Green tea (simplified Chinese: 绿茶; traditional Chinese: 綠茶; pinyin: lǜchá; Japanese: 緑茶; ryokucha) is a "true" tea, meaning it is made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis, that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market Camellia sinensis is the tea plant, the Plant Species whose leaves and leaf buds are used to produce Tea. Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan to the Middle East. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Recently, it has become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally consumed. This article refers to the cardinal direction for other uses see West (disambiguation. Black tea is a variety of Tea that is more oxidized than the Oolong, green, and white varieties Many varieties of green tea have been created in countries where it is grown that can differ substantially due to variable growing conditions, processing and harvesting time. Over the last few decades green tea has begun to be subjected to many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long-purported health benefits, with some evidence suggesting regular green tea drinkers may have lower chances of heart disease and developing certain types of cancer^[1].

Contents 1 Chinese green teas 1.1 Zhejiang Province 1.2 Jiangsu Province 1.3 Hubei Province 1.4 Henan Province 1.5 Jiangxi Province 1.6 Anhui Province 2 Japanese green teas 3 Other green teas 4 Brewing 5 Caffeine 6 Potential effects of green tea on health 6.1 History 6.2 Unproven claims 6.3 United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 6.4 Scientific studies 7 See also 8 References 9 Literature 10 External links

Chinese green teas

Zhejiang Province

Zhejiang is home to the most famous of all teas, Xi Hu Longjing, as well as many other high-quality green teas. Twinings is a marketer of Tea, based in Andover, Hampshire, England. Gunpowder tea ( 珠[[wiktionary 茶|茶]] Pinyin: zhū chá is a form of green Chinese tea produced in Zhejiang Province of China Zhejiang ( is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China.

Longjing

The most well-known of famous Chinese teas from Hangzhou, its name in Chinese means dragon well. Longjing tea ( or Dragonwell is a famous variety of Green tea from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province China where it is produced mostly by hand and China's Famous Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 名[[wiktionary 茶|茶]] or The Ten Great Chinese Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 十[[wiktionary ( Postal map spelling: Hangchow) is a Sub-provincial city located in the Yangtze River Delta in the People's Republic of China, It is pan-fried and has a distinctive flat appearance. Falsification of Longjing is very common, and most of the tea on the market is in fact produced in Sichuan Province and hence not authentic Longjing. ( Postal map spelling: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in western China with its capital in Chengdu.

Hui Ming

Named after a temple in Zhejiang. Zhejiang ( is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China.

Long Ding

A tea from Kaihua County known as Dragon Mountain.

Hua Ding

A tea from Tiantai County and named after a peak in the Tiantai mountain range.

Qing Ding

A tea from Tian Mu, also known as Green Top.

Gunpowder

A popular tea also known as zhuchá. Gunpowder tea ( 珠[[wiktionary 茶|茶]] Pinyin: zhū chá is a form of green Chinese tea produced in Zhejiang Province of China It originated in Zhejiang but is now grown elsewhere in China. Zhejiang ( is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National

Jiangsu Province

Bi Luo Chun

A Chinese famous tea also known as Green Snail Spring, from Dong Ting. Bi Luo Chun (碧螺春 is a famous green tea originally grown in the Dong Ting mountain of Tai Hu, Jiangsu Province, China. China's Famous Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 名[[wiktionary 茶|茶]] or The Ten Great Chinese Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 十[[wiktionary As with Longjing, falsification is common and most of the tea marketed under this name may, in fact, be grown in Sichuan. ( Postal map spelling: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in western China with its capital in Chengdu.

Rain Flower

A tea from Nanjing. ( Chinese: 南京 Romanizations Nánjīng ( Pinyin) Nan-ching ( Wade-Giles

Shui Xi Cui Bo

Hubei Province

Yu Lu

A steamed tea known as Gyokuro (Jade Dew) made in the Japanese style. Japanese Cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes

Henan Province

Xin Yang Mao Jian

A Chinese famous tea also known as Green Tip, or Tippy Green. Xin Yang Mao Jian tea ( 信[[wiktionary 阳|阳]] 毛[[wiktionary 尖|尖]] is a Green tea produced in the Henan province of China China's Famous Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 名[[wiktionary 茶|茶]] or The Ten Great Chinese Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 十[[wiktionary

Jiangxi Province

Chun Mee

Name means "precious eyebrows"; from Jiangxi, it is now grown elsewhere. Chun Mee is a popular Green tea. It has a dusty appearance and is generally more acidic and less sweet than other green teas The eyebrow is an area of thick delicate hairs above the Eye that follows the shape of the brow ridges. ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsi is a southern province of the People's Republic of China, spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River

Gou Gu Nao

A well-known tea within China and recipient of numerous national awards.

