What are the benefits of green tea?
For centuries green tea and tea, in general, have been consumed by people, but it’s only in recent years that we have started understanding the green tea benefits involved. Rich in antioxidants, green tea can fight many health issues like weight loss, cancer prevention, and improved brain function, among others.
In fact, in many parts of the world, like China and Japan, it has been consumed as a traditional medicine for thousands of years. In the 17th century, green tea was introduced in European countries and later in other parts of the globe.
Today, green tea is a global phenomenon. It’s available in various forms, and many different types and flavors of green tea are introduced in the market. You can find different brands of bagged green teas, along with powdered and loose-leaf forms as well. If you are a green tea lover, the options for you are plenty whether you like it flavored or sweetened; it’s readily available.
All teas are made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinesis plant, but the process of making them differs. Green tea is a less processed form of tea and is made with the steam-dried method. This is mainly why this tea is so heavily packed with nutrients. It also depends on how you consume the tea, which makes all the difference. A hot water green tea has more antioxidants than a cold-brewed green tea.
Get to know more health benefits of green tea and how inculcating a cup or two of green tea daily can bring along a healthy lifestyle in your life.
Green Tea Boosts Weight Loss
People all over the globe consume green tea mainly because it can lead to weight loss. In fact, in recent years, the influx of green tea consumption has increased many folds because of this benefit of green tea.
Research backs the weight loss qualities of green tea. The caffeine present in green tea is responsible for suppressing hunger and speeding up the calorie-burning process through thermogenesis. Please note that if you eat an unhealthy diet, then don’t rely on green tea to burn away all the extra calories. It is effective in a very subtle manner, and therefore, the experts recommend a healthy diet along with drinking green tea.
Reduces Inflammation
It’s found in studies done on animals with autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), that when given green tea extract mixed with water, it reduces disease symptoms. It has anti-inflammatory properties and, therefore, can help the affected patients along with the conventional RA treatment.
Reduces Blood Sugar Levels
In a recent study on people, it is found that ingesting green tea extract regularly has a positive impact on the reduction of blood sugar levels and can improve insulin sensitivity. An increase in blood sugar levels results in Type 2 diabetes. Especially in today’s times, this health problem has increased considerably. Almost one person in every 10 in the USA has Type 2 diabetes.
Prevents Cardiovascular Disease
The polyphenols present in green tea are said to improve epithelial function. This function is responsible for reducing heart disease risk in humans.
Studies done in 2006 state that green tea may decrease the mortality rate in humans occurring due to cardiovascular disease. The study was done on more than 40,000 people in Japan, and researchers observed them for 11 years. The people who drank more than 5 cups or more of green tea were less likely to die during the study period.
May Prevent Cancer
Compounds found in green tea are said to reduce the risk of cancer. The oxidative damage in the human body results in chronic inflammation, the reason behind the development of cancer in the body. The powerful antioxidants in green tea can guard the human body against oxidative damage. Green tea can prevent the following types of cancer
- Bladder
- Breast
- Ovarian
- Throat
- Bowel
- Skin
- Prostate
- Stomach
Brain Function Improvement
Green tea can effectively improve working memory and cognitive functions as well as in the prevention of Alzheimer’s.
This consumption can treat Neuropsychiatric conditions like dementia and cognitive impairment.
Green tea has a component called colon-available green tea extract (CAGTE). This component, when taken in high concentrations, can protect the cells from free radicals and beta-amyloid peptides. These features are responsible for the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Besides, green tea contains caffeine that acts as a stimulant and helps one stay alert. Studies show the effect of caffeine on our mood, vigilance, and even reaction time. Besides caffeine, green tea also features the amino acid L-theanine, which can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Reduces Anxiety
The components present in green tea called L-theanine enhance the activity of the brain’s inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. GABA has anti-anxiety effects. Simultaneously, green tea increases the brain’s dopamine and the production of alpha waves.
