http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200507/2

These facts about green tea are from the above website:


Green Tea: Separating Fact from Fiction



Koreans Are Crazy About Green Tea



When Lim Mi-suk (25) was studying for the civil service exam, she habitually drank seven cups of cold green tea daily, having heard it was good for dieting and skin, and better than water. But after 10 days of the regime, her stomach hurt and her digestion was poor. Naturally, says Choe Seong-hee of Dong-eui University's Department of Food and Nutrition. That happens if you drink too much of the faddish drink on an empty stomach.

From the same website as the previous post:

Eastern medicine specialists advise hot green tea over cold because its "cold" elements already bring down body temperature. For people of the "Minor Yin" body type, who get cold easily, it's best not to drink green tea when they experience indigestion after eating cold food. In Eastern medicine, different medicines have been used to treat diseases depending on "body type," of which there are four -- Major Yang, Major Yin, Minor Yang and Minor Yin. Lee Chang-hun of Kyung Hee University's Kangnam Korean Hospital says people with bodies with a lot of heat should also avoid cold green tea.

One or two cups are fine. If you drink more than that, the acidic tannin in green tea can irritate an empty stomach, much as orange juice can. Tannin can prevent the stomach of people with gastro-intestinal disorders like gastric ulcers from repairing itself. Oxidized oolong or black tea make the tannin insoluble, so they are fine. Moreover, too much caffeine can mean you lose too many minerals in your urine.

Because tannin merges with inorganic materials, it can interfere in the absorption of calcium. The effects are not of a scale that should worry you, but you shouldn't let growing children drink green tea right after they've eaten calcium-rich food. Mothers should avoid mixing green tea into their babies' powdered milk, and pregnant mothers and babies under five months should avoid it because their capacity to discharge caffeine is lower.

¡ß Is it good for constipation?

The effects of green tea made from soaked leaves and from powder are different. In the case of tea from leaves or tea bags, only the minerals seep out into the water. The dietary fiber that eases constipation remains in the leaf itself and does not enter the body, so it has no effect on constipation.

¡ß Do you lose weight?

Green tea has virtually no calories, and it reduces that amount of cholesterol stored in the body. The caffeine and amino acids stimulate the brain and increase metabolism, so they can lead to weight loss. Yet no matter how good a food is, it's best not to consume too much of it. If you drink too much green tea, you become addicted to the caffeine and that can lead to digestive problems.

(englishnews@chosun.com )

Thank you for sharing this info.
I used to drink a lot of green tea, but now my body does not like it; green tea actually makes me feel bad, and I cannot sleep after drinking it. I guess all things in moderation.

Love,
Sue

Thank you for this post. I have been drinking a bit too much green tea, and now I think that I should cut back a bit. I have not been able to sleep too well, probably due to the excess caffeine in green tea.

Love
Vicky

Thank you Sue and Vicky.

I did not mean to imply that green tea was all bad; in moderation it can be very good.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

cancer
rheumatoid arthritis
high cholesterol levels
cariovascular disease
infection
impaired immune function

The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

So keep having some green tea, but don't go to extremes.
Everything in moderation.


Inda

Thank you Inda.

I found this information in a magazine:
" Contrary to what some studies claim, green tea probably does not help prevent breast, prostate or any other type of cancer."

"Two studies do not show that drinking green tea reduces the risk of breast cancer in women, but one weaker, more limited study suggests that drinking green tea may reduce this risk."

I guess one or two cups a day will be all right.

Love
Vicky

Thank you Vicky,

I have found more positive information which I will share:

Many Chinese people have been drinking green tea for centuries for all the positive aspects that it brings to your health. This has spread to people worldwide and green tea is now the second most popular beverage in the world. Green tea is said to have many health benefits, including lowering your cholesterol, boosting your immune system and helping to prevent cavities and tooth decay.

Health Benefits There are three types of tea Black, Oolong, and Green tea. The difference between the Green tea and the others is that green tea is not fermented, thus keeping in the powerful antioxidants lost in the fermenting process.

Anti-Cancer Compound In Green Tea Identified Researchers at the University of Murcia in Spain (UMU) and the John Innes Center (JIC) in Norwich, England have shown that a compound called EGCG in green tea prevents cancer cells from growing by binding to a specific enzyme. "We have shown for the first time that EGCG, which is present in green tea at relatively high concentrations, inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which is a recognized, established target for anti-cancer drugs, " Professor Roger Thorneley, of JIC, told Reuters.

History Made from the dried leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, Green tea came from China between 4,000- 5,000 years ago.


I guess we should have it in moderation, one or two cups a day. Just don't overdo it.

This is great reading the pros and cons.
As you said: all things in moderation.

Sue

When I drink more than 3 glasses of green tea a day, I feel anxious and paranoid, and rather depressed. Is this related to drinking too much green tea?
Thankyou
Jessica!

Dear Jessica,

I find that I get anxious and irritable as well when I drink too much green tea. The first article states just that. We should be careful not to have too much of it.

Love,
Sue

Thanks for this info girls.

I have one oor two cups a day at most so yes in moderation.

As far as studies are concerned...we have to be very aware and careful because some are being sponsored by pharmaceutical giants who do not want to have us know the real benefits of some food.

Yet, the Eastern cultures have so much to offer to us Westerners, healthwise!

Love,
Sylvie