The Little Known Health Benefits Of Drinking Green Tea

The camellia sinensis leaves are used to make green tea go through minimal stages when being processed. This tea comes from China and it is part of the cultures in the East. It is popular in countries such as South Korea, Japan and the Middle East.

Recently its popularity has spread beyond Asia to other countries in the west where black tea was more popular in the past. There are other countries apart from china that grow and process green tea. The types of tea produced in different countries differ because of different weather conditions, harvesting period as well as the process of production.

One of the main reasons that make green tea very popular in the east and more recently in the west is its medicinal value. Many scientists have been carrying out tests to try and prove the health benefits of this type of tea for over twenty years now. Some of the findings have indicated that people who drink this kind of tea are less susceptible to some types of cancer and heart disease. This tea has also been associated with weight loss. It contains caffeine and polyphenols which cause thermo genesis and oxidation of fat which raises the rate of metabolism without affecting the heart rate.

Tea as a beverage was accidentally discovered in China many years ago. Many parts of Asia use green tea as a beverage and medicine. In countries like Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand and Japan it has been used as a remedy for problems such as high or low blood sugar, indigestion, wounds and fever. In 1191, a Zen priest called Eisai wrote the Kissa Yojoki or 'the book of tea'.

The book is about the health benefits of tea which include curing hangovers, increasing alertness, helping one relax, getting rid of thirst, increasing urinary function and also acting as a stimulant. The book is in two parts. The first part describes the appearance of the tea plant such as the leaves, the flower, and the shape of the bush.

The second part explains the dosage for the different ailments. Although tea is said to cure many different diseases such as beriberi disease and many others, these claims are not scientifically proven. Some of the claims that are unproven include: prevention of cancer and even in some cases curing some forms of cancer. Green tea has also been said to treat multiple sclerosis. Another claim that is yet to be proven is whether or not it can cause weight loss.

Green tea has caffeine that is equal to a third of the amount found in coffee. This is a fact that many people are unaware of. There are negative effects of taking too much caffeine such as insomnia, nausea and frequent urination. There are varieties that do not contain caffeine and one should always check the package if they wish to take to have the one without caffeine.

One thing that is confusing about the caffeine content in coffee and tea is that tea has more caffeine when dry but after brewing coffee has more caffeine. Besides its medicinal benefits, green tea is a good and refreshing beverage.

Dave Richards is a tea expert. For more great tips on tea health benefits, visit http://teahealthtips.com/.