Yun Wu

A tea also known as Cloud and Mist.

Anhui Province

Anhui Province is home to three Chinese famous teas. Anhui (in Chinese: 安徽 Ānhuī) is a province of the People's Republic of China. China's Famous Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 名[[wiktionary 茶|茶]] or The Ten Great Chinese Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 十[[wiktionary

Da Fang

A tea from Mount Huangshan also known as Big Square. Da Fang tea ( is grown at the south of Huangshan in Xi County of Anhui Province in China.

Huangshan Mao Feng

A Chinese famous tea from Mount Huangshan. Mao feng ( 毛[[wiktionary 峰|峰]] is a term in Tea manufacture denoting the picking of a bud and two leaves of equal length China's Famous Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 名[[wiktionary 茶|茶]] or The Ten Great Chinese Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 十[[wiktionary

Lu An Guapian

A Chinese famous tea also known as Melon Seed. China's Famous Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 名[[wiktionary 茶|茶]] or The Ten Great Chinese Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 十[[wiktionary

Hou Kui

A Chinese famous tea also known as Monkey tea. Taiping Hou Kui ( lit "peaceful monkey leader" tea is grown at the foot of Huangshan ( 黄[[wiktionary 山|山]] in Taiping County, Anhui China's Famous Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 名[[wiktionary 茶|茶]] or The Ten Great Chinese Teas ( 中[[wiktionary 国|国]] 十[[wiktionary

Tun Lu

A tea from Tunxi District. Tunxi District is a district in Anhui under the jurisdiction of Huangshan City.

Huo Qing

A tea from Jing County, also known as Fire Green. Jing County ( Simplified Chinese: 泾县 Pinyin: Jīng Xiàn) is a county in Anhui under the jurisdiction of Xuancheng.

Hyson

A medium-quality tea from many provinces, an early-harvested tea. A province, in the context of China, is a translation of sheng ( which is an administrative division

Japanese green teas

Green tea (緑茶; ryokucha) is so ubiquitous in Japan that it is more commonly known simply as "tea" (お茶; ocha) and even as "Japanese tea" (日本茶; nihoncha)，although it was first used in China during the Song Dynasty, and brought to Japan by Myōan Eisai, a Japanese Buddhist priest who also introduced the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Myōan Eisai (明菴栄西 ( April 20, 1141 – July 5, 1215) was a Japanese Buddhist priest credited with bringing the The Rinzai school ( Japanese: Rinzai-shū, Chinese: línjì zōng) is one of the three Japanese Zen sects. Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, referred to in Chinese as Chan. Types of tea are commonly graded depending on the quality and the parts of the plant used as well as how they are processed. There are large variations in both price and quality within these broad categories, and there are many specialty green teas that fall outside this spectrum. The best Japanese green tea is said to be that from the Yame region of Fukuoka Prefecture and the Uji region of Kyoto. is a city located in Fukuoka, Japan. As of 2003, the city has an estimated Population of 39372 and the density of 1000 WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. is a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. Shizuoka Prefecture（静岡県) crops 40% of raw tea leaf. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū Island

玉露 Gyokuro (Jade Dew)

The highest grade Japanese green tea cultivated in special way. Gyokuro ( 玉[[wikt 露|露]] is a fine and expensive type of Green tea from Japan. Gyokuro's name refers to the pale green color of the infusion. The leaves are grown in the shade before harvest, which alters their flavor. Gyokuro has a high caffeine content (Generally 0. 16% in infusion[2]), but the significant L-Theanine content of Gyokuro slows down and counteracts the caffeine assimilation, and also the amount ingested is very small (Generally 10ml - 60ml). Theanine is an Amino acid commonly found in Tea (infusions of Camellia sinensis

抹茶 Matcha (rubbed tea)

