Health Benefits of Green Tea
If there’s one thing everyone’s sure about is that green tea is healthy. But do you know exactly what benefits green tea has on our health? Can green tea help you lose weight and fight cancer? Here’s a brief guide on the health benefits of green tea that will hopefully answer the most common questions around this delicate brew.
What is Green Tea?
The fresh leaves and bud from the Camellia Sinesis plant are first delicately plucked before being reheated and dried to prevent oxidation from occurring which would turn the green leaves into brown; thus, altering the flavour of the tea. Brewed green tea is either light yellow or green in colour, achieved as the process of oxidation is skipped after rolling.
Green Tea and Your Heart
Green tea has been known to reduce the risk of heart disease due to the high levels of polyphenols. These polyphenolic compounds are thought to restrict the process of blood clot formation in coronary arteries, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. It is believed that regular consumption of tea could reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the blood, which in turn reduces the risk of cardiovascular ailments.
Green Tea and Weight Loss
A common misconception is that green tea helps in reducing weight, however, it only helps in maintaining your weight through several mechanisms. These include a reduction of fat being absorbed from the digestive tract, increased energy expenditure, etc. Research carried out states that the flavonoids present in green tea aids in this weight maintenance. Weight reduction and maintenance with green tea are only effective for those that also partake in an effective exercise schedule.
Green Tea and Skin
Green tea is packed with Vitamin B2 and Vitamin E which is essential for maintaining the health of skin and your overall health. Vitamin B2 is crucial in maintaining collagen levels in the skin while Vitamin E supports new skin cell growth which also acts as a hydrating agent. The antioxidants present in green tea also plays a role in contributing to anti-aging.
Green Tea and Cancer
Results from numerous research studies have stated that there has been a relation between tea and cancer, whereby certain properties especially flavonoids found in tea have helped prevent the risk of cancerous cells from developing in the body.
FAQs
Is it safe to drink green tea every day?
Regular consumption of green tea does not have any negative health effects. Instead, a moderate consumption of three to five cups of green tea a day is optimal for those to reap the maximum benefit of it. Drinking green tea will improve your health.
What is the healthiest green tea?
Green tea is teeming with a range of health benefits. While there may not be a single green tea that is healthier than the rest, there are a number of green teas like Pure Ceylon Green Tea with Jasmine, Pure Ceylon Green Tea with Moroccan Mint, etc.
Can green tea help you lose weight?
Green tea has proved to aid in weight loss, only when a balanced diet and exercise is maintained regularly. The flavonoids present in green tea helps elevate the metabolic rate, increase fat oxidation and improve insulin activity.
What is the best time to drink green tea?
Green tea is best consumed in the morning hours between 10am or 11am, or two hours before bedtime; early at night, as this will maximize nutrient intake as your metabolism slows down.
Does green tea reduce belly fat?
Although there has been studies that state green tea extract or EGCG supplements can cause a modest increase in the metabolic rate whereby increasing the levels of fat burning, the effects are quite minimum. However, when combined with a healthy diet and effective exercise, green tea can be quite beneficial to reducing belly fat.
Does green tea help you sleep?
The presence of amino acid theanine in green tea has been known to reduce the effects of stress while promoting a restful sleep.
Is green tea healthier than coffee?
One cup of green tea contains between 24 – 45mg of caffeine compared to a cup of coffee which contains about 95 – 200mg. Tea is packed with a variety of health benefits that have been known to lower the risk of strokes and boost brain health.
Does green tea give you energy?
The presence of L-theanine in green tea helps to slow the body’s absorption of caffeine. This allows the caffeine to be converted in a more effective way, resulting in a longer energy boost, especially when compared to the jolt of energy produced with a cup of coffee.
Why is green tea good for you?
When consumed in moderate quantities, green tea is beneficial to your health. Regularly drinking green tea may be advantageous to your body, from maintaining your waistline to reducing the risk of certain diseases.
What are the health benefits of green tea with mint?
Green tea has numerous advantages to your health by itself. However, the addition of mint to green tea adds to its nutritional benefits. Mint and other types of peppermint, spearmint, etc. have been used to treat nausea, indigestion and other ailments.