that can damage, alter or even destroy cells – in the body.

The high antioxidant content in green tea may help:

• Protect against the development of certain types of cancers (e.g., bladder, colon, esophagus, stomach and pancreas)
• Aid in the recovery from heart attacks
• Keep arteries clear
• Strengthen the immune system
• Reduce inflammation (associated with arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease)
• Sharpen concentration
• Boost metabolism

Including a cup or two of green tea in your diet may play a positive role in supporting your health. Enjoy it in moderation – green tea does contain a significant amount of caffeine, so limit your consumption as you would coffee.

Originally published in Wellness Matters, Canada Wide Media’s quarterly newsletter on health and wellness.