A fine ground Ten-cha (碾茶: has very similar cultivation process as Gyokuro) used primarily in the tea ceremony. is a variety of fine powdered Green tea used particularly in the Japanese tea ceremony, as well as to flavour and dye foods such as mochi and Soba noodles A tea ceremony is an Asian ritualised form of making Tea. The term generally refers to the Japanese tea ceremony. Matcha is also a popular flavor of ice cream and other sweets in Japan. or (抹茶のアイスクリーム Matcha no aisu kurīmu) is a Japanese Ice cream flavour

煎茶 Sencha (broiled tea)

The first and second flush of green tea, which is the most common green tea in Japan made from leaves that are exposed directly to sunlight. Sencha (煎茶 is a Japanese Green tea, specifically one made without grinding the tea leaves The first flush is also called Shin-cha (新茶: a new tea)

玄米茶 Genmaicha (Brown-Rice tea)

Bancha (sometimes Sencha) and roasted genmai (brown rice) blend. is the Japanese name for Green tea combined with roasted Brown rice. Brown rice (or "hulled rice" is unmilled or partly milled Rice, a kind of Whole grain. It is often mixed with a small amount of Matcha to make the colour better.

冠茶 Kabusecha (covered tea)

kabusecha is sencha tea, the leaves of which have grown in the shade prior to harvest, although not for as long as Gyokuro. is a Sencha tea cultivated in un-shaded gardens exposed to direct sunlight which unlike other varieties requires shading the tea plants a few weeks prior to harvest It has a more delicate flavor than Sencha.

番茶 Bancha (common tea)

Sencha harvested as a third or fourth flush tea between summer and autumn. Aki-Bancha (autumn Bancha) is not made from entire leaves, but from the trimmed unnecessary twigs of the tea plant.

焙じ茶 Hōjicha (pan fried tea)

A strong roasted green tea. is set apart from other Japanese green Teas because it is roasted over Charcoal.

茎茶 Kukicha (stalk tea)

A tea made from stalks produced by harvesting one bud and three leaves. Kukicha (茎茶 or twig tea is a Japanese blend of Green tea made of stems stalks and twigs

玉緑茶 Tamaryokucha

A tea that has a tangy, berry-like taste, with a long almondy aftertaste and a deep aroma with tones of citrus, grass, and berries. Tamaryokucha (玉緑茶 is a fine Japanese green Tea that has a tangy berry-like taste with a long almondy aftertaste and a deep aroma with tones of citrus

Okinawan Tea

Other green teas

• Green Tea from Ceylon
• Kahwah

Brewing

Generally, 2. Ceylon (Sri Lanka Green tea is produced using various methods of manufacture Kahwah (also spelled qehwa, kehwa or kahwa) (قہوہ is a traditional Green tea recipe from Kashmir. 25 grams of tea per 6 ounces of water, or about one teaspoon of green tea per cup, should be used. With very high quality teas like gyokuro, more than this amount of leaf is used, and the leaf is steeped multiple times for short durations.

Green tea brewing time and temperature varies with individual teas. The hottest brewing temperatures are 180°F to 190°F (82°C to 88°C) water and the longest steeping times 2 to 3 minutes. The coolest brewing temperatures are 140°F to 150°F (60°C to 66°C) and the shortest times about 30 seconds. In general, lower quality green teas are steeped hotter and longer, while higher quality teas are steeped cooler and shorter. Tea Masters living in China nowadays say that boiling water must be used all the time even with green teas due to the fact that high quality leaves can handle higher temperatures very well. Steeping green tea too hot or too long will result in a bitter, astringent brew for low quality leaves. High quality green teas can and usually are steeped multiple times; 2 or 3 steepings is typical. The brewing technique also plays a very important role to avoid the tea develop an overcooked taste. If a tea claims to be high grade but the vendor instructions says that boiling water musn`t be used then there is a chance that the tea is not so high grade.

Caffeine

Green teas have about a third the caffeine content, by liquid volume, of coffee. Caffeine is a bitter white crystalline Xanthine Alkaloid that acts as a Psychoactive Stimulant Drug and a mild Diuretic ^[2] Green teas contain two caffeine metabolites (caffeine-like substances): theophylline, which is stronger than caffeine, and theobromine, which is slightly weaker than caffeine. Theophylline, also known as dimethylxanthine, is a Methylxanthine drug used in therapy for Respiratory diseases such as COPD or Asthma Caffeine is a bitter white crystalline Xanthine Alkaloid that acts as a Psychoactive Stimulant Drug and a mild Diuretic Theobromine, also known as xantheose, which also includes the similar compounds Theophylline and Caffeine.

