All About the Green Tea, its Benefits and Side Effects in few Short Sentences

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Tea has been consumed for centuries. Its history has begun in India and China. At these days, tea is the second consumed beverages all around the world only after water. The green tea is the most popular tea. Hundreds of people and many studies recommend the green tea as tea with many health benefits.

The difference between the teas is processing. The green tea is produced from unfermented leaves, containing the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants – polyphenols. These antioxidants fight free radicals that change cells, damage DNA, and cause cell death. The free radicals can cause aging process, number of health problems, such as cancer and heart diseases. The antioxidants contained in green tea neutralize these free radicals and have many other benefits for overall health.

Many health benefits

The studies have done many experiments with people and animal. The results show that green tea may help to prevent and treat many diseases such as many types of cancer, diabetes, liver disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, weight loss and many others.

What makes the green tea so special?

The green tea is the only tea made from unfermented leaves while the oolong tea is partially fermented, and black tea is fully fermented. The more the leaves are fermented, the lower polyphenol and the higher the caffeine contain.

The polyphenols – greater than vitamin C

The studies have been shown that the antioxidant effects of polyphenols are bigger than vitamin C. The polyphenols are classified as catechins. The catechins have six primary compounds: catechins, epicatechin (EC), gallaocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECg) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The EGCG is the most active component in green tea. The amount of catechins in green tea depends on species, clonal variation, growing location, season, light variation, altitude.

The stimulating effect of alkaloids

This healthy beverage also contains alkaloids, such as caffeine (2% - 4%), theobromine and theophylline. These compounds provide stimulating effects.

L-theanine for calming effects

The amino acid compound contained in green tea has calming effects for the nervous system.

Available Forms

The green tea may be in few different forms. You can find it as green tea supplements sold as dried leaf tea in capsule form. Also it may be standardized extracts or liquid extracts made from leaves and buds. The average cup of green tea has 50 – 150 mg polyphenols. Try decaffeinated tea products that have more antioxidants (polyphenols). Also caffeine-free products are available.

How to take it?

Children

The effect of green tea for children is has not been studied, so it is not recommended for them because of containing the caffeine.

Adult

It is recommended 3 – 5 cups of green tea a day, depending on brand (for total of 240 – 320 mg polyphenols). If you are taking standardized green tea extract, the 100 – 750 mg a day is recommended.

For headache or restoring mental alertness have about 3 cups daily.

For improving thinking take approx one cup of green tea a day.

For reducing cholesterol may help 10 cups of tea per day. Also for lowering cholesterol can be used 375 mg of theaflavin-enriched green tea extract daily for 12 weeks.

For human papilloma virus infections of the cervix use 200 mg of green tea daily alone or with topical green tea gel for 8 – 12 weeks.

Precautions

At all times the herbs are used for strengthening the body and treating diseases. Nevertheless, they contain some active substances that can have side effects and interact with other herbs or medications. That’s why you should consume this tea with care.

People with problems of heart, high blood pressure, kidney, liver, stomach ulcers, should not take green tea at all. Also avoid this tea if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Don’t overdose caffeine with beverages such as coffee or green tea. That can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, loss of appetite, and other disorders. If you feel these symptoms, lower your caffeine dose and see your doctor.

Possible Interactions with Medications

The green tea may have the side effect of interaction with some medications. Do not use any green tea products or first talk to your doctor if you are taking medications such as adenosine, beta-lactam, blood thinning medications, chemotherapy, lithium, quinolone antibiotics, and much others.