Over the last few years, green tea has garnered much attention for the possibility that it has many health benefits. Green tea has been used in Asian cultures for centuries to prevent and treat all sorts of diseases. This, coupled with the lower incidence of many serious diseases in Asian cultures, has led researchers to seriously study the health benefits of green tea. One of the areas where green tea may have real health benefits is in preventing and treating heart disease. For example, Japanese men have one of the lowest incidences of heart disease in the world, and the Japanese are some of the most faithful drinkers of green tea; often consuming 8-10 cups per day. This information is even more compelling when you consider that nearly 75% of Japanese men smoke. Green tea has been shown to be effective in lowering LDL cholesterol. In addition, it inhibits the formation of abnormal blood clots. Blood clots, or thrombosis, are the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. You may find doctors beginning to prescribe green tea in addition to exercise, dietary changes and medications for lowering cholesterol. In addition to its ability to lower cholesterol and inhibit blood clots, it also appears that the polyphenols in tea prevent the oxidation of low density lipoproteins (ldls). This is the substance that causes arterial plaque. This plaque sticks to your arteries, restricting blood flow to your heart (artherosclerosis). The plaque can also cause blood clots to form. Drinking green tea seems to prevent the buildup and reduce the risk of getting blood clots, too. There have been a number of studies that have supported the idea that green tea is healthy for the heart. A study from the Center for Preventive Medicine at Kyushu University in Japan showed that among 302 men and 210 women, there was a significant difference in the level of atherosclerosis between the male participants who drank green tea and those who did not.* The difference was not significant in women. The difference was noticeable in participants who drank as little as 2-3 cups per day, but was even more noticeable in those who drank 4 or more cups per day. This study concluded that green tea may be effective at preventing atherosclerosis, at least in men. In addition to its preventive properties, there is also evidence that green tea may help patients who already have heart disease. A study from Harvard Medical School showed that tea drinkers among heart attack patients might survive longer than those who drink something else. In this study, participants who drank at least 14 cups of tea per week were 44 percent less likely to die than those who didn't drink tea; moderate tea drinkers (those who consumed fewer than 14 cups per week) were 28 percent less likely to die for up to four years after than those who didn't drink tea. Even the Journal of the American Heart Association has come on board. In 2001, they reported that consumption of green tea is likely to be beneficial to patients with heart disease. And, the Journal of Nutrition reported in 2003 that green tea was known to protect against heart disease and lower cholesterol. Of course, the research will continue, and we will learn more about the benefits of green tea for heart disease and other health issues. One thing seems for sure; green tea does have healthy benefits, primarily due to its powerful anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are one of our bodies' best defense mechanisms because they fight free radicals that are created during the process of converting the food we eat into energy. Left unchecked, free radicals damage our cells and DNA. The cell and DNA damage caused by free radicals cause us to age more quickly, weaken our immune system and make us more susceptible to a host of serious diseases, including cancer. But, anti-oxidants combat these free radicals, ridding our bodies of them. Fruits and vegetables, as well as green tea are good anti-oxidant sources, and can help us fight free radicals regularly if we make them a part of our daily life. It's important to ensure that if you're drinking tea for your health that it is green tea rather than traditional black tea. While black tea is a healthy beverage, it is not as healthy as green tea. This is because black tea goes through a fermentation process that changes the anti-oxidants from their original state. When this happens, some of the health benefits are lost. So, drink up. Though there is more research to be done it does seem certain that drinking green tea is good for you. With just a few cups of this delicious beverage each day, you may be extending your life and making it healthier, too!
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