Potential effects of green tea on health

Main article: Potential effects of tea on health

History

There is archaeological evidence that suggests that tea has been consumed for almost 5000 years, with China and India being two of the first countries to cultivate it. This article only deals with the effects of tea which is made from the plant Camellia sinensis (i Green tea has been used as traditional medicine in areas such as India, China, Japan and Thailand to help everything from controlling bleeding and helping heal wounds to regulating body temperature, blood sugar and promoting digestion.

The Kissa Yojoki (Book of Tea), written by Zen priest Eisai in 1191, describes how drinking green tea can have a positive effect on the five vital organs, especially the heart. Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, referred to in Chinese as Chan. Myōan Eisai (明菴栄西 ( April 20, 1141 – July 5, 1215) was a Japanese Buddhist priest credited with bringing the The heart is a muscular organ in all Vertebrates responsible for pumping Blood through the Blood vessels by repeated rhythmic The book discusses tea's medicinal qualities, which include easing the effects of alcohol, acting as a stimulant, curing blotchiness, quenching thirst, eliminating indigestion, curing beriberi disease, preventing fatigue, and improving urinary and brain function. In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon Stimulant drugs are Drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness Beriberi (pronounced Berry-berry) is a Nervous system ailment caused by Thiamine (vitamin B1 deficiency The urinary system (also called Excretory system or the genitourinary system (GUS is the Organ system that produces stores and eliminates Urine. The brain is the center of the Nervous system in animals All Vertebrates and the majority of Invertebrates have a brain Part One also explains the shapes of tea plants, tea flowers, and tea leaves, and covers how to grow tea plants and process tea leaves. In Part Two, the book discusses the specific dosage and method required for individual physical ailments.

Unproven claims

Green tea has been credited with providing a wide variety of health benefits, many of which have not been validated by scientific evidence. These claims and any for which academic citations are currently missing are listed here:

• Stopping certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Neurodegenerative Disease ( Greek νέυρο- néuro-, "nerval" and Latin dēgenerāre, "to decline" or "to Alzheimer's disease ( AD) also called Alzheimer disease or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common form of Dementia. Parkinsonism (also known as Parkinson's syndrome, atypical Parkinson's, or secondary Parkinson's) is a neurological Syndrome characterized ^[3]
• The prevention and treatment of cancer ^[4]
• Treating multiple sclerosis ^[5]
• Preventing the degradation of cell membranes by neutralizing the spread of free radicals which occur during oxidation process. Multiple sclerosis (abbreviated MS also known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata) is an autoimmune condition in which the The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living Organisms It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living and is often called The cell membrane (also called the plasma membrane, plasmalemma, or "phospholipid bilayer" is a Selectively permeable Lipid bilayer In Chemistry, radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atoms molecules or ions with Unpaired electrons on an otherwise Open shell ^[6]
• Reducing the negative effects of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) by lowering levels of triglycerides and increasing the production of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). Low-density lipoprotein ( LDL) is a type of Lipoprotein that transports Cholesterol and Triglycerides from the Liver to peripheral
• Increasing fat oxidation (helps the body use fat as an energy source) and raising metabolism. Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state Metabolism is the set of Chemical reactions that occur in living Organisms in order to maintain Life. ^[7]
• Joy Bauer, a New York City nutritionist, says [the catechins in green tea] increase levels of the metabolism speeding brain chemical norepinephrine (noradrenaline).
• Japanese researchers claim that drinking five cups of green tea a day can burn 70 to 80 extra calories. Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a self-proclaimed anti-aging specialist, appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and told Oprah's viewers they can lose 10 lbs (4. Nicholas Perricone (ˈpɛrɨkoʊn MD, is a Dermatologist who has written several books primarily on the subjects of weight loss and maintaining the appearance of The Oprah Winfrey Show is a United States syndicated Talk show, hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey, and is the highest-rated 5 kg) in 6 weeks drinking green tea instead of coffee.
• Some green tea lovers commonly restrict their intake because of the stimulants it contains — equivalent to about a third the amount of caffeine as is found in coffee[3]. Caffeine is a bitter white crystalline Xanthine Alkaloid that acts as a Psychoactive Stimulant Drug and a mild Diuretic CoFFEE is an Open source Software for computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL in a digital classroom Too much caffeine can cause nausea, insomnia, or frequent urination. Nausea ( Latin: Nausea, Greek:, " Sea-sickness " also called wamble) is the sensation of unease and discomfort Insomnia is a symptom of a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity In Medicine, polyuria is a condition characterized by the passage of large volumes of urine (at least 2 ^[8]

