How Green Tea Has Been Traditionally Utilized By Japanese For Their Health

By:


If you ever visit a home in Japan, you will immediately be offered a cup of hot green tea. This tea, while slightly bitter in taste, is actually quite refreshing and is considered a sign of hospitality in the region. Green tea can be found at nearly any type of social gathering in Japan. The history of this tea can be traced back to Zen priests, who used it to give them mental clarity during long hours of meditation. So it began with monasteries, then made its way into the ruling class and elites, and finally found its way down to the commoners.

Tea is not only used in Japan as something to enjoy and share together when you have company, but it is also used because of the many health benefits offered by green tea, as well as many other types. Perhaps one of the biggest claims regarding green tea and the positive things it can do is prevent cancer. Numerous studies, including a review from the FDA, have said that there is no conclusive proof that this type of tea can reduce the risk of cancer. There are other health claims however, regarding tea drinking, and these claims have been backed up with scientific data gathered from controlled studies.

In Japan, green tea is usually consumed before engaging in a prolonged period of meditation. This tea in general has been found to boost mental awareness. One of the ingredients found in tea, theanine, is believed to be absorbed into the small intestine, and when it travels from the blood to the brain, it causes the neurotransmitters to increase brain activity, thus creating a calmer and more relaxed state. Japanese citizens also use tea in order to boost their immune systems. The same ingredient that increases brain activity is also thought to be responsible for this boost as well.

The elderly in Japan are also big proponents of tea drinking. A recent study conducted in Japan showed that older people who drank 2 cups or more of green tea in a day reduced their chances of being inflicted with cognitive impairment by 50 percent, when compared with those who drank less than 2 cups, or consumed non-tea beverages. This is believed to be linked to EGCG, a powerful antioxidant that is found in large quantities in most teas. The Japanese also use tea as an antidepressant. Another study conducted in Japan found that consumption of green tea could be linked to a lower amount of symptoms of depression.

About the Author:
Many people are not aware there is a healthier Japanese herbal tea than Green teas, called Tenchicha. The tea contains 12 herbs with no caffeine. Mr. Kumagai is the president of Eco Vita, which provides information on health benefits of herbal products including tenchicha. For more detail, please visit Tenchicha.com.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent UnCategorized Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.