Tea has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. But, as much as it’s been relied on for healing, we are really just beginning to understand all the ways that green tea can protect health and prevent disease. Research has been performed on green tea’s effects on many different diseases, and the results have been astounding.
Take high cholesterol. Green tea seems to have the ability to lower LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). Plus, it seems to prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Oxidation causes the LDL’s to harden and turn into arterial plaque that clogs our arteries. Green tea has also been shown to inhibit the formation of abnormal blood clots (which are the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes). One study that followed patients who had already had a heart attack showed that those patients who drank green tea recovered from their heart attack more easily and had less chance of suffering a second attack.
Green tea may also contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is another contributor to heart disease. Asian countries have a much lower incidence of cancer than the rest of the world, suggesting that those who are lifelong tea drinkers may be much less at risk for developing cancer than those who don’t drink tea. However, new research is showing that drinking tea as part of your cancer treatment may prolong your life. Tea’s anti-oxidants have been shown to inhibit the growth of tumours, so even if you’ve already been diagnosed with a tumour, you may be able to prevent its growth. In addition, another study showed that women with breast cancer who began consuming 4-5 cups of tea each day lived longer than those breast cancer patients who did not drink tea. Specific cancers that seem to be prevented by green tea include prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and cancers of the digestive system. It is even thought to be able to prevent skin cancer when applied topically.

Tea’s anti-oxidants seem to protect brain cells, making them less likely to be affected by the chemicals that affect cells and lead to Alzheimer’s. In addition, because the number one risk factor for Alzheimer’s is aging, green tea’s ability to reduce premature aging could mean that tea drinkers may have bodies that are far younger than their age implies. This would mean that they would be likely to suffer Alzheimer’s at a much later age, if at all. Recently, scientists have discovered a relationship between green tea and the prevention of Parkinson’s disease. Green tea seems to have a positive affect on the transport of dopamine in the brain, and this is good news for the prevention of Parkinson’s. So, as you can see, green tea holds much potential in the world of medicine. As research continues, we may find thousands of ways that green tea can prevent and treat diseases. In the meantime, doesn’t it make sense to add green tea to your diet and take advantage of the many health benefits it offers?