Health Benefits of Japanese Green Tea
You may be hearing a lot about tea in the news lately, and you may even have trouble keeping track of all of the new information. More and more researchers are finding remarkable health benefits associated with drinking tea, specifically with drinking Japanese green tea.
What is Japanese Green Tea?
Japanese Green Tea comes from the Uji region of Kyoto in Japan. Like all tea, it is made from the plant Camellia sinensis, but unlike the leaves of black and oolong teas, the tea leaves in Japanese green tea are lightly steamed instead of roasted, which is why they preserve their green color. This tea is sometimes called Ocho, and it is a very popular tea in Japan.
The Science
Japanese green tea, like many other teas, contains many chemicals with properties beneficial to human health. It contains a powerful antioxidant called EGCG, an amino acid called L-theanine, several minerals including chromium, and many other powerful chemicals and compounds. These chemicals have been studied both independently and grouped together as they would be in tea. Some of the effects could be isolated to specific compounds, while others seemed to result in some way from the combination that is present in tea.
Because of the steaming process used in Japanese green tea, many believe that the antioxidants present in this type of tea are more powerful than those in more heavily processed English teas.
The Benefits
Because of its antioxidant properties, Japanese green tea is very promising in preventing and slowing the growth of a number of types of cancer. As a preventative measure, two cups a day are recommended. To reduce the size of tumors, higher doses are probably necessary.
Japanese green tea has also been shown to increase metabolism. This may make it easier for many people to lose weight because they can force their body to burn more calories, simply by switching from coffee to Japanese green tea. Tea also contains strong antimicrobial properties. This can help to kill bacteria in the mouth, improving bad breath and preventing gingivitis and more serious gum diseases.
Recent studies have also shown tea to be helpful in boosting the immune system. This can be incredibly beneficial to everyone, but even more so for people with HIV or other diseases that suppress the immune system.
Possible Drawbacks
Japanese green tea does contain caffeine, which can cause heart palpitations and a jittery feeling in some people. Generally this only occurs in those with high blood pressure or existing heart conditions, and can be alleviated by limiting the intake to two cups of caffeinated Japanese green tea per day.
