For many years green tea was used in the East but it has only recently gained popularity in the West and rightfully so according to many recent findings on the health benefits of green tea. In this article I will examine some of the recent findings pertaining to the health benefits of green tea.
Recent findings on green tea, according to the BBC website, have shown that green tea may have the ability to shut down a key molecule involved in the development of cancer. The BBC website says that, “The molecule, known as the aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptor, has the ability to activate genes – but not always in a positive way. Tobacco smoke and dioxins, in particular, disrupt the functioning of the molecule and cause it to trigger potentially harmful gene activity. The researchers, from Rochester University, found that two chemicals in green tea inhibit AH activity”.
Cancer however is only one of the many health benefits attributed to green tea as other recent findings on green tea have shown. Another study done by Japanese researchers at the University of Tohoku examined data on adults’ health in a region where vast quantities of green tea are drunk and followed their health for a period of eleven years. “Compared with people who drank less than one cup per day of green tea, those who consumed five or more had a 16% lower risk of dying from any cause during the 11 year study,” says the BBC website, “they also had a 26% lower risk of dying from CVD in the seven years of follow-up.”
A number of websites have published recent findings on green tea studied by Dr Hsu.
In these findings Dr Hsu points out that some of the health benefits provided by green tea, and in particular those related to the skin, may be due to EGCG in green tea re-activating dead skin cells. The Nutra Ingredients website said the following regarding these recent findings, “’When exposed to EGCG, the old cells found in the upper layers of the epidermis appear to start dividing again,’ Dr Hsu said. ‘They make DNA and produce more energy. They are reactivated.’ While further research is needed, he suggests that if dying skin cells can be energized, skin condition could be improved. This could benefit skin conditions including psoriasis, rosascea, wrinkles and wounds.”
In conclusion, a number of recent findings on green tea have proven that green tea provides many health
benefits including helping to protect against cancer, cardiovascular disease, a variety of skin problems and a number of other health conditions.
