Green Tea Antioxidant Effects

Green Tea's Antioxidants Fight Free Radicals

Green tea antioxidants are the same beneficial types compounds found in many fruits, vegetables, and in red wine. Antioxidants are a class of natural substances - vitamins E and C are other examples of antioxidants - which deactivate free radicals.

Free radicals are potentially harmful substances produced as by-products from many chemical processes in the body, as well as from cigarette smoke and radiation. They cause damage to cell structure and to DNA, leading to disease and cancer. Antioxidants in green tea neutralize free radicals before they can cause this damage.

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Antioxidant EGCG in Green Tea Kills Cancer Cells

Green tea's main antioxidant, EGCG, is many times more powerful an antioxidant than vitamin E. According to the National Cancer Institute, antioxidants in green tea may inhibit cancer growth. Studies show that the antioxidant EGCG found in green tea plays a part in apoptosis (or cell death) of cancer cells. Remarkably, the cell killing actions of this antioxidant affect only cancer cells, and leaves healthy cells undamaged.