Green Tea Slows Down Aging Process?

Discoveries about green tea's healing properties show no signs of abating as more and more health benefits are being attributed to this lowly beverage.

The latest buzz surrounding green tea is its purported ability to slow down the aging process.

According to recent findings, green tea extract has been shown to maintain cellular DNA and membrane structural integrity, thus somewhat preserving the biological set-up associated with youth.

Other research shows that green tea inhibits the development of undesirable cell colonies that lead to various diseases.

The active constituents in green tea are powerful antioxidants called polyphenols (catechins) and flavonols. Several catechins are present in green tea and account for the bulk of favorable research reports. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most powerful of these catechins. EGCG functions as an antioxidant that is about 25-100 times more potent than vitamins C and E. A cup of green tea may provide 10-40 mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant effects that are greater than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots, or strawberries. Theoretically, the high antioxidant activity of green tea makes it beneficial for protecting the body from oxidative damage due to free radicals.

Thus, as oxidative damage is minimized or even arrested, the cells in the body are able to function fully and even regenerate so that their "youthful" properties are maintained.