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By: Marcus
Stout
Tea has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. But, as much as
it’s been relied on for healing, we are really just beginning to
understand all the ways that green tea can protect health and prevent
disease. Research has been performed on green tea’s effects on many
different diseases, and the results have been astounding.
According to a report by the UK Council on Tea, here is an overview of
the diseases which green tea is believed to prevent or treat.
High cholesterol
Green tea seems to have the ability to lower LDL cholesterol (the bad
cholesterol). Plus, it seems to prevent the oxidation of LDL
cholesterol. Oxidation causes the LDLs to harden and turn into arterial
plaque that clogs our arteries.
Green tea has also been shown to inhibit the formation of abnormal
blood clots (which are the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes).
One study that followed patients who had already had a heart attack
showed that those patients who drank green tea recovered from their
heart attack more easily and had less chance of suffering a second
attack.
Green tea may also contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is
another contributor to heart disease.
Cancer
Asian countries have a much lower incidence of cancer than the rest of
the world, suggesting that those who are lifelong tea drinkers may be
much less at risk for developing cancer than those who don’t drink tea.
However, new research is showing that drinking tea as part of your
cancer treatment may prolong your life. Tea’s anti-oxidants have been
shown to inhibit the growth of tumors – so even if you’ve already been
diagnosed with a tumor, you may be able to prevent its growth.
In addition, another study showed that women with breast cancer who
began consuming 4-5 cups of tea each day lived longer than those breast
cancer patients who did not drink tea.
Specific cancers that seem to be prevented by green tea include
prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer and
cancers of the digestive system. It is even thought to be able to
prevent skin cancer when applied topically.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Tea’s anti-oxidants seem to protect brain cells, making them less
likely to be affected by the chemicals that affect cells and lead to
Alzheimer’s. In addition, because the number one risk factor for
Alzheimer’s is aging, green tea’s ability to reduce premature aging
could mean that tea drinkers may have bodies that are far younger than
their age implies. This would mean that they would be likely to suffer
Alzheimer’s at a much later age, if at all.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease currently affects 1.5 million Americans, and
another 60,000 will be diagnosed with the disease this year. Most
people who develop Parkinson’s do so after the age of 65, but about 15%
of patients are under the age of 50.
Recently, scientists have discovered a relationship between green tea
and the prevention of Parkinson’s disease. Green tea seems to have a
positive affect on the transport of dopamine in the brain, and this is
good news for the prevention of Parkinson’s.
Dopamine is created in an area of the brain called the substantia
nigra. From there, it travels to the part of the brain called the
striatum. However, sometimes the transport gets disrupted and some of
the dopamine goes back to the substantia nigra instead of making its
way to the striatum. This causes the striatum to be dopamine deficient,
which is what leads to the tremors and muscle rigidity that comes with
Parkinson’s.
It appears that green tea’s polyphenols block the backward flow of
dopamine so that the transport to the striatum can continue
uninterrupted; ensuring that the striatum gets the dopamine it needs to
make muscles function smoothly and efficiently. This knowledge may lead
to the key to preventing Parkinson’s.
However, it is important to understand that an altered flow of dopamine
is not the only problem in Parkinson’s. Cells that produce dopamine in
the body actually die off in Parkinson’s patients, making them unable
to produce enough dopamine. It’s unclear whether green tea will have
any effect on preventing the death of dopamine producing cells in the
brain.
Even if green tea is not able to prevent or cure Parkinson’s, it may at
least be effective in helping to restore some muscle function in those
afflicted with the disease, if it can help ensure that the maximum
amount of dopamine available travels to the proper portion of the brain.
General Aging
Green tea’s anti-oxidants seem to have the ability to keep our bodies
young. It has even been shown to restore moisture and elasticity in the
skin when applied topically. For this reason, it has begun to show up
as an ingredient in beauty products. This ability to keep our bodies
from aging as quickly is sure to prove beneficial in helping us live
long and healthy lives.
So, as you can see, green tea holds much potential in the world of
medicine. As research continues, we may find thousands of ways that
green tea can prevent and treat diseases. In the meantime, doesn’t it
make sense to add green tea to your diet and take advantage of the many
health benefits it offers?
About the Author: Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea
Company. For more information about tea,
green
tea and wu
long tea go to www.goldenmoontea.com
Article Source: NewAgeArticles.com
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