Health Benefits of Green Tea (In honor of Chinese New Year)

For centuries Chinese people have used Green Tea for medical purposes. In Ancient China, it was used especially against the headaches and depression. Unlike black tea, it has little amount of caffeine which causes to insomnia, nausea and frequent urination.

This is the list of benefits I've researched:

1. It is used to treat Sx multiple sclerosis. [http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/multiple-sclerosis-000111.htm]
2. Treating the common cold. Drinking a warm cup of green tea if you have a cold and are feeling fatigued can ease your symptoms. The steam from the tea assists in opening nasal passages to allow easier breathing. The University of Maryland suggests green tea may also help ward off the effects of the cold and flu. Adding honey to your tea has the ability to soothe a sore throat, a common symptom of a cold.
3. It is used to stop Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. [http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20110106/green-tea-may-help-prevent-alzheimers-disease] [http://www.livestrong.com/article/365771-green-tea-and-parkinsons-disease/]
4. It is used to raise the metabolism and increase fat oxidation. Green tea and green tea extract are heavily marketed as a weight-loss aid. The University of Maryland says that green tea can aid in weight loss and maintenance. One study by the American Society of Nutrition concluded that consuming 625 mg of catechins through green tea each day along with a moderate exercise program may reduce abdominal fat and lower triglyceride levels in the blood. Other research suggests that combining green tea with caffeine may also boost your metabolism, which increases your body's ability to burn fat.
5. It reduces the risk of heart diseases and heart attacks by reducing the risk of trombosis.[http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080702/green-tea-lowers-risk-of-heart-disease]
6. It reduces the risk of esophageal cancer. [http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/green-tea-000255.htm]
7. High in antioxidants, drinking green tea inhibits the growth of certain cancer cells. According to the American Cancer Society, one study showed that an active compound in green tea, known as EGCG, helped block cancer growth by restricting blood flow to abnormal cells. Studies on laboratory animals show promising results. However, more human trials are needed to fully understand the benefits green tea carries for cancer. It also reduces the level of cholesterol in blood, improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.
8. It is used to treat rheumatoid arthriti. [http://arthritis.about.com/b/2008/12/28/green-tea-helps-arthritis-with-its-anti-inflammatory-properties.htm]
9. Some researches show that, drinking green tea regularly may help prevent tooth decay by killing the bacteria which causes the dental plaque. [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=tea-aids-oral-health]

Of course, do your own research too.

Add honey....so many health benefits to honey and agave!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!