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For centuries now, many people have held the belief that green tea is beneficial for the body. With scientific research gradually confirming that longstanding concept, green tea is now becoming more and more accepted as an essential part of the daily diet of many people. Here are some of the evidences that illustrate the health benefit of green tea.

The health benefit of green tea is largely due to its abundance of flavonoids, a type of chemical found in all plants that help protect them from damage. Flavonoids are regarded as antioxidants, the major factors why green tea excels in providing health benefits. Flavonoids help prevent cellular damage due to free radicals caused by factors such as pollution, smog and cigarette smoke. Meanwhile, catechins are a type of flavonoids found in green tea. Considered more powerful than vitamins C and E, catechins also have the ability to protect cells from oxidative damage.

Cardiovascular Benefits

One health benefit of green tea is that it lowers the risk of heart diseases. A study has showed that regular green tea drinkers reduced their risks of developing hypertension by 46% - 65% compared to people who did not drink tea. It has been considered that the antioxidant chemicals in green tea are partly the reason for a reduction in heart-related diseases.

Antioxidants have been regarded as a major factor in decreasing the risk of atherosclerosis. By drinking green tea, oxidation of lipid in the blood is prevented. This, in turn, lessens the probability of lipids from sticking to the walls of the artery. Also, another recent study has shown that consuming green tea apparently enhances the function of the lining of the blood vessels. This allows arteries to become more capable of expanding and contracting when they need to. And, the enhanced function also reduces the arteries chances of forming plaques and lesions linked to heart diseases. The antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea also prevents the unnatural formation of blood clots known to cause thrombosis, one of the major causes of heart attacks and strokes.

Decreased Risk of Esophageal Cancer

The health benefit of green tea is also apparent in the recent studies showing that regular consumption of green tea can help in reducing the risks of esophageal cancer by as much as 60%. Research has revealed that the EGCG in green tea suppresses the growth of cancer cells and destroys existing ones without harming the normal and healthy cells.

Weight Loss

Numerous studies suggest that green tea extract has properties that increase metabolism and help burn fat naturally. Researchers think that the high concentrations of catechins in green tea are instrumental in burning fat. These catechins are said to work with other chemicals to quicken the fat oxidation process and thermogenesis, wherein heat is produced in the body through burning of fuels such as fat. One study showed the health benefit of green tea when it was combined with caffeine. The combination caused a significant improvement in weight reduction and maintenance in overweight and moderately obese people.