6 Proven Health Benefits Of Green Tea
What Is Green Tea?
Billions of people drink tea; it is the most consumed beverage in the world behind water. A large number of studies show tea to have many health benefits.
There are three main varieties of tea: black, and oolong, and green tea. All types of tea are made from Camellia senensis leaves, but the differences between them arise from processing, growing conditions, and geography.
Green tea is made from unfermented leaves and is one of the less processed types of tea. It is originated in China, but its production and manufacture have spread to many other countries in Asia.
Green tea has a higher polyphenol content than black or oolong, as fermenting tea leaves lowers the polyphenol content.
It is one of the healthiest beverages you can consume, it doesn’t have any calories, and is loaded with antioxidants that provide many health benefits.
Read below 6 of the health benefits of green tea supported by studies.
Benefits Of Drinking Green Tea
1.Green Tea And Cancer Prevention
Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. The polyphenols in green tea can reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells, molecules, and other structures from damage.
Researchers believe that the high level of polyphenols in green tea help kill cancerous cells and stop them from growing.
Some studies have shown the positive impacts of green tea on these types of cancer:
Breast: A meta-analysis of observational studies found that women who drank the most green tea had a lower risk of developing breast cancer.
Colorectal (bowel): A study of 69,710 Chinese women found that green tea drinkers had a much lower risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Prostate: Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men. One study found that men drinking green tea had only about half the risk of developing advanced prostate cancer.
Studies have shown also the positive impact of green tea on these types of cancer: skin, stomach, esophageal (throat), and lung.
2. Green Tea For Weight Loss
Green tea is one of the active ingredients that is used in numerous weight loss products.
Clinical studies suggest that green tea may boost your metabolism and help you lose weight, and lower the risk of becoming obese. Much of this effect is likely due to the high concentration of powerful antioxidant polyphenols in green tea that has the capacity to burn fat effectively.
Green tea may help you feel fuller and maintain a more steady energy level, which will make you consume fewer calories.
Furthermore, people who drink green tea are more likely to maintain a healthy weight after significant weight loss.
3. Green Tea Protects Your Brain
Drinking green tea can not only improve brain function in the short term, but it may also protect your brain in the long term. In particular Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by profound changes in memory and thinking abilities. This kind of neurodegenerative disease currently has no cure.
Many studies show that the antioxidant catechins in green tea can have a protective effect on neurons, potentially lowering your risk of Alzheimer’s.
4. Green Tea Improves Dental Health
Your mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria. Green tea has natural antibiotic and antifungal properties. green tea consumption can improve dental health and lower the risk of dental caries.
One of the primary species of harmful bacteria in the mouth is Streptococcus mutans. It causes plaque formation which leads to cavities and tooth decay. Studies show that the catechins in tea can prevent the growth of Streptococcus mutans.
Green tea contains fluoride, the mineral that is added to the water supply to support stronger dental health. Small increases in the amount of fluoride can prevent bacteria from attacking teeth.
Another benefit of green tea is that it can reduce bad breath.
5. Green tea prevents infection
The highest antimicrobial activity of tea is due to the presence of catechins polyphenols which damage the bacterial cell membrane and reduce inflammation. In much the same way as green tea can kill bacteria in your mouth, it can also prevent bacteria and viruses in your bloodstream and throughout the rest of your body.
Some studies show that the catechins in green tea can kill bacteria and inhibit viruses like the influenza virus, potentially lowering your risk of infections.
It may help inhibit viral and bacterial infection via your nasal passages and help prevent the flu and colds.
6. Aid Digestion
One of the ways that green tea promotes digestive health is because the catechins found in green tea can help increase the activity of a digestive enzyme called pepsin.
It improves bowel health, and reduce IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease).
Drinking green tea helps your digestive system works more effectively and is better at extracting nutrients from the foods that you consume.