United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The article Tea: A Story of Serendipity^[9] appeared in the March 1996 issue of FDA Consumer Magazine and looked at the potential benefits of green tea. At that time they had not done any reviews of the potential benefits of green tea and were waiting to do it until health claims were filed. They have since denied two petitions to make qualified health claims as to the health benefits of green tea. ^[10]

On June 30, 2005, in response to "Green Tea and Reduced Risk of Cancer Health Claim", they stated: "FDA concludes that there is no credible evidence to support qualified health claims for green tea consumption and a reduced risk of gastric, lung, colon/rectal, esophageal, pancreatic, ovarian, and combined cancers. Thus, FDA is denying these claims. However, FDA concludes that there is very limited credible evidence for qualified health claims specifically for green tea and breast cancer and for green tea and prostate cancer, provided that the qualified claims are appropriately worded so as to not mislead consumers. " ^[11]

On May 9, 2006, in response to "Green Tea and Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Disease", they concluded "there is no credible evidence to support qualified health claims for green tea or green tea extract and a reduction of a number of risk factors associated with CVD. " ^[12]

However in October 2006, the FDA approved an ointment based on green tea. New Drug Application (NDA) number N021902, for kunecatechins ointment 15% (proprietary name Veregen) was approved on October 31, 2006 ^[13], and added to the "Prescription Drug Product List" in October 2006. ^[14] Kunecatechins ointment is indicated for the topical treatment of external genital and perianal warts. ^[15]

Scientific studies

According to research reported at the Sixth International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention, sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research, a standardized green tea polyphenol preparation (Polyphenon E) limits the growth of colorectal tumors in rats treated with a substance that causes the cancer. "Our findings show that rats fed a diet containing Polyphenon E are less than half as likely to develop colon cancer," Dr. Hang Xiao, from the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, noted in a statement.

A 2006 study published in the September 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded "Green tea consumption is associated with reduced mortality due to all causes and due to cardiovascular disease but not with reduced mortality due to cancer. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association is an international peer-reviewed general Medical journal, published 48 times per year by the American " The study, conducted by the Tohoku University School of Public Policy in Japan, followed 40,530 Japanese adults, ages 40-79, with no history of stroke, coronary heart disease, or cancer at baseline beginning in 1994. abbreviated to, located in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region, Japan, is one of Japan's most prestigious national universities A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) The study followed all participants for up to 11 years for death from all causes and for up to 7 years for death from a specific cause. Participants who consumed 5 or more cups of tea per day had a 16 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 26 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease than participants who consumed less than one cup of tea per day. The study also states, "If green tea does protect humans against CVD or cancer, it is expected that consumption of this beverage would substantially contribute to the prolonging of life expectancy, given that CVD and cancer are the two leading causes of death worldwide. "^{[16] [17]}

A study in the February 2006 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded "A higher consumption of green tea is associated with a lower prevalence of cognitive impairment in humans. "^{[18] [19]}

In May 2006, researchers at Yale University School of Medicine weighed in on the issue with a review article that looked at more than 100 studies on the health benefits of green tea. The Yale School of Medicine at Yale University is a private Medical school located in New Haven, Connecticut, U They pointed to what they called an "Asian paradox," which refers to lower rates of heart disease and cancer in Asia despite high rates of cigarette smoking. A cigarette ( French "small Cigar " from cigar + -ette) is a product consumed through Smoking and manufactured They theorized that the 1. 2 liters of green tea that is consumed by many Asians each day provides high levels of polyphenols and other antioxidants. Polyphenols are a group of chemical substances found in plants characterized by the presence of more than one Phenol unit or building block per molecule An antioxidant is a Molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules These compounds may work in several ways to improve cardiovascular health, including preventing blood platelets from sticking together (This anticoagulant effect is the reason doctors warn surgical patients to avoid green tea prior to procedures that rely on a patient's clotting ability) and improving cholesterol levels, said the researchers, whose study appeared in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents coagulation; that is it stops Blood from clotting Specifically, green tea may prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the "bad" type), which, in turn, can reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries, the researchers wrote. Low-density lipoprotein ( LDL) is a type of Lipoprotein that transports Cholesterol and Triglycerides from the Liver to peripheral ^[20]

