Here are 10 possible health benefits of green tea.
- Contains healthy bioactive compounds. ...
- May improve brain function. ...
- Increases fat burning. ...
- Antioxidants may lower the risk of some cancers. ...
- May protect the brain from aging. ...
- May reduce bad breath. ...
- May help prevent type 2 diabetes. ...
- May help prevent cardiovascular disease.
Green tea is more than just a hydrating beverage.
The green tea plant contains a range of healthy compounds
that make it into the final drink .
Tea is rich in polyphenols, which
are natural compounds that have health benefits, such as reducing inflammation
and helping to fight cancer.
Green tea contains a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate
(EGCG). Catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell
damage and provide other benefits.
These substances can reduce the formation of free radicals
in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. These free radicals
play a role in aging and many types of diseases.
EGCG is one of the most powerful compounds in green tea.
Research has tested its ability to help treat various diseases. It appears to
be one of the main compounds that gives green tea its medicinal properties
Green tea also has small amounts of minerals that can
benefit your health.
Try to choose a higher quality brand of green tea, because
some of the lower quality brands can contain excessive amounts of fluoride
That being said, even if you choose a lower quality brand,
the benefits still outweigh any risk.
SUMMARY
Green tea is loaded with polyphenol antioxidants, including
a catechin called EGCG. These antioxidants can have various beneficial effects
on health.
Green tea does more than just keep you alert, it may also
help boost brain function.
The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a
known stimulant.
It doesn’t contain as much as coffee, but enough to produce
a response without causing the jittery effects associated with taking in too
much caffeine.
Caffeine affects the brain by blocking an inhibitory
neurotransmitter called adenosine. This way, it increases the firing of neurons
and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine .
Research has consistently shown that caffeine can improve
various aspects of brain function, including mood, vigilance, reaction time,
and memory .
However, caffeine isn’t the only brain-boosting compound in
green tea. It also contains amino acid
L-theanine,
which can cross the blood-brain barrier
L-theanine increases the activity of the inhibitory
neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety effects. It also increases
dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain).
Studies show that caffeine and L-theanine can have synergistic
effects. This means that the combination of the two can have particularly
powerful effects in improving brain .
Because of the L-theanine and the small dose of caffeine,
green tea may give you a much milder and different kind of buzz than coffee.
Many people report having more stable energy and being much
more productive when they drink green tea, compared with coffee.
SUMMARY
Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee but enough to
produce an effect. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which can work
synergistically with caffeine to improve brain function.
If you look at the ingredients list for any fat burning
supplement, chances are, green tea will be on there.
This is because, according to research, green tea can
increase fat burning and boost
metabolic rate
In one study involving 10 healthy men, taking green tea
extract increased the number of calories burned by 4%. In another involving 12
healthy men, green tea extract increased fat oxidation by 17%, compared with
those taking a placebo
However, some studies on green tea don’t show any increase
in metabolism, so the effects may depend on the individual and how the study
was set up
Caffeine may also improve physical performance by mobilizing
fatty acids from fat tissue and making them available for use as energy
Two separate review studies reported that caffeine may
increase physical performance by approximately 11–12%
SUMMARY
Green tea may boost metabolic rate and increase fat burning
in the short term, although not all studies agree.
Cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of cells. It’s one
of the world’s leading causes of death.
Research has shown that oxidative damage can lead to chronic
inflammation, which can lead to chronic diseases, including cancers.
Antioxidants can help protect against oxidative damage .
Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants.
Research has linked green tea compounds with a reduced risk
of cancer, including the following studies:
- Breast
cancer. A comprehensive review of observational studies found
that women who drank the most green
tea had an approximately 20–30% lower risk of developing breast cancer,
one of the most common cancers in women.
- Prostate
cancer. One study observed that men drinking green tea had a
lower risk of advanced prostate cancer.
- Colorectal
cancer. An analysis of 29 studies showed that those drinking
green tea were around 42% less likely to develop . Many observational studies indicate
that green tea drinkers are less likely to develop several types of
cancer, but more high quality research is needed to confirm these effects
To get the most health benefits, avoid adding milk to your
tea. Some studies suggest it can reduce the antioxidant value in some teas.
