Green Tea may also protect our skin against radiation damage. As the ozone layer thins and UV radiation increases, so has the rate of skin cancer. In a Rutgers University study, green tea showed good results against skin cancer when it was consumed before and during exposure to UV rays. In a study of more than 2000 Japanese men aged 49 to 55, tea consumption was found to significantly lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, but did not seem to effect HDL or triglycerides. Researchers found that EgCg restricts the excess build-up and accumulation of blood cholesterol in the vital organs.
ACE inhibiting drugs block an enzymatic process that causes blood vessels to constrict.
EgCg works in a similar fashion. To date, extensive research exists on animals. More human research needs to be done, but it is still worth a try because of the other proven health benefits. Antibacterial benefits include inhibiting the spread of both Strep and Staph infections, which has been shown to be resistant to certain antibiotics currently being over-prescribed. Perhaps the best-documented effect of tea catechins is against the bacteria that cause tooth decay.