Health benefits of green tea include the ability to treat body ache, improve digestion, boost the immune system, increase life span, and promote overall health.

Compared to black and oolong tea, green tea contains higher concentrations of the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG.) EGCG is over 100 times more effective in neutralizing free radicals than other well-known antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E.

EGCG is a natural inhibitor of TNF-[alpha], a gene expression which promotes cancer cell growth. EGCG has also been proven effective in killing cultured cancer cells without causing harm to surrounding healthy cells. EGCG, among other antioxidants, prevents the cellular damage that leads to cancer and other diseases.

A study by Japanese scientists of the Saitama Cancer Research Institute produced findings indicating that after cancer treatment, early stage breast cancer spreads less rapidly in women who drink five or more cups of green day per day.

Green tea is common in many diet supplements because it helps with improving metabolism and thermogensis without increasing heart rate. Two studies have indicated that drinking green tea may help you lose weight. The first study found that green tea drinkers burned an additional 70 calories per day, due to the catechins in green tea (antioxidants which enhance metabolism.) The second study produced findings indicating that a combination of caffeine and EGCG can enhance metabolic rate.

Results from other previous studies suggest that green tea may be useful for several health conditions including: Atherosclerosis, skin cancer, bladder cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, high cholesterol, and diabetes, among others. Researchers from National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Tainan, Taiwan, found that drinking tea, which contains flavonoids and fluoride, can improve bone strength.

According to a recent study at Egypt´s University of Alexandria, green tea boosts the effectiveness of antibiotics in fighting harmful bacteria and drug-resistant superbugs like MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.) Egyptian researchers tested green tea in combination with antibiotics against 28 disease-causing microorganisms and found that green tea enhanced the bacteria-killing activity of the antibiotics in every case.

Other benefits of green tea include improved circulation, heightened protection against degenerative disorders, improved concentration, reduced blood pressure, and enhanced alertness. Depending on the brand of green tea, two to three cups of green tea per day (for a total of 240 to 320 mg polyphenols) or 300 to 400 mg per day of green tea extract is the recommended dosage for health maintenance.

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