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Camellia Sinensis is commonly known as the plant from which Green tea, oolong or black tea Green is extracted. This Green tea leaf extract is said to have many health benefits, most of which are proven by research. The leaves are known to have anti-carcinogenic properties and serve as an anti-oxidant helping fight cancer and damage done by free radicals.

For over 5000 years, India and China have used green tea for its medicinal properties. The process of making Green tea is to lightly steam the leaves before it dries, as this Green tea has been used for medicinal purposes in India and China for nearly 5,000 years. It is made by lightly steaming leaves of the plant before allowing them to dry. This process preserves the potency of the leaves. When the leaves are allowed to ferment before they dry, oolong tea is made. When the leaves are fermented further, black tea is made. The process of fermentation destroys the properties of Green tea, so naturally, people have begun to opt for Green tea.

To ensure that the active properties of Green Tea remain intact, the production is standardized to ensure that these properties are intact in capsule form. So what are these active properties or ingredients in Green Tea extract? Catechins, Flavonoids, Polyphenols and EGCG are potent antioxidants that help in containing the spread of certain kinds of cancer cells. What's even more surprising is the level of EGCG the extract derived from Green Tea, is more powerful that Vitamin E or C. Proof, some say, are the low statistics of cancer incidents in countries like Japan and China where Green Tea is a staple diet. Scientific research in this area is being conducted to figure out if this is indeed true.

Not only is Green Tea extract beneficial for cancer patients, it also seems to benefit people with cholesterol, and weight loss studies. However these need to be proved by scientific research. Many people are switching to Green Tea as a healthier alternative to coffee or Black tea. Here are some pointers as to how to identify the Green Tea that's good for you when you are shopping.

Please look at the ingredients on the packaging. Any product that has 55% EGCG and 90% polyphenols is said to be beneficial. It must be noted that Green tea does have natural caffeine content. It is possible that the active properties of Green Tea may be reduced during processing.Green tea is not recommended during pregnancy or lactation, and always follow medical advice before consuming Green Tea.