What are the antioxidant effects of green tea?
Green tea has been widely accepted as being a great source of antioxidants. The active components in green tea are powerful antioxidants called polphenols (catechins). Green tea contains one particularly potent catechin known as epigallocatechin (EGCG). EGCG is said to contain 25-100 times more antioxidants than Vitamins C and E. Green tea catechins make up 30% of the dry weight of green tea leaves. What are antioxidants? Antioxidants are substances which protect cell tissues from the damaging effects of oxygen. Antioxidants play an important role in preventing cellular damage from free radicals. Antioxidants donate an electron to the free radical and convert it to a normal molecule. Common antioxidants are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, lutien and lycopene. As mentioned above green tea contains the potent antioxidant EGCG, which is said to contain 25-100 times more antioxidants than Vitamins C and E. What are free radicals? Free radicals are reactive substances that co
