10 Health Benefits Of Green Tea

Green tea is the healthiest beverage on the planet.

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It is also considered to be an “anti-aging elixir.”

WHAT IS GREEN TEA?

Green tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant. The dried leaves of Camellia sinensis are used to produce various types of teas. Green tea is prepared by steaming and pan-frying these leaves and then drying them.

Green tea has been used as a medicine for thousands of years, originating in China but widely used throughout Asia. This beverage has several uses, from preventing cancer to lowering blood pressure.

Below are some of the health benefits of green tea.

1. Improved Brain Function

Green tea is known to elicit an alert calm, But it may also help boost brain function.

This might be because green tea contains caffeine, which is a known stimulant that affects the brain by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine. This way, it enhances the firing of neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. Apart from that, green tea also contains an amino acid called L-theanine, which produces a calming effect.

The combination of L-theanine and caffeine has also been shown to optimize brain function to enhance working memory, cognitive performance, and elevate mood.

2. Increased Fat Burning

Several studies have concluded that drinking healthy green tea can increase fat burning and provide a boost to your metabolic rate.

However, just sipping on green tea is not sufficient. You need to also stick to an active lifestyle to bring out significant improvements in body weight.

3. May Lower Your Risk of Some Types of Cancer

Green tea includes natural antioxidants known as polyphenols, most of which are potent catechins such as EGCG. Polyphenols have been reported to prevent cell damage, reduce inflammation, and even fight cancer.

To get the most health benefits, avoid adding milk to your Green tea. Some studies suggest it can reduce the antioxidant value.

4. Healthier Skin

Green tea contains both Vitamin B2 and Vitamin E, which have been linked to healthy skin.

Consuming a cup or two of green tea every day also helps reducing wrinkles and the signs of aging. This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

5. Green Tea Keeps Bones Strong

Studies show that drinking green tea may stimulate mineralization, which generates bone formation.

The antioxidants in green tea have been shown to protect against bone loss and reduce fracture risk.

This means that bone loss may be improved, and there may be added protection against osteoporosis.

6. Improves Oral Health

Studies suggest that the chemical antioxidant “catechin” in Green tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, tooth decay, and other dental conditions.

Streptococcus is responsible for the formation of cavities, and catechins have proved to be effective in inhibiting Streptococcus’ growth in our mouth. So drinking green tea will protect and improve your oral health.

7. Protects Skin From Aging

Not only is green tea good for your physical health, but it could also keep you looking great! Studies show that polyphenols in green tea protect skin from the effects of ultraviolet (UV) light. This also helps prevent the acceleration of aging, in addition to offering cancer-fighting and anti-inflammatory benefits.

8. Green Tea Supports Heart Health

Did you know that people who drink green tea have a 31% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease? This is because drinking green tea reduces the total cholesterol and LDL (harmful) cholesterol levels in our body. It also reduces blood pressure.

Green tea also increases the antioxidant capacity of the blood, which protects the LDL particles from oxidation, which is a process that contributes to artery hardening and heart disease.

9. May Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

1 in 10 Americans has type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes has been on the rise due to our poor diets.
Thanks to green tea, the risks of getting type 2 diabetes can be reduced because studies show that green tea may improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels, which is a culprit of diabetes.

10. Improved Eye Health

You can’t write a list of the health benefits of green tea without including its crucial role in helping with your eyesight.

Studies show that regular consumption of green tea helps in improving eye health. In addition, catechins have been proved to help protect the eye from oxidative damage and prevent vision loss.