Green Tea is a good natural anti-oxidant

After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. In fact, about three cups of tea are drunk for every one of coffee. All teas (black, green and oolong) actually come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference between the teas is the type of processing and amount of oxidation they receive. Of the three teas, green tea receives the least oxidation during processing, which is reflected in the higher amounts of beneficial antioxidants that can be found in the tea.


The tea originates from China and is very popular throughout almost all of Asia and Eurasia. Traditional Chinese and Indian medical practitioners use green tea as...

• a stimulant
• a diuretic
• an astringent
• an aid to improve heart health
• an aid to treat gas
• an aid to regulate blood sugar
• an aid to promote digestion
• an aid to improve mental processes

Not surprisingly, due to the health claims associated with green, there have been many studies and reports on this beverage. The findings may surprise you.

First and foremost, green tea is rich in polyphenols and reportedly contains the highest concentration of these powerful antioxidants. In fact, tea in general is reported to have about eight to ten times the polyphenols found in fruits and vegetables. Since antioxidants are believed to fight free radicals -- substances that damage and age the body -- it may be no surprise to find green tea as an ingredient in Jon Barron's Ultimate Antioxidant formula.

Green tea works to prevent tumors from developing the blood vessels they need to survive. It has also been shown to inhibit metastasis, the spread of cancer or disease within the body to another area not directly connected with it. And, it is the first known natural telomerase inhibitor. That is to say, it eliminates the "immortality" of cancer cells which is their trademark and the thing that makes them so deadly. Green tea is particularly effective in destroying the causes of leukemia, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. In fact, studies have shown some helpful benefits for the following cancer types:

• Bladder cancer - Studies showed that women who drank black tea and powdered green tea were less likely to develop bladder cancer, while men who drank green tea had a better five-year survival rate.
• Breast cancer - One study of 472 women showed that women who drank the most green tea had the least spread of cancer. Women with early stages of the disease who drank at least five cups per day were less likely to have the disease return after treatment.
• Ovarian cancer - In one study, ovarian cancer patients who drank the most green tea in the study lived the longest.
• Colorectal cancer - Some studies show that drinking green tea regularly may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in women.
• Lung cancer - Green tea seems to be able to almost totally prevent cancer-causing DNA damage in smokers -- a possible explanation as to why the Japanese, who are among the world's heaviest smokers, have such a low incidence of lung cancer.
• Skin cancer - The active ingredients in green tea have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties that may be helpful in preventing development and growth of skin tumors.

And the benefits of green tea don't stop there. It has also been shown to be effective in regulating blood sugar, reducing triglycerides, and in reversing the ravages of heart disease. (Incidentally, the Japanese, who drink large amounts of green tea, have some of the lowest rates of cardiovascular disease in the world.)

And finally, green tea has great benefits for the brain as well, serving as an effective MAO inhibitor, protecting against brain-cell death from glucose oxidase, overproduction of nitric oxide, and lowering the amount of free iron reaching the brain. The net result is that there are strong indications that green tea extract may play a major role in protecting against both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.