One of the most important reasons that green tea exhibits such good health promoting properties is that it is endowed with a large number of antioxidant compounds. Of these, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most important and is unique to green tea.
However these compounds have beneficial effects in addition to those provided by their antioxidant properties. Other non-antioxidant compounds in green tea make a significant contribution to its cancer preventing properties through anti-inflammatory and other properties.
One of the few placebo controlled clinical studies to look at the effects of green tea on cancer was carried out on men who had early cancer of the prostate gland. After one year, only 3% of those taking green tea extract showed evidence of disease progression while 30% of those in the placebo-taking control group had developed signs of more advanced disease.
A couple of other very recent studies have thrown up some interesting results that show why green tea helps prevent cancer in some people and not in others.
EGCG and other catechin flavonoids, although abundant in green tea, are vulnerable to metabolic breakdown once they have entered the blood stream. The enzyme responsible for the metabolism of green tea is more active in some people than in others. The difference in enzyme activity is governed by an individual's genetic make up.
Those individuals who express a gene that codes for high enzyme activity, break down EGCG and other green tea catechins far faster than those whose genome codes for low enzyme activity. A consequence of the greater enzymatic activity of those in the first group is a reduced bioavailability of EGCG compared to those in the second group.
A survey of green tea drinkers found that women who are in the second, low-enzyme activity group derived considerable protection against breast cancer. While those women who fell into the high enzyme activity group failed to derive any protective benefits against breast cancer as their bodies destroyed the EGCG before it could do any good.
The increased activity of a well known peptide in the body, angiotensin II has been implicated in the production of free radicals that, in turn, aggravate the formation of breast cancer.
Angiotensin II is converted from its precursor by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Women who have a genome that codes for high ACE activity produce more angiotensin II than those whose genotypes code for low ACE activity. The raised levels of angiotensin II that are associated with higher than normal levels of ACE, are responsible for the production of cancer-causing free radicals.
A recent survey found that those women who have the high activity ACE genotype derive substantial protection against breast cancer if they drink green tea regularly.
The reason is that EGCG and other antioxidant compounds in green tea neutralize the increased numbers of free radicals produced by those women who, because of their genetic make up, have higher than normal levels of ACE and therfore higher than normal levels of free radical-producing angiotensin II.
Drinking four to six cups of tea day is unlikely to cause any adverse effects and provides adequate quantities of EGCG and other polyphenols. However caffeine-free green tea is obtainable for those who avoid drinking beverages containing caffeine. To optimize the beneficial effects of green tea it should be taken between meals. The reason being that EGCG has a higher bioavailability when green tea is taken on an empty stomach.
As with many other valuable plant species, green tea has shown that its principal value to human health is as a preventive rather than a curative agent.
The research into this important beverage has also demonstrated how phytochemicals in our diets can compensate for deficiencies in our genetic make up. These results and studies into other valuable plant foods like spices show that, even if we have genes that make us susceptible to cancer, plant derived compounds can protect us against the consequences of those inherited weaknesses.
Some of the evidence presented here shows that green tea does not necessarily help to prevent cancer in everyone who drinks it. It does not mean, however, that compounds in other plants will not do so. As our genomes differ from one person to another, so do our individual responses to disease, food and drugs. In order to maximize the health benefits that plant compounds can provide, we need to drink green tea and other beneficial beverages and eat a wide range of phytonutrient-rich plant foods.
Green tea offers catechins which have been identified today as the key element in fighting off toxins that would contribute towards leading to cancer. Some people have considered it as something that would simply be relying on fiction or here say but the truth is that herbal medicine will always have their adverse effects and green tea happens to possess them today.
Green Tea Extracts known as Catechins
Green Tea extracts trace their origins in China where most herbal and unorthodox means of medicinal attributes can be found. As it stands today, green tea has taken over a clear lead in trying to develop new means of being able to fight of known diseases such as cancer. Cancer feeds on toxins taken in by the human body and it is thus the duty of catechins to fight of and cleanse the body of such food intake.
Leading Manufacturers and Origins
China leads the race for the development of green tea, mainly because the herbal extracts are immediately available in this part of the world. Japan also has its share of green tea extracts today, making both countries a good source for educating and finding more about this medicinal herb that aims to provide the necessary assistance in the field of cancer and other related diseases harmful to the human anatomy.
The Spread of Health Awareness
The obvious awareness of people all over the world today is that of emphasizing on the value of health. Such has been the aim of green tea or Camellia Sinensis as it is more commonly known. Supplements, health cleansers and other proper health maintenance practices have been at the forefront of such calls for new ways and innovations to attend to health issues today.
A Business Opportunity in Retail
Green tea has also become a business aspect in the area of new product development in the sense that people would manufacture the said green tea drink into bottled beverages and make them immediately available to the consumers aching to know where they could get sensible and quality made drinks. Hence, the green tea fever has been widespread all over the world, doing its part in adhering towards the world's call for alternative medicinal means to fight of dreaded diseases that inject harmful toxins from different food intake and exposure today.
Eliminating the Body Toxins
Toxin release is something that green tea is known to do. But a word of caution. It is easy to lay claim that green tea is available and can be manufactured by anyone. This is why it would be best to be alert through reading studies and research as done by medical professionals all over the world. The presence of green tea ingredients in the usual pet bottles to which most have been identified today would entail studying the nutritional facts found in them. The ingredients and composition of the said brew will be a good way to determine the actual contents of the green tea variant as offered in the market today.
A Different Type of Taste
Another aspect for consideration is that green tea may not necessarily be ideal for the taste buds of a person. Similar to the unwanted medicine taste that most people would need to consume to get the proper medical attention for known illnesses, green tea holds the same. To some people, the taste may not be immediately accepted but as other products, it grows in people especially if the mental aspect of its benefits would be taken into account.
The taste of green tea is really something that would inform people of its presence in them. Possessing the necessary oxidant agents to cleanse the body of the toxins, the catechins buckle down to work once green tea finds its way into the digestive system of the body. Internal cleansing of the toxins is the immediate recourse and this is where green tea consumption does its work.
The whole belief in the benefits and magic that green tea provides is similar to believing in the good that herbal medicine has provided in the world today. People will have their reservations from such advancements but with medical breakthroughs and research to back up the claims, all that green tea needs is to find ways to make them available to the consumers who require them. The obvious awareness created by health all over the world is a key instigator in allowing people to be more conscious in keeping their bodies clear of unwanted toxins that are covered by each green tea extract found in most green tea drinks available today.
Both Dr Keith Scott & Roberto Bell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dr Keith Scott has sinced written about articles on various topics from Build Muscle, Health and Fitness. Dr Keith Scott is a medical doctor with a special interest in so-called "non-nutritive" plant compounds. He has written several books including the ground breaking, "Medicinal Seasonings, The Healing Power of Spices" and "Natural Home Pharmacy". Download. Dr Keith Scott's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.
Roberto Bell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Food and Drink, Health and Colon Cleanse. Read more about , ,. Roberto Bell's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.