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Green Tea - Not Only is it Good but its Good For You

While green tea has been used in eastern cultures for over 4,000 years, only recently has it become popular in western culture. A main reason for its popularity it's medicinal properties. And while it contains to grow in popularity it has yet to reach the status that coffee enjoys. Hopefully the following information will help change that. Here are just 6 of several health benefits that green tea provides.

* Preserve your smile. Who doesn't love a great smile? There are many products on the market that offer a great smile. But did you realize that it could be a simple as consuming green tea? It contains bacteria fighting agents that help reduce and kill plaque production. Less plaque means you have cleaner, healthier teeth and gums. Your dentist will be proud. Another bonus is that it also kills the bacteria responsible for bad breath. And we all love fresh breath!

* Prevent cancer. EGCG is a powerful antioxidant found in many teas, but is found in higher concentrations in green tea. Antioxidants combat chemicals that are naturally produced in the body that can cause cancer and other health issues. Studies have shown one substance in green tea can slow the growth of cancer cells. While research hasn’t been done on every type of cancer, green tea has shown that it may reduce the risk of one cancer up to 60 percent. It has also been shown it may reduce the reoccurrence of certain cancers.

* Promote a healthy heart. The EGCG in Green Tea has been shown to lower total cholesterol levels. Specifically, it lowered “bad” cholesterol more than it does “good” cholesterol. EGCG also helps prevent heart attacks and strokes by suppressing the production of blood clots. Green tea also helps to lower levels of stress hormones in the body, leaving you more relaxed. Excessive stress can lead to heart damage as well as being damaging to your overall health. Drinking green tea could help keep your heart beating a lot longer and a lot stronger.

* Boost your immune system. Not only does green tea help fight bacteria in your mouth, it can also help fight diseases throughout your body. Green tea contains an amino acid that helps fight bacteria and improve the overall immune response in your body. If you regularly drink green tea, you may find you get sick less frequently. Companies may start replacing coffee pots with tea pots to reduce absenteeism!

* Ease rheumatoid arthritis. Green tea is not only beneficial in easing the symptoms of this painful disease; it has also been shown to help prevent you from getting it in the first place. In China, where more people drink green tea regularly, there is a much lower rate of rheumatoid arthritis.

* Lose weight. When you eat a lot of carbohydrates, your body responds by producing a lot of insulin. This leaves you tired and craving more food. It's a vicious cycle that can be hard to break. Green tea has been shown to help maintain blood sugar at lower levels so you don’t produce as much insulin. As a result, this can help you eat less and lose weight. You also won't feel as lethargic. Studies have also found that green tea can speed up how fast your body's metabolism of certain foods. And the faster your metabolize food, the faster you slim down.

While these are all great health benefits, it is important to note that drinking green tea occasionally probably won't have a big impact on weight loss. Many of the studies that produced results had participants drinking up to 10 glasses of green tea a day! If you find you’re just can’t drink that much green tea, there are supplements available that are green tea based. They are also many beverages on the market that contain green tea only in lower levels. However, the best option is always the real thing in it's most natural form. So next time you go to make a pot of coffee, consider opting for a pot of green tea, instead. It could be the first step towards a healthier life.