Antioxidant
Effects of Green Tea
Oxygen is an essential element and all members of the animal
kingdom need it. Oxygen is that element in the air that
triggers the burning of glucose and fat to provide heat and
energy in the body. But as essential as oxygen is, it does
have its negative effects.
During the process of oxidation, highly reactive byproducts
called free radicals are produced. These free radicals act
on other molecules, turning them into free radicals like
themselves, thus disrupting their normal functioning. This
could eventually lead to massive cell destruction, tissue
damage, and even cause degenerative
diseases, like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s
disease, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis,
atherosclerosis, etc.
Fortunately, the human body comes equipped with natural
defenses against these harmful free radicals. Antioxidants
are chemical substances found naturally in fruits and
vegetables. Antioxidants act on free
radicals, hunting them down and neutralizing them in
order to stop their rampaging on healthy cells of the body.
Antioxidant Effects of Plants
Among the many plants that contain disease-fighting
antioxidants is the camellia sinensis, otherwise known as
the tea plant. For centuries, tea has been served in Chinese
households as a healthy beverage to promote health and
general well-being. Green tea especially has been greatly
favored due its many astounding health benefits.
Green tea has been consumed throughout the ages in India,
China, Japan, and Thailand. In traditional Chinese and
Indian medicine, green tea has been used as a stimulant,
diuretic (to promote the excretion of urine), astringent (to
control bleeding and help heal wounds), and to improve heart
health.
Today, the benefits of green tea have been largely
attributed to the presence of polycatechins with powerful
antioxidant effects. But besides polycatechins, there are
also other ingredients in green tea that contribute to its
antioxidant effects.
Green Tea and its Antioxidant Effects
Among all flavonoids, catechin is ranked high for its
antioxidant effects and properties. Catechin is that
substance found in green tea which makes the beverage an
excellent source of antioxidant effects. Besides tannin,
vitamins such as vitamin A (carotene), C, and E, there are
also other well-known substances in green tea that gives it
its antioxidant effects.
Research aimed at finding the active compounds in green tea
revealed that its protective and antioxidant effects are due
chiefly to catechins which are powerful polyphenolic
antioxidants. Green tea also has antioxidant effects that
make them powerful anti-carcinogenic, cardioprotective,
nueroprotective, and anti-microbial actions. A particularly
bioactive catechin called epigallocatechin gallate has been
singled out by many researchers as very important because of
its antioxidant effects leading to cancer prevention.
|
