Why is the green tea plant so good for you? There are many reasons one of them is the potent ingredient Catechin. Catechin is is found mainly in teas but it’s also found in smaller quantities in cocoa and some fruits and vegetables.
Catechin makes up about 25% of the weight of dried tea leaves although as with all plant life the actual weight varies slightly depending on light, altitude, where it’s grown, temperature and many other conditions.
The health benefits of this ingredient have been studied extensively over the years. Norman Hollenberg a professor at Harvard Medical School says it can reduce the risk of four of the health problems that affect us in major ways, these four are heart failure, stroke, diabetes and probably the most publicised fatal health condition of all , cancer.
A study of the Kuna people in Panama revealed that they drink up to 40 cups of cocoa a week which contains high quantities of Catechin, all be it in smaller quantities than from the green tea plant were a lot less likely to be afflicted by the ‘big for four’ health problems.
In fact cancer is an issue in less than 10% of the Kuna people whilst it’s prevalent in 1 in 3 of us in western society. As a result of his studies he believes that Catechin is a crucial supplement to every bodies diet.
In animals it’s be shown to reduce Atherosclerosis or as it’s also known Arteriosclerotic Vascular Disease (ASVD). The build up of fatty acids from materials such as cholesterol thickens the artery walls commonly referred to as the furring or hardening of the arteries.
Atherosclerosis happens over decades and eventually causes two problems, first the atheromatous plaques can lead to clots inside the artery, when they heal they usually shrink allowing less blood to flow through them and onto the organs and second a possible aneurysm could occur which in many cases is fatal.
Catechin has been shown to reduce the arthermous plaques which in turn reduces the onset of arterosclerosis. The health benefits of the green tea plant are numerous and should be taken as a part of a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
It can be taken as a drink or as a supplement. You’ll find it on the supermarket shelf, convenience store and your local health food shop. I take it in a multi-vitamin supplement for more information on how you can get all the goodness of the green tea plant into your body in the most efficient way possible to take full advantage of the benefits it has to offer visit my website.
