Green tea is much more than just a refreshing beverage tea; it provides many proven health benefits as well. The Chinese and Japanese have enjoyed green tea’s healing qualities for thousands of years but it hasn’t been until recently that scientific research has proven the health benefits of drinking green tea.
All teas (green, black, and oolong) are harvested from the same plant (Camellia sinensis). The method of processing creates the different types. Green tea contains the highest content of various antioxidant compounds (polyphenols) that have been proven as beneficial in fighting certain cancers, to help lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, to help prevent food allergies, to reduce the risk of flu and infections, and to reduce the effects of aging. Vitamins C and E and beta carotene are also prevalent in green tea. Enough fluoride is found in green tea to help reduce plaque formation and bacterial infections in the mouth. The caffeine content found in green tea is about a quarter to an eighth that of coffee and less then a can of cola but varies with the brewing time.