Antioxidant Effects Of Green Tea
Through the process of oxidation, oxygen starts the process of burning glucose and fat to provide heat and energy in the body. Although this is an inevitable and naturally occurring process which gives our bodies the energy we need; the process of oxidation creates some by-products that have negative effects to our body.
During the process of oxidation, highly reactive by-products called free radicals are produced. These free radicals act on other molecules, turning them into free radicals like themselves, thus disrupting their normal functioning. This could eventually lead to massive cell destruction, tissue damage, and even cause degenerative diseases, like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis among others.
Oxygen damage to your cells results when there are too many free radicals present inside the body. Researchers conclude that such damage may be partly responsible for the effects of aging and certain diseases.
There are certain substances in food which may play a role in protecting against this damage. Luckily, the human body comes prepared with natural defenses against these harmful free radicals.
Antioxidants are chemical substances found naturally in fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants act on free radicals, pursuing them and neutralizing them in order to stop their damage on healthy cells of the body.
What are the antioxidant effects of plants? Among the many plants that have disease-fighting antioxidants is the camellia sinensis, otherwise known as the tea plant. For centuries, tea has been served in Asian households as a healthy drink to promote health and general well-being. Green tea especially has been greatly favored due its many amazing health benefits.
For centuries, green tea has been consumed throughout the ages in Asia. In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, green tea has been used as a stimulant, diuretic (to promote the excretion of urine), astringent (to control bleeding and help heal wounds), and to improve heart health.
The benefits of green tea have been largely attributed to the presence of polycatechins which have potent antioxidant effects. However, besides polycatechins, there are also other ingredients in green tea that contribute to its antioxidant effects.
What are the antioxidant effects found in green tea? Among all flavonoids, catechin is ranked high for its antioxidant effects and properties. Catechin is that substance in green tea which makes the beverage an excellent source of antioxidant effects. Besides tannin, vitamins such as vitamin A (carotene), C, and E, there are also other well-known substances in green tea that gives it its antioxidant effects.
Research aimed at finding the active compounds in green tea revealed that its defensive and antioxidant effects are mainly due to catechins which are powerful polyphenolic antioxidants.
Green tea also has antioxidant effects that make them powerful anti-carcinogenic, cardioprotective, nueroprotective, and anti-microbial actions. A mostly bioactive catechin called epigallocatechin gallate has been singled out by many researchers as very important because of its antioxidant effects leading to cancer prevention.
It is therefore a good idea to drink tea for its antioxidants effects. A constant intake of antioxidants from our diet can protect against damages to our body cells which occur following oxidation. Have more cups of green tea per day and benefit from its antioxidant effects.
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Antioxidant Effects Of Green Tea
Oxidation is the process where oxygen in the body burns glucose and fat to provide the body with heat and energy. This is a naturally occurring process that is part of living and is necessary for our bodies to have the energy they need. Oxidation, though, creates some by products that have negative effects on our bodies.
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People are living longer now than ever. You've heard the expression "40 is the new 30," right? Unfortunately, the process of aging is inevitable. Scientists have discovered that our cells can only divide so many times during our lifetime before they give out. By the time we are 20 years old, most of the cells in our body have already used up half of their available cell divisions in their cell lifespan. By the time we are 40, our cells may only have 30% of their cell divisions left. This is why we age and see the physical changes that goes on inside and outside our bodies. You really can't fight getting aging.
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Oxidation is a normal process within our bodies that contributes significantly to aging. Oxidation causes the production of free radicals which damage other cells in the body and lead to aging. Since this link was made between degenerative diseases and free radicals, scientists have focused on antioxidants. Antioxidants work against free radicals by neutralizing them, preventing the damage they cause and even repairing the damage they do. Antioxidants are essential to our bodies.
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Scientists have discovered that there is a connection between free radicals in our bodies and degenerative diseases. Since this discovery, there has been research on how antioxidants can prevent free radicals from causing or accelerating degenerative diseases. Antioxidants fight free radicals and neutralize them. Antioxidants keep your body looking young and healthy.
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Chinese folklore claims that green tea was discovered when plant leaves accidentally dropped into a pot of water that the emperor was boiling. The emperor was pleased with the smell coming from the pot and green tea came to be. For centuries, the properties of green tea have helped people live happy lives. Chinese let children as young as three months old drink green tea for its health benefits. Green tea is used to treat everything from indigestion to arthritis.
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What is ORAC? ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity. It is an analysis that measures the antioxidant power of a substance. Specifically, it quantifies the amount of time it takes a substance to neutralize an oxidizing agent. And antioxidants are what neutralize these agents. Oxidizing agents, called Oxygen Radicals and Free Radicals are explained thoroughly in the article, Stop Free Radical Damage and Slow Your Aging. In short, they are terrorists to the body, damaging and destroying your body's cells.
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We are going to explore a very important subject that is directly related to both aging and disease: Free Radicals. You are probably familiar with free radicals, also called Oxygen Radicals. Basically, they are highly unstable molecules that are missing one electron. What they do is travel throughout your body attacking cells, trying to steal the electron they are missing.
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