Green tea nutrition begins with a term that has become familiar -antioxidants. There is a particularly valuable type of antioxidant called catechins, which are present in green tea. Out of these, there is one extra special one called EGCG, which has some varied and remarkable properties.

Cancer-Fighting Ability

Probably the most astounding power of EGCG is its ability to inhibit the growth of many types of cancer. It has shown promise in preventing or fighting cancers of the breast, ovaries, esophagus and colon. Consuming green tea regularly can cut your risk of cancer. Green tea, of course, can be consumed by the cup or as an extract or other supplement.

The Heart and Cholesterol Levels

The same antioxidants, especially EGCG, help to lower and regulate cholesterol, especially the dangerous kind of cholesterol. So far the FDA has not permitted manufacturers of green tea to claim that it can protect you from heart disease. However, anything that is good for your cholesterol certainly is not going to do any harm to your heart!

Green Tea For Dieting

Still another area where green tea is showing promise is as a diet aid. As a natural stimulant, it speeds up your metabolism and allows you to burn fat more efficiently. Of course, green tea, like any other supplement you can take for weight loss, is not going to make you lose weight by itself. You still have to watch your diet and exercise. However, it does give you a boost, which not only helps you to burn fat but might give you a bit of extra energy to get off the couch and move around!

Good For Your Teeth and Gums

Green tea is even good for your mouth. It destroys bacteria that cause germs and bad breath. You can get this benefit from any form of taking green tea, but there are special toothpastes and mouthwashes that include it in their products for added benefit.

With all of these properties, many people could benefit from adding green tea to their diet. It can be a replacement for coffee, which has twice the caffeine and falls short of the overall green tea nutrition powerhouse.