In the United States most people are dedicated coffee drinkers but in many European and eastern countries, tea is the drink of choice! China is the foremost tea-producing country, where more than four million acres of ground is devoted to its cultivation. In India, tea is also a very important agricultural product. Tea lovers cite its low caffeine and high levels of anti-aging components as a reason to include it in ones’ everyday diet. Green herbal tea is the latest buzzword in tea drinking and its health giving benefits are said to far outweigh those of ordinary black tea. In the past many people believed that black and green teas are derived from two completely different plants but, in fact, they come from the self-same plant (Camellia thea). So, what is green herbal tea and why is it such a superior product?

* How is Green Herbal Tea Produced?

Cultivated in Ceylon, Japan, Java, and elsewhere where climate allows – green herbal tea is prepared by a process of exposing the gathered tea leaves to natural air until all excess moisture has evaporated. The leaves are then roasted over a fast-burning wood fire where the harvest is continually stirred until the leaves are moist and flaccid.

The leaves are then conveyed to a rolling table where they are rolled into balls and subjected to intense pressure. This flattening process twists the leaves and removes any moisture still contained in them. After this, the tea leaves are shaken out onto flat trays and once again roasted – this time over a slow and steady charcoal fire. The leaves are kept in fast motion for an hour to an hour and a half or until the leaves turn a dull green color.

The next step in the process of making green herbal tea is to winnow the leaves (a process of separating out any unusable bits), screened, and graded into different varieties.

* The Health Giving Benefits of Green Herbal Tea

In China and Japan the health benefits of green tea have been extensively researched. According to these studies it has a positive effect on many organ systems in the body and inhibits the progression of certain diseases. Green tea contains some of the highest concentrations of minerals and antioxidants, which have been proven to benefit the body and slow down the aging process. The following are some of the health benefits of green herbal tea:

Enhanced Immunity

Antioxidant minerals are known to slow degenerative diseases. They do this by stopping free radicals from damaging the cells in the body. Free radicals harm the body by initiating chain reactions of electron scavenging. Polyphenols and flavenoids rank high in levels of antioxidant activity and green tea is 30-40% polyphenols by weight, making it a good fighter of free radicals. Most of green tea’s positive immune system effects are related to the high levels of polyphenols it contains.

Scientists estimate that the necessary daily intake of polyphenols is from 300-400 mg or about four cups of green tea daily. Green tea has the highest concentration of all types of polyphenols. This is because it is minimally processed. Another well-known immune builder, Vitamin C is also present in tea.

Protection Against Cancer

The National Cancer Center Research Institute in Tokyo advises that: “Drinking tea may be one of the most practical methods of cancer prevention available at present” (Mitscher, L. A. & Dolby, V. (1998). The Green Tea Book. Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group) Green herbal tea has been shown in studies to lower the occurrence of all types of cancers especially digestive and urinary tract cancers.

In animal studies, green tea was applied topically to the skin and shown to protect the skin against cancerous changes and slow the progression of skin cancer. Other research has shown tea to be helpful in inhibiting esophageal, stomach, colon, rectal, liver, pancreatic, bladder, breast, and lung cancers. In addition it has been shown to benefit white blood cells during chemotherapy treatment.

Heart Health

In certain individuals with a history of heart disease, limiting their intake of cholesterol does not always significantly lower their blood cholesterol level. However those who drink green herbal tea have shown a decrease in cholesterol levels. Green tea seems to bond with cholesterol, retarding absorption as it goes through the digestive tract. The effect of this is that the body won’t absorb the fat that was eaten.

Green tea has blood thinning effects and helps prevent unhealthy clotting. It has been shown to relax the blood vessel walls and result in a decrease in fatal heart disease and stroke.

Dental Health

Green herbal tea contains fluoride and other minerals. It helps fight cavities and maintains hard teeth. The polyphenols of tea show good anti-plaque properties that help fight bacteria in the mouth. Children can drink one cup of green tea a day as a cavity fighting aid. Rinsing with green tea after a meal cleans the mouth and is refreshing too.

Weight Loss

A cup of green herbal tea taken with each meal is said to aid weight loss. It acts as a metabolic stimulant and carries only 4 calories per serving! It is at its most beneficial when consumed with nothing added. The caffeine in tea will increase body function and help burn even more calories. The polyphenols aid in the digestion of fats.

Central Nervous System Benefits

Green herbal tea exerts a calming influence on the nervous system and leads to a feeling of comfort and exhilaration as long as it is used in moderation. Using too much causes unnatural wakefulness. Green tea is also useful to relieve neuralgic headaches.

With all this overwhelming evidence for the daily use of green herbal tea it is easy to see why it is one of the fastest growing beverages in health circles. The good news is that it also tastes pretty good so if that’s all you are after you can simply enjoy a refreshing beverage and improve your health and well being at the same time. Why not slowly reduce your coffee intake by a few cups a day and substitute green herbal tea instead. It may take some getting used to but think of all the good things about it too – it may even help you to live longer! Happy tea drinking!