Green Tea dates back over 5000 years in China. It has been used in China, Japan, and other regions of the world through the course of time. It has been used in ceremonies and customs in different areas of the world. It has caught on in the U.S. for many different reasons too.

There has been talk and information all over the internet and in books that indicate green tea has different health related properties that may be useful to many of us. Many of these properties have been known to come from the ingredient epigallocatechin gallate which is an antioxidant. Some say it is used to reduce arthritis, increase air flow to the lungs for asthma, increases alertness, and may reduce chances of getting specific types of cancer. Many have even indicated that it increases the metabolism. This is very interesting to me. I know I like to hear about the positive attributes of natural substances like Green Tea. They are cheaper than prescription drugs and in many cases seem to be safer.

There are many sources on Green Tea that can be found on the internet, medical journals, and remedy books. One thing many have in common is that Green Tea is a natural supplement that may provide health benefits.

Green Tea contains about 50 milligrams of caffeine per cup. This depends on how strong you brew your tea and how large your cup is. This is less caffeine than a cup of coffee, but none the less, it does contain caffeine. The caffeine, I would venture to say, is the reason we may see increases in alertness and possibly an increase in metabolism causing some weight loss. Caffeine will do that to people. There is nothing wrong with those effects as long as you don't have any other that may cause problems when you drink Green Tea.

Please keep in mind that there are drawbacks to Green Tea. Pregnant women shouldn't take green tea because of the caffeine and related problems with the fetus which is indicated in some medical journals. People who are sensitive to caffeine should also be careful.

Green Tea may prove to be an important herbal supplement over time as more studies are done and proven in the medical community. If you don't have any problems with it and you enjoy drinking tea, do so, you may gain other benefits.

Always check with a physician prior to starting a supplementation program.