TeaGreen Tea Scientific Research
You have no doubt heard by now of all the possible health benefits of green tea. However, have you ever wondered if all these claims have any scientific data to back them up? Has there been green tea scientific research? Thankfully, the answer is yes, there have been many studies on the effects of green tea.
Cancer
Research reported at the Sixth International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention showed promising results. Dr. Hang Xiao stated the rats that were fed a diet high in Polyphenon E were less than half as likely to develop colon cancer when exposed to substances that caused the cancer.
Long Term Studies
A study performed by the Tohoku School of Public Policy in Japan followed over forty thousand adults with no prior history of stroke, coronary heart disease, or cancer. The participants ranged in age from 40-79 and were followed for an eleven-year period for all cause deaths and seven years for specific ailments. What they found was that those who consumed five cups or more of green tea daily were 16% lower risk of all mortality than those who drank one cup or less. They were also 26% less likely to develop cardio vascular disease.
Yale University School of Medicine
In 2006, researchers did a review of 100 studies done on the health benefits of green tea. They theorized that the Asian paradox, which is the curious fact that despite being a nation of heavy smokers they have much lower rates of cancer and heart disease, is related to Asians habit of drinking one and a half liters of green tea per day. The high levels of antioxidants and polyphenols work together to prevent many cardiovascular diseases. One such effect is anticoagulation; this keeps blood platelets" from sticking together, which leads to blocked arteries. In addition, it has been noted that these substances prevent the absorption of LDL cholesterol, thereby reducing plaque buildup in the arteries.
Fat
In January of 2005, a study was released in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that had found people who drank tea containing 690 mg catechins over a 12-week period reduced their body fat. Leading to the belief that catechins could be beneficial in treating obesity.
Arthritis
Case Western Reserve School of Medicine did laboratory tests assessing the affect of the antioxidants in green tea on rheumatoid arthritis. During the study, different groups of 18 rats were given collagen injections to mimic rheumatoid arthritis in humans. The group that was given the green tea extract only 44% contracted arthritis while the percentage from the group that did not receive the extract was 94%. Interestingly the eight mice from the first group who did get arthritis contracted a less severe form.
Finally
There has been much green tea scientific research over the years and all of it is promising. The rest of the world is slowly realizing what Asia has known for thousands of years, a cup of green tea a day will keep diseases away.