. In 2006 a research group headed by Dr. Jerzy Jankun from the Medical College of Ohio found that. epigallocathechin -3 gallate (EGCG) acts as a good inhibitor of urokinase, an enzyme that causes tumors to grow. Furthermore, green tea was compared to a well-known urokinase inhibitor called amiloride which can be consumed in a maximum dose of 20 mg per day. By contrast, a single cup of green tea contains up to 150mg of EGCG. Green tea lovers who consume five or more cups per day are benefiting from very high levels of this cancer cell inhibitor. It acts by preventing cancer cells from growing new blood vessel networks and building tissue masses.
 
Let’s just say that if you do have cancer it probably couldn’t hurt but it is probably a good idea to check with your doctor about this first.
 
Peace Be Still  Sam

 
It also appears that green tea can help mitigate some of the damage that heavy cigarette smokers have done to their lungs. In two different studies, one by scientists at the Academy of Preventive Medicine in Beijing, China and the other by James Klaunig at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, the effects of green tea on the oxidative stress created by cigarette smoke toxins were examined.

 
 It was found that when  cigarette users drank an equivalent of six cups of green tea a day, their bodies suffered 40% to 50% less oxidative damage. This means that green tea could potentially lower a smoker’s risk of cancer, emphysema, heart disease and other illnesses. In some cases, the oxidative damage to lung cells was reduced to that of levels found in nonsmokers. Still the fact that green tea is so good for the lungs does not give you permission to smoke your head off!

 
Peace Be Still Sam

  

Medical researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland published a study in April 1999 reporting that drinking four or more cups of green tea a day may prevent rheumatoid arthritis and reduce the severity of it in those who are currently battling the disease. The study was not conducted on humans however. The study was conducted on done on mice that were induced to develop arthritis with collagen injection. It was found that throughout their life spans the mice that were given green tea to drink instead of water did not develop the disease as severely. It was concluded that the antioxidants present in green tea possess not only cancer-preventing properties but also anti-inflammatory properties

  

Peace Be Still Sam

In a study, executed by researchers from National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Tainan, researchers discovered that green tea helps protect and strengthen bones. This is because green tea contains fluoride and flavanoids, which are known nutrients that support the skeletal system.

  

This study was based on 1,037 men and women, 30 and older. Each of the study subjects were questioned about tea consumption habits and then given a bone mineral density test. It was found that those who habitually consumed tea for more than ten years had a bone density that was 6.2% higher than those that did not regularly drink green tea. Those who had consumed green tea for the previous six to ten years had bone density tests that were 2.3% higher than non-habitual tea drinkers.

  

So it appear that green tea can help your strengthen your bones a little.

  

Peace Be Still Sam

 
In a case study researched at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, it was found that drinking four cups of green tea a day could prevent sun damage to the skin.  This is probably due to the fact that exposure to ultraviolet rays causes free radicals and green tea fights harmful free radicals

 
Although green tea is helpful for fighting all sorts of cancers, note that drinking green tea should not be a substitute for wearing your normal sunscreen. Still drinking a few cups a day of green tea will probably ward off the aging effects of exposure to U.V. rays.

 
Peace Be Still Sam

  

There have been some optimistic studies done. In a study about green tea and weight loss, conducted by the University of Geneva, researchers discovered that the combination of caffeine and epigallocatechin (EGCG) could enhance metabolic rate by 4% thus causing people to lose weight faster.

  

In yet another study regarding weight loss conducted by the University of Geneva, researchers concluded that people who drank one cup of green tea a day burned an additional 70 calories a day.

  

Like I said, it is optimistic but not enough scientific proof to make the connection between green tea and weight loss conclusive.

  

Peace Be Still Sam

 
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts performed a study to see if green tea was able to extend the life of those who had suffered heart attacks. The test involved 1,900 individuals. It was found that those who drank 19 or more cups of green tea a week reduced their risk of dying over the following five years by whopping 44% compared to individuals who drank no green tea at all.  Those who drank 14 cups or less a week reduced their heart attack risk by 28% …

 
Maybe its time to replace that glass of red wine we were all told to drink to prevent a heart attack with a cup of green tea.

 
Peace Be Still, Sam

  

If you are looking around in your local China Town for this tea and can’t find it then you can also try looking for it under its other name “Megui Hei.” You will be able to recognize it as it is the only tea that consists of beautiful tiny whole roses (usually red.)

  

Peace Be Still Sam

Qing Shan Lu Shui is a type of high grade Kuding tea. this tea has all the medicinal qualities of Kuding tea, which is highly valued for its detoxification and cooling effects. It is erfect for drinking during hot weather.

The best Green Mountain tea is grown is the Sichuan Province of China.

Peace Be Still

Sam