Black of the Night or Nature's Green? Health Effects of Green and Black Tea

Black of the Night or Nature’s Green?

Health Effects of Green and Black Tea

The vast variety of different types of tea can be overwhelming. Every person in every culture has their own favoured kind of tea – White Tea, Black Tea, Oolong Tea, Pu-erh Tea and so on – but their short and long-term health effects are not always the same. Over the years countless studies have been published by scientists and physicians about the health effects of different teas trying to prove one's or the other's superiority. In this paper I will examine the health effects of Black and Green Teas and provide arguments for the beneficial effects of drinking Green Tea.

Black Tea is a type of tea that is made of Camellia sinensis leaves and which is more oxidized and stronger than other tea types. It is an effectual antioxidant because of its free-radical scavenging and metal-chelating ability (Sharma et al., 379–404). For this reason, it eliminates inflammation and prevents the formation of clastogenesis and several types of cancer (Sharma et al., 379–404). Black tea can reduce the chance of DNA damage and mutagenesis (Sharma et al., 379–404), so there could be a smaller probability of gene distortion or other disorders. This is possible, because pro-mutagens have an antioxidant function (Sharma et al., 379–404) and they can block the activation pathways of mutagens (Sharma et al., 379–404). This type of tea can also prevent cardiovascular diseases – this is proved by the inhibition of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) peroxidation, and the suppression of fatty acid synthase. (Sharma et al., 379–404). Moreover, it has beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract due to its affection of motility and absorption, and it improves bone mineral density (Sharma et al., 379–404). Besides that, it is antiviral (Sharma et al., 379–404) so it can help human body to defeat viruses and bacteria. 

Green tea is a type of tea that is made from Camellia sinensis leaves that have not undergone the same withering and oxidation process like Black tea, for example. It contains a large amount of catechins (Cabrera et al. 79–99), and several types of minerals and vitamins, which is strongly antioxidant. It can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, some forms of cancer (Cabrera et al. 79–99), and it has other physiological effects such as anti-hypertensive function, antibacterial activity and body weight control (Cabrera et al. 79–99). Stomach, oesophageal, ovarian and colon cancer is no longer an incorrigible disease (Cooper, 90–97). Even lung, prostate, skin and breast cancer can be eased by drinking green tea (Butt et al. 792–805). This tea has evinced inhibitory effects against the formation and growth of tumors at different organ sites in animals (Yang and Xin, 931–937). Furthermore, it can increase bone mineral density, prevent diabetes, alleviate inflammatory bowel disease, skin disorders, hair loss, weight loss and iron overload (Cooper, 90–97). Moreover, Green tea can also give solar ultraviolet protection – which also means the prevention of skin-aging (Roh et al., 1631–1637). To achieve this, Green tea uses its antimelanogenic, antiwrinkle, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and the prevention of immunosuppression (Roh et al., 1631–1637). This type of tea, and its components effectively relieve cellular damage arising caused by oxidative stress (Butt and Sultan, 463–473). It does not colour the teeth black, as Black tea does, and finally, we can use it for detoxification.

After analysing both sides, it is possible to compare the two tea types. Green tea has a stronger antioxidant effect because of its high catechins content. By its systematic consumption we can alleviate more types of cancer and the development of tumors. It is suitable for skin- and UV protection, does not colour your teeth black, and is applicable for detoxification. Black tea is not effective against diabetes, hair loss, weight loss, iron overload, skin-aging – and we cannot use it for detoxification. All in all, we can state that Green tea has a lot more benefits than Black tea. It has much more beneficial effects on the human body, and its long-term consumption is not as harmful as Black tea’s.

Works Cited

Butt, Masood Sadiq, et al. “Green Tea and Anticancer Perspectives: Updates from Last Decade.” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, vol. 55, no. 6, 2014, pp. 792–805., doi:10.1080/10408398.2012.680205.

Butt, Masood Sadiq, and Muhammad Tauseef Sultan. “Green Tea: Natures Defense against Malignancies.” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, vol. 49, no. 5, Nov. 2009, pp. 463–473., doi:10.1080/10408390802145310.

Cabrera, Carmen, et al. “Beneficial Effects of Green Tea—A Review.” Journal of the American College of Nutrition, vol. 25, no. 2, 2006, pp. 79–99., doi:10.1080/07315724.2006.10719518.

Cooper, Raymond. “Green Tea and Theanine: Health Benefits.” International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, vol. 63, no. sup1, 2011, pp. 90–97., doi:10.3109/09637486.2011.629180.

Roh, Eunmiri, et al. “Molecular Mechanisms of Green Tea Polyphenols with Protective Effects against Skin Photoaging.” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, vol. 57, no. 8, 2015, pp. 1631–1637., doi:10.1080/10408398.2014.1003365.

Sharma, Vasundhara, and L. Jagan Mohan Rao. “A Thought on the Biological Activities of Black Tea.” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, vol. 49, no. 5, Nov. 2009, pp. 379–404., doi:10.1080/10408390802068066.

Sinija, V. R., and H. N. Mishra. “Green Tea: Health Benefits.” Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, vol. 17, no. 4, 2008, pp. 232–242., doi:10.1080/13590840802518785.

Yang, Chung S., and Xin Wang. “Green Tea and Cancer Prevention.” Nutrition and Cancer, vol. 62, no. 7, 2010, pp. 931–937., doi:10.1080/01635581.2010.509536.

Outline

THESIS: In this paper I will examine the health effects of Black and Green Teas and provide arguments for the beneficial effects of drinking Green Tea.

A. Beneficial effects of Black Tea

                   1. Composition of Black Tea

              2. Antioxidant

              3. Reduces the chance of DNA damage + mutagenesis

              4. Prevents cardiovascular diseases

              5. Effect on the gastrointestinal tract

              6. Antiviral

B. Beneficial effects of Green Tea

            1. Composition of Green Tea

            2. Antioxidant

            3. Prevents cardiovascular diseases

            4. Prevents cancer

            5. Physiological effects

            6. Fights against the formation/growth of tumors

            7. Increases bone mineral density

            8. Prevents diabetes

            9. Fights against hair loss, skin disorders, weight loss, iron overload

            10. Gives ultraviolet protection (reduces skin-aging)

            11. Doesn’t colour the teeth black

12. Useful for detoxification

C. Comparison of Black and Green Teas, and arguments for green tea’s preference (conclusion)
Green tea:

            1. Stronger antioxidant

            2. Alleviates cancer and the development of tumors

            3. UV-protection

            4. No black teeth

            5. Useful for detoxification

Black tea:

            6. Not effective against diabetes

            7. Hair loss

            8. Weight loss

            9. Skin-aging

            10. Not useful for detoxification