by Trenna Sue Hiler

Created on: September 12, 2008

Green tea is being touted for its many health benefits. It is made from the leaves of the white-flowered tea plant (camellia sinesis). So what is the actual ingredient that seems to be responsible for the positive effect green tea may have on the heart? Catechin is a phytochemical. Phytochemicals are non-nutritive plant chemicals that have protective or disease preventive properties. There are more than a thousand known phytochemicals. Catechin is the same ingredient that is found in red wine and grape juice, but in green tea the amounts are significantly higher.

Much of the recent information on the benefits of green tea for the heart is based on a Japanese study. The research was performed at Tohoku University School of Public Policy in Sendai Japan. The research stated that drinking five or more 3.4 ounce cups of green tea daily reduces the risk of heart disease by 22 percent in men and 31 percent in women. This was compared to those who consume one 3.4 ounce or fewer amounts of green tea daily.

Researcher Shinichi Kuriyama had this to say "Green tea may prolong your life through reducing heart disease and stroke. Our findings might explain the differences in mortality profile between Japan and the United States. The Japanese age-adjusted rate of mortality due to (heart disease and stroke) is about 30 percent lower than that of the United States."

The antioxidant properties of green tea may help to prevent atherosclerosis. It appears to be particularly significant with coronary artery disease. Research also shows that green tea lowers total cholesterol and raises HDL (which is the good cholesterol). This holds true in both humans and animals. A recent animal it suggests that the polyphenols in green tea may actually block the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and it is just excreted from the body. In a small study of male smoker's researchers found that green tea significantly reduced blood levels of harmful LDL cholesterol.

However the evidence has been enough to convince the United States Food and Drug Administration. They rejected a petition from tea makers to allow tea label to claim that green tea reduces the risk of heart disease. On the other, there seems to be no evidence of harm from drinking of green tea. The logical conclusion for this author is "drink up" it won't hurt and may very well help your health. Shoot for 17.5 ounces daily.

Reference:
www.physorg.com/news77388732
www.ynhh .org

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