The Medicinal Properties of Green Tea - Enjoy a Range of Health Benefits

The first records of green tea being used as medication date back to hundreds of years ago. The people in the Southeast part of Asia have been using the drink for its medicinal properties for centuries. Now you can benefit from green tea as well. Its medicinal properties are many and different thanks to the wide range of antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients it contains.

The dried leaves of the tea plant Camellia Sinensis, from which the actual beverage is made, contain polyphenols, with a lot of them being catechins, flavenoids and vitamins, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B-complex and Vitamin A. Green tea is packed with L-theanine, a powerful amino acid which gives the drink many of its health benefits. In addition, some valuable minerals such as fluoride, chromium and zinc are present in the leaves. All these chemical compounds provide for the medicinal properties of green tea.

Green tea is most famous for its slimming properties. It has been proven that this herbal product can aid weight loss. The catechins in the leaves of the tea plant and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), in particular, stimulate thermogenesis, the process of transformation of body fat into energy. By aiding this part of metabolism, green tea allows you to burn fat more quickly and effectively. In addition, the polyphenols in the leaves provide for the dissolving of triglyceride, the fat which is to be stored in the body. This allows you to avoid gaining weight even after you have accomplished your slimming goals.

Various studies have revealed that green tea has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties as well. This is beneficial in a number of ways. Green tea can protect you from all sorts of fungal infections. It can effectively prevent the inflammation of the skin and other tissues, such as the ligament of the joints. Generally, you can safely use green tea to aid your yeast infection or acne treatment. You can also use it as a mouth wash to get rid of mouth bacteria which cause bad breath.

Green tea has antivirus properties as well. A number of scientific studies have shown that the antioxidants, contained in the leaves of the plant, can protect the cells from the entrance of influenza viruses. Another trial has shown that the flavenoids and catechins can inhibit the herpes simplex virus. In general, green tea can effectively boost your immune system and protect you from all sorts of viral infections, including the ones which are responsible for graver diseases.

The anti-aging properties of green tea are widely discussed at present. The antioxidants can effectively protect you from the effect of free radicals, which damage the cells’ DNA. In turn, you will look and feel younger and healthier. However, this is not the only beneficial effect. The antioxidants can protect you from atherosclerosis, the hardening of the blood vessels’ walls. It can also reduce the cholesterol in the arteries. In turn, you will have a lower risk of suffering from heart attack and stroke.

The antioxidant action of green tea is extremely beneficial for the liver. There is evidence that this property of the beverage can actually provide for the strengthening of the bones and joints. It is suggested that the antioxidants in green tea can protect you from brain diseases as well.

The anti-cancer properties of green tea are not fully proven yet. However, there are strong indications that it can protect you from skin, colorectal, stomach, lung and skin cancer as well as from breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Various studies have shown that EGCG can inhibit the growth of tumors which gives hope that cancer can be prevented as well as cured more effectively with the use of green tea.

L-theanine gives green tea excellent anti-depressant properties. This amino acid positively affects the neurotransmitters of the brain and stimulates it to produce alpha brain waves. When you are in an alpha brain state, you are more relaxed and more alert at the same time. This makes green tea  effective for getting rid of depression, anxiety and stress. It can also help you concentrate better and improve your mood.

These are the most notable of the medicinal properties of green tea. It can boost your health in a number of other ways as well. It is effective for treating migraines and insomnia. It is also a great energy booster.