The Health Benefits Of Green Tea

As far back as 500,000 years ago, people enjoyed steeping tea leaves in boiling water. Was it the soothing experience that turned people onto tea? Or did our ancestors understand the powerful healing properties of a warm cup of tea? Whatever the reason, the art of drinking tea has become a worldwide phenomenon.

Recent media attention has turned the public's conscience to green tea, an ancient Asian blend that has become massively popular in the Western world. There are a number of outlandish claims regarding the health benefits of green tea being thrown around, so wading through all the BS can be anything but soothing.

So, what are the health benefits of green tea?

What's inside?

To understand the health benefits of green tea, let's first take a look at what's inside each cup:

• Green tea is chock-full of polyphenols, phytochemicals with potent antioxidant properties that give green tea its bitter flavor.
• Green tea contains six primary polyphenols, known as catechins.
• Green tea contains more catechins than black or oolong tea.
• Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most active and studied of green tea's catechins.
• Green tea also contains alkaloids such as caffeine (although in lower quantities than black tea), which give green tea its stimulating properties.

Is green tea healthy?

If only life were cut-and-dry, this question would have a simple answer. However, as with many natural supplements or remedies, the verdict on green tea is still up in the air. While some studies have suggested that green tea offers health benefits, many institutions, including the National Institutes of Health, agree that there simply isn't enough evidence to definitively proclaim the health benefits of green tea. Keeping in mind that more study is needed, green tea has shown modest benefits for some major health conditions:

Cardiovascular Disease

Several large studies have suggested that drinking green tea reduces the risk of stroke and coronary artery disease, although results are mixed. Green tea may further lower cholesterol, but it seems to have no effect on blood pressure. The FDA, therefore, has rejected a recent bid by green tea makers to allow tea labels to claim that green tea is heart-healthy.

Cancer

Human studies of green tea in cancer prevention have been conflicting. However, animal studies have been much more convincing. Green tea catechin extracts are thus being investigated for their anticancer properties in current clinical trials.

Weight Loss

Some studies suggest that drinking green tea or taking green tea extract pills can increase metabolism and help burn fat, but results are mixed once again.

Along with those health conditions listed above, other studies have suggested that green tea is helpful for diabetes, stress, dental cavities, protection against UV radiation, and viral infection. The bottom line, however, is that scientists just don't know enough to make any clear recommendations.

How much green tea should I drink?

Now that you understand that drinking green tea may offer some health benefits, why not give it a shot? But how many cups a day should you drink? Well, brace yourself: The majority of studies that found any health benefit had participants drink anywhere from three to 10 cups of green tea daily. In other words -- get brewin'!

How should I prepare my tea?

You'll get most benefit out of freshly brewed hot tea that has steeped for three to five minutes, a process that helps to bring out the catechins. Green tea made from older leaves also tends to have more catechins. Decaffeinated or bottled tea preparations and instant teas have less of those favorable chemicals and compounds, whereas green tea extract capsules provide similar amounts of catechins to freshly brewed tea. Typically, you'll want to take in 250 mg to 400 mg of green tea polyphenols per day or more (equals about three cups per day).

Does adding milk affect my tea?

Though green tea is not normally prepared with milk, one study found that the addition of milk blocked the healthy action of green or black tea catechins. Several other studies, however, have refuted this claim.

Is green tea harmful?

Green tea does contain active ingredients, particularly caffeine, which can cause problems such as an increased heart rate or insomnia for some. Caffeine also crosses the placenta and is found in breast milk, which means that pregnant or breastfeeding women might want to avoid green tea.

Green tea also contains tannin, which may limit iron absorption from fruits or vegetables. Taking tea with some lemon (high in vitamin C) should counteract this.

There are also numerous drugs with which green tea should not be combined. Many of these drug interactions are due to green tea's caffeine content. Green tea should not be mixed with adenosine, beta-lactam antibiotics, aspirin, benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, blood-thinning medications, chemotherapy, clozapine, ephedrine, lithium, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, oral contraceptives, and phenylpropanolamine. For more interactions, speak to your doctor.

going green

Despite the common notion that green tea is a holistic and healthy beverage, current medical studies don't yet seem to agree. While results look promising, more time and effort is needed to fully unravel the mysteries of this ancient beverage. In the meantime, drinking a few cups of green tea a day in place of other less healthy beverage choices is not such a bad idea.

Top 10 Cars We Can’t Wait For

No.10 - Toyota Prius

On sale: 2009

The third-generation U.S.-spec Toyota Prius appears to be taking a major step toward bringing unconvinced buyers into the fold; with more power, even better economy and -- finally -- a more pleasant look. What’s not to like? We’ll probably get a look at the 2010 model at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Expect a more Yaris-like nose, a slightly revised tail and more stylish flanks. The next edition could even include a plug-in model, though in limited numbers.

