Our body use Oxygen to simultaneously produce free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin cells and cause the skin to wrinkle and lose elasticity. Antioxidants are molecules that help neutralize these free radicals. The antioxidant benefits of Green Tea come from a biological compound called polyphenols. A sub-group of polyphenols called catechins effectively destroy free radicals and help slow down the aging process. The most powerful of these catechins in green tea is the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). When an antioxidant meets a free radical, it engulfs the free radical to form weak, harmless free radicals that are unlikely to further damage your body.
China is the largest producer of Green tea, while Japan and Korea also contribute considerably. Green tea comes from the same plant as black tea, Camellia sinensis. What makes it different though is the manner in which the plant is processed. It is the least processed of the commercial teas. The leaves are picked and then immediately 'fired' -- a tea processing term, which means the leaves are either steamed or heated. The leaves are then dried. This process also helps retain the antioxidants that retard the aging process in human beings.
The proposal of health benefits related to green tea consumption has been argued for years. Eastern medicine recognized the benefits of green tea thousands of years ago with Asian families passing down these beliefs through many generations. There are few beverages with such remarkable health benefits as green tea. And now it seems the rest of the world has discovered this secret.
Very little processing is required to produce green tea. In most cases the leaves are dried right away after harvesting or briefly being treated with steam before drying. There are a few kinds of tea that are also lightly roasted. Because of this minimal processing, the leaves keep their green color and more importantly they keep the very valuable ingredients that contribute to their healing properties. Green tea leaves include caffeine, tannins, essential oils, proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements such as fluoride, zinc and potassium.
Many Naturopaths recommend green tea to cleanse the body. It is a useful addition to all types of detoxification diets. It contains no calories, no carbs and is referred to as the 'fat eater' in China due to its cholesterol-lowering properties.
On the other hand, the amount of caffeine in green tea can cause heart palpitations in extra sensitive people. To lessen the amount of caffeine in your tea, put one teaspoon of leaves in your cup, pour a little bit of hot water over it and allow it to stand for 30 seconds then strain. Now use the leaves to prepare your tea as usual.
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