Japanese Green Tea Health Implications

There has been increasing research in recent years into the potential benefits of tea on human health and perhaps you've already read some of the articles that have been appearing in various magazines. Ever since tea was discovered in China, it has been thought that tea has wide-ranging health benefits, and now modern research seems to be proving these ancient beliefs. we are in the process of compiling research and dissertations from both eastern and western sources

Asides from the obvious benefits that tea is an all-natural product and is virtually calorie-free (if taken without milk or sugar), recent research suggests that tea:

Reduces the risk of cancer,
Improves cardiovascular health and reduce LDL "bad" cholesterol levels in the blood,
Contribute to oral health by strengthening tool enamel (tea naturally contains fluoride) and by inhibiting plaque-causing bacteria in the mouth,
Increases bone mineral density (BMD),
Boosts the immune system by increasing the amount of white blood cells in the body,
Aids in digestion and improve overall digestive health.

Tea is made up of three major chemical components - polyphenols (polyphenols in tea are called flavonoids), caffeine and essential oils, the first two of which are responsible for tea's health benefits. The polyphenols in tea are thought to have antioxidant properties, helping to neutralize the free radicals that can cause cancer, and to help inhibit the absorption of cholesterol into the blood stream. The caffeine in tea acts as a gentle stimulant to the heart and circulatory system (helping to keep arteries soft and prevent atherosclerosis), increases concentration, alertness and accuracy, enhances the senses of taste and smell, and stimulates the digestive juices and the metabolism (helping to eliminate toxins from the body).

A serving of tea usually contains less than half the caffeine of coffee (or 40 mg). Actual caffeine levels are dependent upon the specific blends and strength of the tea brew. In general, green tea has less caffeine than oolong and oolong has less caffeine than black tea. Tea bags, which are made up of the smallest leaf particles, release more caffeine all at once, while loose leaf tea releases less more slowly.