No.9 - Hyundai Genesis Coupe

On sale: 2009

What few would’ve predicted from Hyundai is now an ambitious salvo at the luxury car establishment with the now-available Genesis sedan. But wait, as the infomercials say, there’s more. The sports coupe market is going to have another competitor when the 2010 Genesis Coupe goes on sale in 2009. With a 223-horsepower turboed 4-cylinder and a 310-horsepower naturally aspirated V6 slated as engine choices, it promises to be a must-drive. Some call it a pony-car contender and others see it as a low-buck alternative to the Infiniti G37. Either way, it’s one of the upcoming cars we can’t wait for.

No.8 - Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

On sale: December 2008

In the approximate 3.9 seconds it takes to say this car’s name, you can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. As you’d correctly suspect, the Merchedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series is more than just a dark-hued SL65. It’s lighter, mostly rebodied (mostly in carbon fiber), now a fixed-roof car, and seriously more powerful. Whereas the “normal” car has 604 horsepower, the Black Series menaces with 661. Torque is still a healthy 738 lb-ft, but the transmission has been revised with an electronically limited top speed of 199 mph -- or so they claim. Now, where did we leave that quarter million bucks?

No.7 - Chevrolet Volt

On sale: November 2010

The new face of green, at least for Chevy, is set to roll by the end of 2010. You’ve heard about the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the ambitious ramp-up; but thanks to some leaked photos from GM, we have a better idea of what’s to come. Admittedly, it does look far more sober than the cool concept, but it’s easily as appealing as a Prius. The Volt stands apart as a plug-in electric car, with a battery-only range of 40 miles. Beyond that, a compact gas engine will kick in to recharge and extend the operating range tenfold.

No.6 - Audi R8 TDI Le Mans

On sale: TBD

For all those who scoffed at Audi for putting a diesel race car on the track, there’s going to be an oil-burning version of the R8 to humble traffic in public too. We must confess, the 6.0-liter, V12-endowed R8 TDI LeMans is still officially a concept as of this writing. However, the good news is that Audi is carefully allowing the press to sample a pre-production example with 500 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. Just the idea of a diesel supercar qualifies this Audi as a future car we can’t wait for.

No.5 - Lotus Evora

On sale: Late 2009

If you love everything about the Lotus Elise and Exige, minus the minor details of near-impossible ingress and egress, the upcoming Evora (nee Eagle) is set to thrill those above five-feet tall -- at least in front. Yes, the roomier Lotus is indeed a two-plus-two car, yet remains mid-engined like its baby brothers. Power is expected to be in the 300-horsepower range and courtesy of a 3.5-liter Toyota V6. Where the Ferrari Mondial struck out in looks and functionality years earlier, the Lotus Evora looks to be a winner.

No.4 - Porsche Panamera

On sale: 2009

Porsche used to build two-door sports cars -- period. That ended with a thud when the Cayenne landed, and now another example is coming soon in the four-door Panamera. Spy photos haven’t exactly been thrilling, but we’re going to reserve judgment until we see and drive it firsthand. First, we suspect the car to be a stronger seller overseas than in the U.S., which will likely have an impact on final style tweaks. Second, the engine lineup hasn’t been officially decided. Regardless, as a Porsche, one can reasonably expect the Panamera to be a strong performer.

No.3 - Ferrari California

On sale: 2008 (Europe), 2009 (North America)

In a recent feature devoted to the new Ferrari California, we shamelessly gushed over Maranello’s newest and made it fairly clear why it’s a car we can’t wait for. And why not? This is Ferrari’s first front-engine V8 two-plus-two convertible, with performance to put it very much in line with its stable-mates. Zero to 60 mph is expected to be attainable in under four seconds, with a top speed approaching 200 mph. Besides, it’s exceptionally cool to remark that Michael Schumacher had a hand in your car’s development.

No.2 - Chevrolet Camaro

On sale: February 2009 (coupe), November 2009 (convertible)

Let’s thank Chevy for making threesomes possible. Just as the Dodge Challenger is already running and the 2010 Ford Mustang launches in early 2009, the Camaro returns with a vengeance. Yes, a three-car comparison is already planned. Plus, sources suggest the Camaro could offer a trio of engine choices; including the obligatory 400-horsepower V8, a 300-horsepower V6 and even a 260-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder. So long as the Camaro doesn’t also signal the return of the mullet, we’ll gladly celebrate the new car with the old name.

No.1 - Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

On sale: 2009 (coupe), 2010 (convertible)

The last time Alfisti were granted a new model in the States was at least a generation ago. Proving the wait was well worth it, the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is a stunner. If you think Lamborghinis have too-sharp body lines and Ferrari's looks don’t quite thrill, the Alfa stands apart with just the right style. Of course, being Italian, the 8C Competizione does share one thing with the aforementioned: an engine (in this case, a 4.7-liter V8) whose sound will resonate with you long after the drive.

