USP :
Green Tea's anti-oxidants
There have been several studies that suggest that green tea helps protect against a range of cancers, including lung, prostate and breast cancer. This has been attributed to flavonoid phytochemicals called polyphenols. The polyphenols in tea mainly belong to the type called catechins. The major catechins in green tea leaves are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC) and epicatechin (EC). Of the catechins, EGCG is the most abundant one in green tea leaves. EGCG is brain permeable.
EVIDENCE OF BENEFIT
Green tea is both a stimulant and an antioxidant with a diversity of healing applications. The polyphenols in green tea are potent antioxidants. Researchers have found that one of the polyphenols, designated epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), is over 200 times more powerful than the renowned antioxidant vitamin E in neutralizing free radicals. Also, green tea increases energy, which may make it useful as part of a weight-loss program.