Green tea has long been hailed as one of the healthiest beverages on the planet, and for a good reason. The Health benefits of green tea are numerous. The active ingredient in green tea that promotes fat loss, muscle gain, and many other health benefits is called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The Health benefits of green tea are numerous, including improved cardiovascular function, lower risk of Diabetes, and lower rates of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Here are five ways green tea can help improve your health and wellness.
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- Green Tea Is Rich in Antioxidants
Green tea leaves are rich in catechins, a type of antioxidant. (1) Antioxidants help scavenge free radicals that could otherwise cause damage to cells and DNA. It also contains flavonoids, which have been associated with reducing cardiovascular disease and cancer risks. Moreover, it has an anti-bacterial effect on our body, thus helping cure bacterial infections.
- Green Tea Improves Circulation
Research shows that green tea improves circulation by increasing blood flow to your extremities, allowing more nutrients and oxygen to get to your organs. This means more energy for a better workout at work and during your workouts, as well as keeping your skin healthier and younger-looking longer.
- Green Tea Boosts Metabolism
Green tea can help boost your metabolism and burn fat faster. A study in Japan found that people who drank four or more cups of green tea each day lost twice as much weight as those who didn’t consume any tea.
- It helps control high blood pressure
Researchers have found that drinking green tea regularly can help lower blood pressure. (2) The research shows people who drink green tea regularly can lower their systolic blood pressure by 4 mm Hg and their diastolic blood pressure by 2 mm Hg. That’s about a 10% reduction in both numbers and an 8% drop in risk for hypertension.
- Lowers Blood Pressure
Green tea lowers blood pressure. (3) Research suggests that, in addition to its well-known antioxidant powers, green tea lowers blood pressure by reducing stress hormones called catecholamines. (4)
A catecholamine is any of various compounds made and released by nerve cells in response to stressful stimuli. These compounds help control your body’s fight-or-flight response. Many people have low catecholamine production naturally due to a variation in a specific gene. But drinking green tea causes your body to produce more catecholamines, which can lead to a decrease in blood pressure over time
- Green tea Boosts brain function, mood, and memory
The chemical L-theanine present in green tea boosts levels of dopamine, which helps elevate your mood and brain function while decreasing anxiety. This can have huge benefits on your productivity at work. Recent studies also show that green tea can help improve memory recall. Studies showed that those who drank green tea extract had better scores on their memory recall tests compared to those who took a placebo. (5) Green tea contains a key ingredient known as caffeine. Many studies show that caffeine can play an important role in brain functioning like mood, energy, focus, memory vigilance, etc. (6)
- Green Tea Protects Against Heart Disease
Drinking green tea daily can help reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, according to an 18-year study published in 2012 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. The antioxidant EGCG can help prevent plaque build-up inside arteries.
Several studies have shown that drinking tea, especially green tea, can reduce heart disease risk. One study found that drinking 4-5 cups of green tea a day lowered total cholesterol by 10%. It also lowered LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides while raising HDL (good) cholesterol. (7)
Another study in Japan found a similar result: 15 years after starting regular green tea consumption, patients had 45% less coronary artery disease than people who didn’t drink green tea. (8) Several other studies have found similar results: drinking several cups of green or black tea per day lowers blood pressure, reduces your bad LDL cholesterol, and raises your good HDL cholesterol.
And after looking at data from over 400,000 people nationwide, researchers found that those who consumed four or more cups of green tea had a 22 percent lower risk of death from any cause than non-green tea drinkers. (9)
- Green Tea Speeds Up Weight Loss
Green tea boosts the metabolism process. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, which boost fat burning and improve your overall health. (10). It is effective for weight loss. A study was conducted to check the effects of green tea on obesity. Results showed that the group who drank green tea shed more weight than those who didn’t. (11)
Green tea also contains caffeine. Caffeine is known to stimulate metabolism and increase fat oxidation by helping your body burn fat faster (12). Thus, drinking green tea can help you lose weight! Furthermore, it may also reduce your calorie intake as well as your appetite – a double win for anyone trying to lose weight.
- Protects against certain cancers
Epidemiological evidence shows that green tea consumption is associated with a lower risk of developing certain types of cancer, including those of the stomach, esophagus, colon, lungs, pancreas, and liver. Green Tea Helps Prevent Cancer: Green tea has cancer-fighting properties due to its rich content of antioxidants such as polyphenols, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and epicatechin. EGCG is an anti-cancer agent that boosts antioxidant responses, thus slowing tumor growth. There are also several population-based clinical trials showing that the consumption of green tea can significantly reduce one’s risk for cancer.