10 Most Unique Lakes of our World

Plitvice Lakes (Croatia): Sixteen Lakes interconnected by Spectacular Waterfalls

The Plitvice Lakes are a series of sixteen lakes interconnected by spectacular waterfalls, set in a deep woodland and populated by deers, bears, wolves, boars and rare bird species. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the lakes are renowned for their distinctive colours, ranging from azure to green, grey or blue. The colours change constantly depending on the quantity of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of sunlight.

Boiling Lake (Dominica): A Flooded Fumarole

The Boiling Lake is situated in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, Dominica's World Heritage site. It is a flooded fumarole, or hole in the earth’s surface, 10.5 km east of Roseau, Dominica, on the Caribbean. It is filled with bubbling greyish-blue water that is usually enveloped in a cloud of vapor. The lake is approximately 60 m across.

Red Lagoon (Bolivia):Red (algae) + White (borax)

The Laguna Colorada (Red Lagoon) is a shallow salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia, close to the border with Chile. The lake contains borax islands, whose white color contrasts nicely with the reddish color of its waters, caused by red sediments and pigmentation of some algae.

Five-Flower Lake (China): Beautiful Multi-Coloured Lake with Fallen Tree Trunks

The Wuhua Hai, or Five-Flower Lake, is the signature of the Jiuzhaigon National Park in China. The lake is a shallow multi-coloured lake whose bottom is littered with fallen tree trunks. The water is so clear that you can see the trunks clearly. The water comes in different shares of turquoise, from yellowish to green, to blue. It is located at an elevation of 2472 meters, below Panda Lake and above the Pearl Shoal Waterfall.

Dead Sea (Israel and Jordan): Lowest Point on Earth

The Dead Sea is a salt lake situated between Israeland the West bank to the west, and Jordan to the east. It is 420 meters (1,378 ft) below sea level and its shores are the lowest point on the surface of the Earth on dry land. The Dead Sea is 330 m (1,083 ft) deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. It is also the world's second saltiest body of water, after Lake Assal in Djibouti, with 30 percent salinity. It is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. This salinity makes for a harsh environment where animals cannot flourish and boats cannot sail. The Dead Sea is 67 kilometers (42 mi) long and 18 kilometers (11 mi) wide at its widest point. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, and its main tributary is the Jordan River.The Dead Sea has attracted visitors from around the Mediterranean basin for thousands of years. Biblically, it was a place of refuge for King David. It was one of the world's first health resorts (for Herod the Great), and it has been the supplier of a wide variety of products, from balms for Egyptian mummification to potash for fertilizers.

Lake Baikal (Russia): Deepest and Oldest Lake in the World

Lake Baikal is located in Southern Siberia in Russia, and it's also known as the "Blue Eye of Siberia". It contains more water than all the North American Great Lakes combined. At 1,637 meters (5,371 ft), Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world, and the largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, holding approximately twenty percent of the world's total fresh water. However, Lake Baikal contains less than one third the amount of water as the Caspian Sea which is the largest lake in the world. Lake Baikal was formed in an ancient rift valley and therefore is long and crescent-shaped with a surface area (31,500 km²) slightly less than that of Lake Superior or Lake Victoria. Baikal is home to more than 1,700 species of plants and animals, two thirds of which can be found nowhere else in the world and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. At more than 25 million years old, it is the oldest lake in the world.

Lake Titicaca (Bolivia andPeru): World's Highest Navigable Lake

Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It sits 3,812 m (12,500 ft) above sea level making it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. By volume of water it is also the largest lake in South America. Lake Titicaca is fed by rainfall and meltwater from glaciers on the sierras that abut the Altiplano.

Caspian Sea (Russia): World's Largest Lake

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest lake or largest inland body of water in the world, and accounts for 40 to 44 percent of the total lacustrine waters of the world. With a surface area of 394,299 km² (152,240 mi²), it has a surface area greater than the next six largest lakes combined.

Crater Lake (USA): its waters are considered one of the World's Most Clearest

Crater Lake is a caldera lake located in Oregon; due to several unique factors, most prominently that it has no inlets or tributaries, the waters of Crater Lake are considered one of the world's most clearest. The lake partly fills a nearly 4,000 foot (1,220 m) deep caldera that was formed around 5,677 (± 150) BC by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. Its deepest point has been measured at 1,949 feet (594 m) deep, making it the deepest lake in the United States, and the ninth deepest in the world.

Lake Karachay (Russia): Most Polluted Spot on Earth

Lake Karachay is a small lake in the southern Ural mountains in western Russia. Starting in 1951 the Soviet Union used Karachay as a dumping site for radioactive waste from Mayak, the nearby nuclear waste storage and reprocessing facility, located near the town of Ozyorsk. According to a report by the Washington, D.C.-based Worldwatch Institute on nuclear waste, Karachay is the "most polluted spot" on Earth. The lake accumulated some 4.44 exabecquerels (EBq) of radioactivity, including 3.6 EBq of Caesium-137 and 0.74 EBq of Strontium-90. For comparison, the Chernobyl disaster released from 5 to 12 EBq of radioactivity, however this radiation is not concentrated in one location.