The Facts On Green Tea

There are many uses for green tea, but the Chinese people were the first people to use it for medicinal purposes. They used it in treating headaches and depression and it is an important part of their history. Green tea is made from Camellia Sinesis leaves through a special process and it has little caffeine for those who like to enjoy it at night. There are many medical benefits to drinking this tea and it is even used to treat multiple sclerosis.

Many people drink green tea because of its use in treating and preventing cancer. It is also used to stop Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, as well as the risk of esophageal cancer. It also helps reduce cholesterol and the growth of certain cancer cells. Those who suffer from some type of impaired immune function will benefit by drinking green tea. It helps to guard against tooth decay, hypertension, gallstones, kidney disease and osteoporosis. It’s hard to believe that all of these benefits come from drinking just 3 cups per day.

When selecting green tea, make sure to look at the caffeine content. Not all teas are made alike and you want to choose one of good quality. If you are on medication such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or theophylline, you will want to stay away from green tea. It can cause an increase or decrease in absorption of these drugs, either causing too much medication or not enough.

If you are pregnant, you should also stay away from green tea. Women who drink large amounts of it right before or during pregnancy will increase their risk of their baby being born with spina bifida, as it decreases the amount of folic acid levels in the system. People who are anemic or iron deficient should limit their consumption to one cup a day because green tea interferes with iron absorption.