A study published in the August 22, 2006 edition of Biological Psychology looked at the modification of the stress response via L-Theanine, a chemical found in green tea. Theanine is an Amino acid commonly found in Tea (infusions of Camellia sinensis It "suggested that the oral intake of L-Theanine could cause anti-stress effects via the inhibition of cortical neuron excitation. "^[21]

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial done by Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 240 adults were given either theaflavin-enriched green tea extract in form of 375mg capsule daily or a placebo. The blind method is a part of the Scientific method, used to prevent research outcomes from being influenced by either the Placebo effect or the Observer The Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC is a collection of several hospitals and clinics as well as the schools of medicine and nursing associated with Vanderbilt University After 12 weeks, patients in the tea extract group had significantly less low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (16. 4% and 11. 3% lower than baseline, p<0. 01) than the placebo group. The author concluded that theaflavin-enriched green tea extract can be used together with other dietary approaches to reduce LDL-C.

A study published in the January, 2005 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded "Daily consumption of tea containing 690 mg catechins for 12 wk reduced body fat, which suggests that the ingestion of catechins might be useful in the prevention and improvement of lifestyle-related diseases, mainly obesity. " ^[22]

According to a Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine study published in the April 13 2005 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, antioxidants in green tea may prevent and reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis. Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland Ohio, United States, with some residence halls on the south end of campus The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, usually referred to as PNAS, is the official journal of the United The study examined the effects of green tea polyphenols on collagen-induced arthritis in mice, which is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in humans. In each of three different study groups, the mice given the green tea polyphenols were significantly less likely to develop arthritis. Of the 18 mice that received the green tea, only eight (44 percent) developed arthritis. Among the 18 mice that did not receive the green tea, all but one (94 percent) developed arthritis. In addition, researchers noted that the eight arthritic mice that received the green tea polyphenols developed less severe forms of arthritis.

A German study found that an extract of green tea and hot water (filtered), applied externally to the skin for 10 minutes, three times a day could help people with skin damaged from radiation therapy (after 16-22 days). ^[23]

A study published in the December 1999 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that "Green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by its caffeine content per se. The green tea extract may play a role in the control of body composition via sympathetic activation of thermogenesis, fat oxidation, or both. "^[24]

In lab tests, EGCG, found in green tea, was found to prevent HIV from attacking T-Cells. Human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV) is a Lentivirus (a member of the Retrovirus family that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome However, it is not yet known if this has any effect on humans. ^[25]

A study in the August, 2003 issue of a new potential application of Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences found that "a new potential application of (–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate [a component of green tea] in prevention or treatment of inflammatory processes is suggested" ^[26]

However, pharmacological and toxicological evidence does indicate that green tea polyphenols can in fact cause oxidative stress and liver toxicity in vivo at certain concentrations. ^[27] This would imply that consumers should exercise caution when consuming herbal products produced from concentrated green tea extract. Other evidence presented in the review cautions against the drinking of green tea by pregnant women.

Tea v • d • e
Black tea | Blended and flavored teas | Green tea | Masala chai | Oolong tea | Post-fermented tea | White tea | Yellow tea
Ceremonies and methods	Related to tea
China | India | Japan | Korea | Morocco | Turkey	Tea house | Teapot | Tea and health

See also

• Chinese tea culture
• Japanese tea ceremony
• Potential effects of tea on health
• Reactive oxygen species
• Yellow tea
• Korean tea
• White tea

References

Literature

• Master Lam Kam Cheun et al (2002). The way of tea. Gaia Books.  

External links

• Green Tea (an overview from the University of Maryland Medical Center)
• A History of Green Tea

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