The Healing Benefits of Green Tea
There’s nothing like a soothing cup of tea to melt away the stresses of your day, and studies have found that tea – particularly green tea – may also have healing benefits. The scientific evidence is strongest regarding green tea's role in the prevention of cancer and heart disease, but some research suggests green tea may also benefit other conditions. Even if you’re not a tea lover, you may want to sip green tea for its potential healing benefits.
All types of tea come from the Camellia sinensis plant, but green tea is made from the plant’s unfermented leaves, which reportedly contain the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Antioxidants, such as polyphenols, appear to neutralize free radicals that may contribute to cancer development and growth. Clinical studies have found evidence that green tea may help prevent or slow the development of breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, gastric and skin cancers. MayoClinic.com indicates that green tea’s cancer-fighting properties may be due to its high concentration of a type of polyphenol known as catechins.
Because free radicals have also been implicated in the development of heart disease, the polyphenols in green tea may prevent or reduce the heart damage free radicals cause. In a 2011 analysis of 13 studies of green tea drinkers reported by Harvard Medical School, those who drank the most green tea had a 28 percent lower risk of heart disease than those who drank the least green tea. One possible reason: Green tea may lower cholesterol and triglycerides, reports MayoClinic.com, and high levels of these fats in the bloodstream increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Other Healing Benefits
Green tea may destroy oral bacteria that contribute to dental decay and may also prevent plaque formation, according to MayoClinic.com. Several animal and human studies have found evidence that the catechins in green tea may help treat viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver; other studies show that men who drink 10 cups of green tea a day are less likely to develop liver problems. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that green tea may help heal inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis. Additionally, green tea may help prevent or slow the progression of Type 1 diabetes, sometimes known as juvenile diabetes.
Green tea can be brewed using loose leaves or tea bags. For maximum healing benefits, drink it freshly brewed and allow the tea to steep for three to five minutes to bring out its catechins, recommends Harvard Women’s Health Watch. Decaffeinated, bottled teas and instant teas have less of these healing compounds. Although green tea is usually brewed and consumed as a beverage, green tea extracts can also be taken in supplement form.
Jan Sheehan is an award-winning medical and nutrition writer, having entered journalism in 1992. She is a former contributing editor for "Parents" magazine. She has also written nutrition articles for "Self," "Fitness," "Ladies' Home Journal," "Health" and other magazines. Sheehan has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Purdue University.