One of the growing trends in the United States as of late has been that of the health conscious consumer. With increased attention being brought to the alarming rates of obese people in the States and knowledge of the devastating effects that an obese population can bring (death, disease, etc.), more and more people have been looking for ways to get in shape, stay in shape, and to live long, healthy, happy lives. One product that has been found to aid in these endeavors would be green tea. With all of the hoopla around green tea, many people have gathered that it is healthy, but yet many still do not know how or why it is seen as so special.
Green tea has been deemed as a traditional staple beverage and medicinal ingredient amongst Asian communities, and many know that the concept of brewing tea first developed in Asian communities. However, not many are aware that many teas have their origin in China. In fact, the concept of brewing tea in general developed in China. It is believed that brewing tea developed from Chinese cultural practices and has been accredited to both religious and royal origins. Both the Chinese and the Japanese communities hold sacred tea ceremonies, but the Japanese developed theirs after Japanese monks traveled to China and learned the Chinese tea ceremony rituals; they saw it as part of their efforts to embrace the Chinese culture.
Though there are several different kinds of teas, black tea has become most popular in the United States, while green and oolong teas are beginning to grow in popularity as well. Though all of these teas are called by different names, they all come from the same plant, which is called the camellia sinensis plant. Though they are native to the mountainous region of southwest China, camellia sinensis plants are grown throughout Asia and in parts of the Middle East and Africa. Camellia sinensis plants are well known for the polyphenols that they possess, which are known to possess potent antioxidants, the most studied being epigapigallocatechin gallate, otherwise known as EGCG. These teas also possess alkaloids, which give the teas stimulating effects.
What differentiates the three types of teas is the process that they go through to reach their final state. Oolong tea is partially fermented and black tea is completely fermented, while green tea is not fermented. The more the tea is fermented, the more polyphenols it losses and the more caffeinated it becomes, making it less healthy. Green tea is made by sun-drying the leaves, which keeps in most of the nutrients and then crushing them into the powdered form. Therefore, since green tea is the form that is not fermented, it has the highest count of polyphenols and the least amount of caffeine, making it the healthiest.
Green tea has been found to have several health benefits. Some, such as weight loss and preventing cancer are well known, while others might be surprising. For example, green tea is used in candy to prevent gum disease and in ointments to treat genital warts. People also use green tea bags to reduce puffiness under the eyes and on the skin to soothe sunburn. Drinking green tea has been accredited with helping individuals with losing weight and preventing cancer, as previously stated, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering cholesterol, controlling blood sugar, reducing inflammation due to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and protecting the liver against toxic substances.
Even with all of its positive effects, clinicians warn that green tea has its negatives, including leading to symptoms such as dizziness, irritability, insomnia, vomiting, and even mania. But these are traditionally caused by drinking too much green tea or drinking it in conjunction with different medications. It is always a good idea to consult a physician when considering adding green tea into a health routine.
