The key to good health may be found in a cup of tea! A study conducted at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and the University of Connecticuts nutritional science department shows that tea has potent antioxidants; more potent than the antioxidants found in over 20 vegetables they studied including broccoli, cauliflower, garlic and spinach. While tea shouldnt replace vegetables in your diet, drinking black, oblong and green tea ,or supplementing with Green Tea Extract may boost your antioxidant intake.
Green Tea Extract comes from the natural dried leaves of the tea plant Camellia sinensis and has been used for thousands of years in Asia as a beverage and an herbal medicine. Green Tea Extract contains natural caffeine that can activate the central nervous system, which in turn increases the bodys ability to burn extra calories and unwanted fat. This process is known as thermogenesis. More importantly, Green Tea Extract is an excellent source of potent, bioflavonoid rich compounds that are high in polyphenols, which are a special class of bioflavonoids. Catechins, and in particular - Epigallocatechin Gallate EGCG , is the most important polyphenol and has the strongest antioxidant action. Research has shown that EGCG is more powerful than vitamin E in neutralizing free radicals.
An interesting, yet little known, fact about Green Tea is that it is rich in fluoride and therefore can help reduce tooth decay. Green Tea Extract has also been successfully used in the relief of respiratory and digestive related conditions and to boost immune system function.