ISFMA the Blog

Green tea is a favorite, and traditional, drink in Asian countries and has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine as a standard remedy for a variety of common complaints. While widely known about and used throughout Asia, the west has only recently become aware of the benefits of drinking green tea and it is now becoming more popular.

Green tea is a leaf tea which is made from steeping the dried leaves of the Camellia sinesis plant, which is a shrub that is native to the countries of Asia, and it is known as the “virgin of teas” because it is the least processed of the Asian teas.

green tea extract
Many believe that because it is not processed as much as black tea, another common tea in Asia, that this is why it has more potent health benefits that other teas. Black tea is from leaves that have been dried, roasted and fermented and therefore lose much of it’s medicinal properties.

Because of its delicate, non-processed nature, herbal tea should be steeped in water that is below the boiling point so as not to destroy the chemical components that provide the unique health benefits from the concentrated antioxidants.

In most areas where green tea is a traditional drink, milk and sugar are not added. However, since its’ introduction to the other hemisphere, putting in such additives is more common, and it comes down to whatever makes it so that people drink it on a regular basis so that they can enjoy the health benefits it brings from regular consumption.

tea pots
Green tea is known to be loaded with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), which is a powerful anti-oxidant. It also contains rich bioflavonoids that can performance, and it also contains catechins that are known to have many positive effects on health and healing, and these benefits can also be attained by looking for the many forms of green tea extract that are now available.

These components are thought to be the factors responsible for the many reported health advantages such as lowering cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease, preventing cancer, eliminating acne, increasing immune system function, and improving memory, curing various infections, alleviating rheumatoid arthritis, and even preventing cavities and tooth decay. Many people who drink the Chinese tea also report enjoying an improved sense of well-being when regularly drinking with your favourite tea ceremony.

There have also been reports that it have been able to help lessen some of symptoms of Parkinson’s. In a study published in February 2006 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition it was reported that a “higher consumption of green tea is associated with a lower prevalence of cognitive impairment in humans.”

leaf tea
In addition to all of these wonderful benefits, green tea is also believed to cause an increase in metabolism that helps lower cholesterol and also supports weight loss, and because it is a natural component it is more often found in almost every weight loss remedy on the market.

The main results from studies have shown that green tea inhibits the release of insulin, which means less sugar is turned into fat, and it also helps to keep people’s appetites in check. All of this combines to make green tea a good, low risk, way to help address weight problems.