Liver cancer
A comprehensive study found that people who drank green tea had a lower risk of liver cancer which is one of the most common cancers in modern times. The downward trend was most obvious when the consumption of green tea increased to about 4 cups/day. The results showed that increasing green tea intake may have a preventive effect against liver cancer. (13)Â
Stomach Cancer
Similarly, research was conducted where two groups were included. One group consumed 5 cups of green tea per day. The other group drank fewer cups of green tea. The result showed that those who drink more green tea had a significant protective effect against stomach cancer. (14) It does so by promoting programmed cell death in tumors. Some laboratory studies have shown that green tea may affect cancers by triggering enzymes capable of destroying carcinogens.
- Can help prevent tooth decay
In addition to being a weight loss aid, green tea contains fluoride that can help prevent tooth decay. A study was conducted on three forms of tea, including green Tea, Black Tea, and matcha tea. The result showed that all tested tea samples contained fluoride in amounts ranging from 0.521 to 6.082 mg/L. (15)
This can be especially helpful for people who do not drink fluoridated water or use fluoride dental products. According to studies, daily consumption of tea containing fluoride reduces cavities by 25%. For best results, combine it with a proper brushing and flossing routine.
- Strengthens Immunity
Green tea contains polyphenols, which are plant compounds that act as antioxidants in your body. Antioxidants are important for immune system health. Antioxidants help keep your resistance up against diseases such as colds and flu. Green tea is beneficial in this aspect. (16)
Researchers at Kyoto University in Japan found that green tea can also boost immunity by reducing oxidative stress in a cell—in other words, it fights off free radicals that damage cells and lead to illness. (17) Additionally, since green tea is naturally caffeinated, it helps you stay alert throughout your day while boosting energy levels.
Research suggests that green tea may help prevent collagen from breaking down, which could lead to sagging skin as you age. One animal study found that green tea helped reduce moisture loss in aged mice. Other research has shown similar findings. Plus, a human study published in 2009 found that green tea extract may slow down the aging of cells in older mice! One theory is that antioxidants like those found in green tea may help fight against wrinkles by combating free radicals and neutralizing your body’s inflammation response.
- Promotes Skin Health
Numerous research shows that green tea may help prevent collagen from breaking down, which could lead to sagging skin as you age. (18) In fact, one animal study found that green tea helped reduce moisture loss in aged mice. Other research has shown similar findings; similarly, a human study published in 2009 found that green tea extract may slow down the aging of cells in older mice! (19)
One theory is that antioxidants like those found in green tea may help fight against wrinkles by combating free radicals and neutralizing your body’s inflammation response. The Health benefits of green tea are very obvious from this research.
- Green Tea Prevents Diabetes
The benefits of green tea are numerous. Green tea helps to prevent Diabetes. In the disease of Diabetes, blood sugar level rises. Due to a rise in blood sugar levels, our body becomes incompetent to produce insulin. Studies show that green tea reduces blood sugar levels and thus improves insulin productivity (20). According to one survey, people who drink green tea have a lower risk of Diabetes. (21)
- Prevents Stress and Anxiety
Stressed? Try a cup of green tea. In a study published in 2015, researchers found that when women were fed a small amount of purified green tea extract daily for one week, they had reduced levels of both stress and cortisol, a hormone that helps regulate blood pressure but can become destructive when released in excess amounts. Drinking just one cup of green tea a day will help keep stress at bay, and research suggests that drinking anywhere from 4 to 7 cups of green tea each day could help reduce cold symptoms by nearly 80 percent. (22)
- Helps Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
Green tea contains flavonoids called catechins. Catechins are antioxidants that help in preventing oxidative stress and inflammation. Studies have found a link between a diet high in flavonoids and low Alzheimer’s disease risk. ( 23) Green Tea Helps to Prevent Cancer: Green tea has cancer-fighting properties due to its rich content of antioxidants such as polyphenols, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and epicatechin. EGCG is an anti-cancer agent that boosts antioxidant responses, thus slowing tumor growth.
Conclusion
It’s obvious that there are several health benefits to green tea, but some of its health effects may be more surprising than others. Whether it’s reducing your risk for cancer or helping you lose weight, green tea has been shown to offer multiple positive effects on your body and mind. Keep in mind that while drinking green tea can have many advantages, it is not a magic bullet for weight loss or overall health—but if used correctly and in moderation, it can help improve your quality of life.
