| What are the antioxidant effects of green tea? | | | | and chemical pollutants. More free radicals are |
| Green tea has been widely accepted as being a | | | | produced as we age, which means a diet rich in |
| great source of antioxidants. The active | | | | antioxidants is very important. |
| components in green tea are powerful | | | | A number of cancers are linked with free radical |
| antioxidants called polphenols (catechins). | | | | damage. Numerous scientific studies have |
| Green tea contains one particularly potent | | | | suggested that the antioxidant effects of green |
| catechin known as epigallocatechin (EGCG). EGCG | | | | tea have anti-cancer benefits for breast, |
| is said to contain 25-100 times more antioxidants | | | | stomach, colon, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, |
| than Vitamins C and E. Green tea catechins make | | | | bladder, skin, leukemia and liver cancer. Aging is |
| up 30% of the dry weight of green tea leaves. | | | | also a result of free radical damage. |
| What are antioxidants? | | | | How do the antioxidant effects of black tea |
| Antioxidants are substances which protect cell | | | | compare to green tea? |
| tissues from the damaging effects of oxygen. | | | | All teas contain antioxidants, however green tea |
| Antioxidants play an important role in preventing | | | | contains significantly more due to the different |
| cellular damage from free radicals. Antioxidants | | | | processing methods. In the processing of green |
| donate an electron to the free radical and convert | | | | tea, the leaves are steamed and not exposed to |
| it to a normal molecule. | | | | oxygen. |
| Common antioxidants are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, | | | | When black tea leaves are processed they are |
| beta-carotene, selenium, lutien and lycopene. As | | | | fermented and exposed to oxygen. This process |
| mentioned above green tea contains the potent | | | | means the leaves lose much of their goodness |
| antioxidant EGCG, which is said to contain 25-100 | | | | and makes green tea the most healthful of the |
| times more antioxidants than Vitamins C and E. | | | | two. |
| What are free radicals? | | | | How do you get the most antioxidants from |
| Free radicals are reactive substances that contain | | | | green tea? |
| oxygen and are formed when molecules split to | | | | You will also reap more antioxidant health benefits, |
| make unpaired electrons. These single, unpaired | | | | if you consume loose leaf green tea rather than |
| electrons then try to pair up by stealing an | | | | green tea brewed from tea bags. This is because |
| electron from the nearest stable cell. Thus this | | | | the tea put in tea bags, is made from the |
| can create a chain reaction, and antioxidants are | | | | left-overs after loose leaf green tea has been |
| thought to stop the free radicals before they can | | | | packaged. This is known as 'dust' in the tea |
| cause damage to other healthy cells. Free radicals | | | | industry. Because the tea leaves have been |
| are reactive and can damage cell DNA, or cell | | | | broken into tiny pieces, most of the healthful |
| membranes. Free radicals can damage cells so | | | | benefits are lost. |
| they can't function, or cause the cells to die. | | | | When you brew green tea with loose leaf tea, |
| Free radicals are produced in normal | | | | you can see the leaves unfurl in front of you. |
| circumstances in the body, and if we are | | | | After you brew the leaves for just a couple of |
| consume a diet rich in antioxidants, they neutralize | | | | minutes, you will see the rich color, and appreciate |
| the free radicals before they do any damage. | | | | the aroma of green tea, that you will only |
| Free radical damage can be accelerated with | | | | experience from loose leaf green tea. |
| exposure to air pollution, tobacco smoke, UV light | | | | |