International Journal of Food and Nutritional Science | 2015-05-02

GREEN TEA : HEALTH BENEFITS

Imported Author

Abstract

The plant Camellia sinensis yields a variety of white, green and black tea. Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, next only to water for enjoyment and health. In general, green tea has been found to be superior to black tea in terms of health benefits. The major components of interest are the polyphenols which are responsible for the antioxidant and other health benefits of green tea. The major polyphenols in green tea are flavonoids. The four major flavonoids in green tea are the catechins, epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Epigallocatechin gallate is viewed as the most significant active component. Much research is available depicting the health benefits of green tea for a wide variety of implications, including different types of heart disease, etc. There is also a wide range of uses for green tea in cardiac, thermogenesis. This paper will review the major health benefits of green tea and its effects to control cardiac events.

Keywords: Green tea, catechins, EGCG, health benefits, polyphenols.