Green Tea

Green tea has a long history of usage, dating as far back as 5,000 years ago in China. In the modern world, it ranks second to water as the most-consumed beverage. Unlike water though, tea contains polyphenols, which provides it its antioxidant properties. Remarkably, green tea ranks equally high or higher in the ORAC score (a score that measures the antioxidant properties of plant-based foods) than many fruits and vegetables.

From What Plant Is Tea Taken From?

Green tea, black tea, and oolong (red) tea, and loose leaf green tea all come from one plant, camellia sinensis). The color is a result of the processing the tea leaves underwent, but it does not destroy its ability to protect the body against the ill-effects of free radicals. This is because the more processes the tea leaves undergo, the darker will become.

And when it comes to the least processed, green tea ranks first. Red and black teas had to go through partial drying, and crushed before they are fermented. But regardless of the processes, all teas from camellia sinensis do not lose their polyphenols, but could differ only in the amounts.

In addition, Japanese green tea, Arizona green tea, Chinese green tea, and Lipton green tea – regardless of the name or processing – are able to retain the beneficial properties in tea but may differ in other ingredients used to make the tea beverage.

Beneficial Properties Of Green Tea

The most renowned benefits of green tea are in fighting free radicals as well as anti-cancer properties due to the polyphenols. However, some inconclusive data suggests that tea may be helpful or can help lower the risk of esophageal, gastric, and skin cancers if a person drinks four to six cups of tea daily. Other scientific researches concluded that consuming green tea could reduce a possible narrowing of blood vessels, considered harmful, after a high-fat meal.

Antioxidants, such as flavonoid antioxidants found in green tea and green tea extract, protect cells from the potentially-damaging effects of by products formed when the body synthesizes oxygen. Although still at its infancy, some scientific studies are suggesting that antioxidants may lower the risk of some forms of cancer, stroke, and heart disease. Some broken links also point to green tea's beneficial effects in reducing blood cholesterol levels, although evidences are not as strong as that for cancer.

Herbal teas are not from the camellia sinensis plant, and therefore should not be equated with brewing green tea. Brewed green tea also seems to provide more benefits than in capsule form. Most studies also employed brewing brewed green tea rather the in a capsule.

Green Tea For Hair Loss?

Green tea is also thought to be useful in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, also known as hereditary hair loss, in both men and women. Male androgenetic alopecia is associated with an increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that causes the miniaturization of hair follicles, thinning of hair, and eventual disappearance. Although there is still inadequate scientific evidence to support these claims, green tea may help reduce the levels of DHT in the scalp, hence, preventing hair loss.

As far as female androgenetic apolecia, which is primarily hormone-driven, green tea is thought to act on the overproduction of estrogen, reducing it and elevating sex hormone binding globulin to regulate androgen activity (responsible for female-pattern baldness). Take note, though, that these claims are still inconclusive and subject to brewing debate.

Green tea caffeine content is usually 50mg per cup, depending on the size of cup and concoction strength. Likewise, its polyphenol content is between 80 to 100mg. As much as 10 cups daily may be consumed to fully benefit from green tea. So maintain a healthy habit – drink tea everday.