In the Far East, green tea has been a favorite beverage for thousands of years, appreciated for its delicate flavor as well as its medicinal benefits. While people in other parts of the world have enjoyed it for centuries, it’s only in recent years that researchers have begun to explore in earnest the many ways that green tea can help your health.

Broad Applications
Green tea has long been associated with health and well-being, as is made clear by Cha jing (The Book of Tea), written by the scholar Lu Yu in 760 A.D. Often quoted, such as by Michael Ganzeveld in A Brief History of Green Tea, the book gives solid documentation of the historic association of tea with better health, and its information on tea usage and preparation are still used today.

The range of benefits attributed to green tea are broad, and many of the most important of these have withstood the rigorous standards applied by modern researchers and clinical studies. A 1998 article in Science Daily, for example, presents the results of a fascinating study done by Purdue University researchers Dorothy Morre and D. James Morre, which is said to offer firm scientific proof of the cancer protection offered by green tea.

Antioxidant Properties
Clinical research conducted by both the Nutritional Immunology Laboratory and the Vascular Biology Laboratory (both associated with the Agricultural Research Center of the United States Department of Agriculture), shows that green tea positively influences health in a variety of important ways. These studies highlight the effect of green tea on the immune and cardiovascular systems, as well as upon cancer. The antioxidant properties of green tea are remarkable.

According to Scientific American, studies have shown that green tea also can promote better dental health, since it helps to eliminate bacteria that can cause oral health problems. Further studies and research have indicated that green tea can help increase longevity and can be useful in helping to control weight, which is why you’ll find green tea extract in many thermogenic formulas, such as Cytodyne’s Xenadrine products, Optimum Nutrition’s Thermo-Cuts Extreme, MuscleTech’s Hydroxycut, MHP’s Anadrox Pump & Burn and PrimaForce’s Thermal Rage. It has long been used as a remedy for headaches and depression and also shows promise in the treatment of inflammation and cholesterol problems.

Drink Up—Or Swallow a Pill
Brewing and drinking green tea is the oldest, most popular way to consume it. The Purdue University researchers indicated that consuming more than four cups per day could significantly improve the body’s ability to protect itself from cancer. Numerous other studies indicate that there is much to be gained by drinking green tea regularly.

In recent years, many people have been getting their daily dose in another form—green tea extract. This concentrated form offers reliable levels of the nutrients that provide so much benefit, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, catechins, and epigallocatechin gallate (ECG). This is an ideal way to get the benefits of green tea without concerning yourself about the volume of liquid you consume. After all, not everyone can take time out from each day to brew and drink a pot of tea.

Green tea, researchers agree, has a lot to offer when it comes to your health. History has shown—and science has confirmed—the value of making green tea a part of your daily nutritional intake, whether you choose to brew a pot or rely on the extract.

—Sharon Secor