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Copyright: 2005 Marilyn Pokorney

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Substances in green tea known as catechins have been proven
to be effective against many serious diseases.

In experiments with rats green tea catechin restricts the
excessive buildup of blood cholesterol.

In Japan, where tea is drank several times a day cancer
mortality statistics on Japanese people indicate that the
death rate from cancer is significantly lower, for both men
and women. Only 254 mg. of catechin begin to show
effective results in the bloodstream. One cup of green tea
contains 100 to 150 mg of catechin. In 1998, Chinese
scientists presented details of a six-month study suggesting
that drinking green tea improved pre-cancerous oral lesions
in patients.

A study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed
that consumption of green tea may trigger weight loss by
stimulating the body to burn calories and decreasing body
fat.

Dutch researchers found that women drinking more than 5 cups
daily had a lower risk of severe arteriosclerosis.

In April 1999, researchers at Case Western Reserve
University in Cleveland published a study claiming that
drinking four or more cups of green tea a day may prevent
rheumatoid arthritis amongst sufferers.

Green tea can help control diabetes. Experiments show that
an extract of green tea to mice had the ability to lower
blood sugar.

Japanese researchers have determined that catechin
inactivates the influenza virus. Gargling with green tea is
very effective in preventing influenza.

Doctors at the Aichi Cancer Institute have verified the fact
that green tea catechin can inhibit the activity of the AIDS
virus.

Green tea catechin suppresses the process of plaque
formation and destroys the bacteria that forms plaque.
Studies showed a reduction in cavities among grade school
children who drank green tea after lunch. Green tea also
kills the bacteria which causes bad breath.

Green tea has been demonstrated to kill seven strains of
food poisoning bacteria including staphylococcus,
clostridium and botulus. It is a good treatment for
diarrhea.

Green tea can reduce and prevent high blood pressure by
preventing angiotensin II, a substance in the blood, which
causes constriction of the blood vessels causing high blood
pressure.

By stimulating fat metabolism studies suggest that green tea
extract may be useful for improving endurance capacity."

The best way to get the disease-fighting nutrients in tea is
to drink it freshly brewed after allowing it to steep for
three to five minutes. Decaffeinated, bottled ready-to-
drink, and instant teas have less of the healthful
compounds.

Researchers caution that tea can't be seen as a cure, but it
could be viewed as a vitamin for the immune system.

For more information on green tea and many other teas:

http://www.apluswriting.net/health/teahealth.htm

About the Author
Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net