Green tea is so good for you!

Everyone is aware of the health benefits associated with green tea. Not many people are aware that green tea products vary greatly in their ability to deliver health benefits. This is because the majority of health benefits associated with green tea consumption is due to a single compound in green tea, EGCg or Epigallocatechin gallate.

EGCg is only one of the catechins or polyphenols found in green tea; however it appears to be the most important. For example,

1.) Only EGCg is linked with fat and weight loss, not the other Green Tea compounds

2.) EGCg offers the highest antioxidant activity of all of the green tea catechins. EGCg antioxidant activity is 25 to 100 times more powerful than Vitamins C or E.

3.) EGCg is responsible for most of the anti-cancer benefits of green tea. In fact, the most of the Cancer Research on green tea has focused on EGCg.

4.) EGCg is responsible for much of the pathogen fighting activity of green tea. EGCg appears to kill/inhibit many viruses and bacteria including influenza virus, streptococcus, and salmonella.

5.) EGCg is responsible for the alleviating arthritis symptoms. Research indicates that EGCg is blocks the COX-2 pathway; however, unlike prescription COX-2 inhibitors (Vioxx and Celebrex) EGCg use is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

6.) There are 1040 articles discussing EGCg in PubMed (the online database for the National Library of Medicine).

The health benefits associated with the Green Tea product you purchase is directly related to the EGCg content. EGCg content is dependent on two key points

1.) How much EGCg was in the original plant material. EGCg is the highest in the first buds or leaves. It is the lowest in mature leaves and stems. Matcha tea is a Japanese green tea prepared from the first leaves with all of the stems and veins removed. A 2003 study found that the Matcha provided 137 times more EGCg than ordinary green tea. (J Chromatogr A. 2003 Sep 5;1011(1-2):173-80).

2.) How the Green Tea product was processed. EGCg content is destroyed when exposed to high temperatures. A 2001 study found that 20% of the EGCg content was lost in the bottling process used to make green tea beverages (J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Jan;49(1):477-82.). Likewise, EGCg deteriorates while sitting on a grocer's shelf due to exposure to air.

The bottom line is that there is a huge variability in the quality of Green Tea products on the market today. A 2003 comparison of 18 teas concluded that this variability may account for the contradictory results of some green tea epidemiological studies (Nutrition and Cancer 2003, Vol. 45, No. 2, Pages 226-235).

Epidemiological studies are when large populations are evaluated to see how lifestyle choices impact health risks. A few epidemiological studies have concluded that green tea offers little or no health benefits.

If you are drinking Green Tea for your health, there is a good chance that you are receiving only a fraction of the health benefits.

The answer of course is to buy the best quality green tea you can find. Price is usually a good guide. remember, life is too short to drink cheap tea.

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