Tea has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. But, as much as it's been relied on for healing, we are really just beginning to understand all the ways that green tea can protect health and prevent disease. Research has been performed on green tea's effects on many different diseases, and the results have been astounding.



According to a report by the UK Council on Tea, here is an overview of the diseases which green tea is believed to prevent or treat.

High cholesterol

Green tea seems to have the ability to lower LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). Plus, it seems to prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Oxidation causes the LDLs to harden and turn into arterial plaque that clogs our arteries.

Green tea has also been shown to inhibit the formation of abnormal blood clots (which are the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes). One study that followed patients who had already had a heart attack showed that those patients who drank green tea recovered from their heart attack more easily and had less chance of suffering a second attack.

Green tea may also contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is another contributor to heart disease.

Cancer

Asian countries have a much lower incidence of cancer than the rest of the world, suggesting that those who are lifelong tea drinkers may be much less at risk for developing cancer than those who don't drink tea.

However, new research is showing that drinking tea as part of your cancer treatment may prolong your life. Tea's anti-oxidants have been shown to inhibit the growth of tumors - so even if you've already been diagnosed with a tumor, you may be able to prevent its growth.

In addition, another study showed that women with breast cancer who began consuming 4-5 cups of tea each day lived longer than those breast cancer patients who did not drink tea.

Specific cancers that seem to be prevented by green tea include prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer and cancers of the digestive system. It is even thought to be able to prevent skin cancer when applied topically.

Alzheimer's Disease

Tea's anti-oxidants seem to protect brain cells, making them less likely to be affected by the chemicals that affect cells and lead to Alzheimer's. In addition, because the number one risk factor for Alzheimer's is aging, green tea's ability to reduce premature aging could mean that tea drinkers may have bodies that are far younger than their age implies. This would mean that they would be likely to suffer Alzheimer's at a much later age, if at all.

Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease currently affects 1.5 million Americans, and another 60,000 will be diagnosed with the disease this year. Most people who develop Parkinson's do so after the age of 65, but about 15% of patients are under the age of 50.

Recently, scientists have discovered a relationship between green tea and the prevention of Parkinson's disease. Green tea seems to have a positive affect on the transport of dopamine in the brain, and this is good news for the prevention of Parkinson's.

Dopamine is created in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. From there, it travels to the part of the brain called the striatum. However, sometimes the transport gets disrupted and some of the dopamine goes back to the substantia nigra instead of making its way to the striatum. This causes the striatum to be dopamine deficient, which is what leads to the tremors and muscle rigidity that comes with Parkinson's.

It appears that green tea's polyphenols block the backward flow of dopamine so that the transport to the striatum can continue uninterrupted; ensuring that the striatum gets the dopamine it needs to make muscles function smoothly and efficiently. This knowledge may lead to the key to preventing Parkinson's.

However, it is important to understand that an altered flow of dopamine is not the only problem in Parkinson's. Cells that produce dopamine in the body actually die off in Parkinson's patients, making them unable to produce enough dopamine. It's unclear whether green tea will have any effect on preventing the death of dopamine producing cells in the brain.

Even if green tea is not able to prevent or cure Parkinson's, it may at least be effective in helping to restore some muscle function in those afflicted with the disease, if it can help ensure that the maximum amount of dopamine available travels to the proper portion of the brain.

General Aging

Green tea's anti-oxidants seem to have the ability to keep our bodies young. It has even been shown to restore moisture and elasticity in the skin when applied topically. For this reason, it has begun to show up as an ingredient in beauty products. This ability to keep our bodies from aging as quickly is sure to prove beneficial in helping us live long and healthy lives.

So, as you can see, green tea holds much potential in the world of medicine. As research continues, we may find thousands of ways that green tea can prevent and treat diseases. In the meantime, doesn't it make sense to add green tea to your diet and take advantage of the many health benefits it offers?