green tea and health

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Green tea and health - a cup of green tea
enhances health -

[Green tea prevents cancer] [Green tea restricts the increase of blood cholesterol] [Green tea controls high blood pressure] [Green tea lowers the blood sugar level] [Green tea suppresses aging] [Green tea refreshes the body] [Green tea deters food poisoning] [Green tea stops cavities] [Green tea fights virus] [Green tea acts as a functional food]

The Japanese custom of drinking green tea came from China about 800 AD. The use of tea started when Buddhist monks, who had gone to China for study, returned to Japan bringing tea with them as a medicinal beverage. In the Kamakura era (1191-1333), the monk Eisai stressed the beneficial effects of tea in his book Maintaining Health by Drinking Tea(1211): "Tea is a miraculous medicine for the maintenance of health. Tea an extraordinary power to prolong life. Anywhere a person cultivates long life will follow. In ancient and modern times, tea is the elixir that creates the mountain-dwelling immortal." From this passage we can see that green tea has from early times been highly valued as a powerful medication. But in recent years research into the effects of green tea has progressed so far it can now provide scientific confirmation for the legendary saying that "Tea is a miraculous medicine for the maintenance health." It is becoming increasingly clear that green tea has a broad efficacy in preventing disease. The remainder of this Health Pages will introduce you to the main points of the research summarized in the "The Components and Healthy Effects of Green Tea." (Table 1) 1) has tea, of

Table 1
The Components and Healthy Effects of Green Tea

Components of Green Tea	Healthy Effects
Catechins (Main component)	Reduces incidence of cancer Reduces tumors Reduces mutations Reduces oxidation by active oxygen Lowers blood cholesterol Inhibits increase of blood pressure Inhibits increase of blood sugar Kills bacteria Kills influenza virus Fights cariogenic bacteria Prevents halitosis
Caffeine	Stimulates wakefulness (removes fatigue and sleepiness) Acts as diuretic
Vitamin C	Reduces stress Prevents flu
Vitamin B Complex	Aids carbohydrate metabolism
r-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA)	Lowers blood pressure
Flavonoids	Strengthen blood vessel walls Prevents halitosis
Polysaccharides	Lowers blood sugar
Fluoride	Prevents cavities
Vitamin E	Acts as antioxidant and regulates aging
Theanine (a kind of amino acid)	Gives green tea its delicious taste

Green tea prevents cancer

Green tea restricts the increase of blood cholesterol

Green tea controls high blood pressure

Green tea lowers the blood sugar level

Green tea suppresses aging

Green tea refreshes the body

Green tea deters food poisoning

Green tea stops cavities

Green tea fights virus

Green tea acts as a functional food

1) I.0guni and V.Hara, "Green tea has many medicinal activities for preventing disease such as cancer, cardio-vascular
diseases and diabetes" . (published by The Chunichi-shinbun, Nagoya, Japan) , PP.1-239 (1990).

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Green tea and health - a cup of green tea enhances health -

Table 1 The Components and Healthy Effects of Green Tea

Green tea and health - a cup of green tea
enhances health -

Table 1
The Components and Healthy Effects of Green Tea