Health benefits of green tea

Chinese and Japanese people have been drinking green tea for centuries. It has also become more popular in Western culture. Green tea, brewed from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, contains a number of polyphenolic compounds collectively known as catechins, with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) being the most abundant catechin in green tea (1). The other active component of green tea is caffeine. The claimed health benefits of green tea, ranging from weight loss to cancer prevention, are often attributed to the catechins and the caffeine. Now, is there any evidence to support such “health benefits”?

• 1. Weight loss
• 2. Slows the rate of cognitive decline
• 3. Anti-diabetic effects
• 4. Anti-carcinogenic properties
• 5. Safety of green tea: although green tea beverage, consumed in moderation, is generally considered to be safe, there have been reports of liver damage upon the use of green tea extract supplements. Therefore, one should be wary of commercial green tea extract supplements./li>