SUMMARY
Green tea has powerful antioxidants that may protect against
cancer. Multiple studies show that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of
various types of cancer.
Not only can green tea improve brain function in the short
term, it may also protect your brain as you age.
Alzheimer’s
disease is a common neurodegenerative disease and the most
common cause of dementia in older adults
Parkinson’s disease is another common
neurodegenerative disease and involves the death of dopamine-producing neurons
in the brain.
Several studies show that the catechin compounds in green
tea can have various protective effects on neurons in test tubes and animal
models, possibly lowering the risk of dementia
SUMMARY
The bioactive compounds in green tea can have various
protective effects on the brain. They may reduce the risk of dementia, a common
neurodegenerative disorder in older adults.
The catechins in green tea also have benefits for oral
health.
Test-tube studies suggest that catechins can suppress the
growth of bacteria, potentially lowering the risk of
Streptococcus mutans is a common bacterium in
the mouth. It causes plaque formation and is a leading contributor to cavities
and tooth decay.
Studies indicate that the catechins in green tea can inhibit
the growth of oral bacteria in the lab, but no evidence shows that drinking
green tea has similar effects
However, there’s some evidence that green tea may reduce bad
breath
SUMMARY
The catechins in green tea may inhibit the growth of
bacteria in the mouth, reducing the risk of bad breath.
The rates of type 2 diabetes are increasing in recent
decades. The condition now affects about 1 in 10 Americans
Type 2 diabetes involves having elevated blood sugar levels,
which may be caused by insulin
resistance or an inability to produce insulin.
Studies show that green tea may improve insulin sensitivity
and .
One study in Japanese individuals found that those who drank
the most green tea had an approximately 42% lower risk of type 2 diabetes
According to a review of 7 studies with a total of 286,701
individuals, tea drinkers had an 18% lower risk of diabetes
SUMMARY
Some controlled studies show that green tea may cause mild
reductions in blood sugar levels. It may also lower the risk of type 2
diabetes.
Cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke,
are the leading causes of death worldwide (
Studies show that green tea may improve some of the main
risk factors for these diseases, which includes improving total cholesterol
and LDL (bad)
cholesterol levels
Green tea also increases the antioxidant capacity of the
blood, which protects the LDL particles from oxidation, which is one part of
the pathway toward heart disease
Given the beneficial effects on risk factors, it may not be
surprising that people who drink green tea have up to a 31% lower risk of dying
from a cardiovascular disease
SUMMARY
Green tea may lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, as well
as protect the LDL particles from oxidation. Studies show that people who drink
green tea have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Given that green tea can boost the metabolic rate in the
short term, it makes sense that it could help you lose weight.
Several studies show that green tea may
help reduce body fat, especially in the abdominal area .
One of these studies was a 12-week randomized controlled
study involving 240 people with obesity.
In this study, those in the green tea group had significant
decreases in body fat percentage, body weight, waist circumference, and belly
fat, compared with those in the control group (54).
However, some studies don’t show a statistically significant
increase in weight loss with green tea, so researchers need to perform further
studies to confirm this effect.
SUMMARY
Some studies show that green tea may lead to increased
weight loss. It may be particularly effective at reducing the dangerous
abdominal fat.
Given that some compounds in green tea may help protect against
cancer and heart disease, it makes sense that it could help you live
longer.
In one study, researchers studied 40,530 Japanese adults
over 11 years. Those who drank the most green tea — 5 or more cups per day — were significantly less
likely to die during the study period):
- Death
of all causes: 23% lower in women, 12% lower in men
- Death
from heart disease: 31% lower in women, 22% lower in men
- Death
from stroke: 42% lower in women, 35% lower in men
Another study involving 14,001 older Japanese individuals
found that those who drank the most green tea were 76% less likely to die
during the 6-year study period.
SUMMARY
Studies show that people who drink green tea may live longer
than those who don’t.
Courtesy : Health line.com
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