Table of Contents
Green tea, being one of the healthiest of beverages currently on earth, is full of nutrients and antioxidants in addition to anti-inflammatory properties. Its effects are quite promising both for one’s physical as well as mental health.
Some of its benefits include catalyzed fat loss, reduced risk of cancer, and enhanced brain health. Let’s delve deeper into the 10 other health benefits of green tea backed by reliable study and research claims.
1. Green tea contains bioactive compounds for the betterment of health:
Green tea is a healthy blend of a different variety of leaves of which most of them and their nutrients make it to the final drink in your cup. Generally speaking, tea is quite rich in anti-inflammatory substances and polyphenols which help combat cancer.
Green tea contains about 30% polyphenols and is full of antioxidants and catechins called EGCG. These help fight free radicals and, in turn, slow down the process of aging thereby keeping your youthfulness intact.
Free radicals also form the basis of a variety of diseases and disorders. By fighting off free radicals, green tea works towards keeping your body free of all malfunctioning by preventing the class and molecules in your system from damage.
EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) is one of the most promising and effective components of green tea. This is, perhaps, the sole reason why green tea is so rich in nutrients and health benefits. It is full of powerful medicinal properties and paves way for a stronger immune system.
Green tea comes in plenty of pf different varieties. The best quality ones are full of medicinal properties and nutrients while green tea in the cheaper range may have ample of fluorine. However, the benefits of green tea even in the cheaper range are far more than its risks.
2. Green tea improves brain function:
Green tea contains caffeine, a stimulant which not just helps alert your senses but also improves brain functioning and memory. The amount of caffeine isn’t as much as what coffee contains but it is enough to give you a push towards productivity without hampering your health.
Caffeine, one of the most basic products of coffee, is associated with improving brain function, enhancing mood, and promoting healthy brain activity.
Caffeine blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter, adenosine, in your brain which increases the production of neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine
Not only that green tea even contains the amino acid L-theanine which is able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier giving out multiple benefits.
Inhibitory neurotransmitter like GABA contains anti-anxiety effects. L-theanine increases the activity of GABA which elevates your mood and promotes the production of dopamine in your system.
Many people prefer green tea over coffee due to its excellent working mechanism which doesn’t get in the way of your good health. It is the perfect combination of a mild dose of caffeine and L-theanine to give you that productive high.
Various studies have shown that, individually, caffeine and L-theanine may not be the best at imparting good brain health. But the combination of these two works wonders in improving concentration, memory retention, and enhancing overall brain function.
L-theanine combined with the mild doses of caffeine work extremely best to keep your senses awake as well as enhance productivity and brain functioning.
3. Green Tea Increases Fat Burning and Improves Physical Performance
Green tea is extremely popular when it comes to burning fat and losing weight in the right manner. Any weight-loss diet is bound to recommend green tea at least once a day in order to catalyze your weight-loss process. As per a recent study conducted on 10 men, green tea increased energy expenditure by 4% thus, catalyzing weight loss.
Even caffeine in green tea has been shown via various studies that it promotes the use of fat deposits to derive energy thereby promoting the burning of fat. Fat oxidation increases by 17% on the consumption of green tea. This shows that green tea may support the selective burning of fat.
Not only that, the consumption of green tea is associated with an enhanced physical performance which increases by 11-12%. In other words, green tea is one of the best options to resort to for catalyzing weight loss, burning fat, and to increase the rate of your metabolism.
Having said that, these are the general effects of caffeine and other nutrients from green tea when it comes to losing weight. However, some people may not be able to witness these benefits given that every individual reacts differently to green tea.
4. Antioxidants in Green Tea May Lower Your Risk of Some Types of Cancer
The basic reason for cancer is that your cells start multiplying uncontrollably which creates a tumor within. This tumor may be malignant or benign, harmful or harmless.
Oxidative damage is one of the most prominent causes of cancer and uncontrolled division of cells. This is why, antioxidants have quite a positive effect on the prevention of cancer since they combat the production of free radicals and, in turn, unchecked cell growth as well.
Since green tea contains plenty of antioxidants, it may work for the prevention of cancer in the long run. Here’s the effect of green tea on different types of cancers:
- Breast cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies found that women who mostly relied on green tea had a 20-30% lower risk of developing breast cancer, the most common cancer in women.
- Prostate cancer: One study found that men drinking green tea had a 48% lower risk of developing prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer in men.
- Colorectal cancer: An analysis of 29 studies showed that those drinking green tea were up to 42% less likely to develop colorectal cancer.
As far as recent researches go, there is enough evidence to prove that green tea does prevent the risk of various cancers. However, there is still an in-depth study lacking to portray the complete effects of green tea and if it does really prevent cancer effectively.
Many studies show that people who drink green tea have comparatively lower rates of falling prey to cancer than the ones who don’t consume it. It is important to consume your green tea without adding milk to it to extract its maximum benefits. Milk tends to reduce the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of green tea.
5. Green Tea May Protect Your Brain in Old Age, Lowering Your Risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
In addition to improving brain function, green tea also protects your brain from damage especially as you age. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disorders are the most commonly occurring ones in old age.
Alzheimer’s disorder is a neurogenerative disease in humans and often leads to dementia in the long run, especially in older individuals. It is characterized by the reduction of dopamine and similar neurons in the brain.
The bioactive compounds impart various protective effects on the brain. The catechin compounds in green tea along with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties work towards lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases as an individual ages.
6. Green Tea Can Kill Bacteria, Which Improves Dental Health and Lowers Your Risk of Infection
The above-mentioned benefits of catechins and antioxidants are more than enough to establish a strong foothold as far as the benefits of green tea are concerned. However, the advantages of these catechins are not just limited to internal good health.
The catechins and the antioxidants in green tea work the best to destroy bacteria and inhibit viruses. Some of the viruses that fall in this category include influenza virus and various other bacteria as well. This, in tun, lowers your risk of potential infections arising due to virus and bacteria invasion.
One of the most prominent bacteria in the mouth is the streptococcus mutans which is involved with plaque formation. It is closely involved in contributing to cavities, dental health disorders, and tooth decay. Catechins also decrease the risk of dental caries in addition to reducing bad breath.
7. Green Tea May Lower Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
As per recent researches, green tea is quite an excellent choice to combat irregular blood sugar levels. This, in turn, plays a huge role in preventing type-2 diabetes as well.
About 400 million people worldwide are battling type-2 diabetes currently. It has almost reached an epidemic-like state in the last few decades and is only expected to grow in the near future.
Type-2 diabetes is characterized by a severe lack of insulin in the blood stream or a high resistance to the existing insulin. This leads to abnormally high levels of blood sugar since insulin cannot be utilized to break down this sugar.
Green tea has been shown to improve sensitivity to insulin. In other words, it brings back the productivity of insulin to act on this blood sugar thereby decreasing the levels of the latter to a considerable extent.
As per a recent study, about 18% of green tea drinkers have 18% lower chances of falling prey to type-2 diabetes. Although the result is not drastic or sudden, the benefit is quite considerable.
People who consume green tea over a long period of time can have their blood sugar kept under control thereby reducing their risk of diabetes consequently.
8. Green Tea May Reduce Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Although cardiovascular disorders cannot be completely treated with lifestyle changes and medical intervention is a must, they can be avoided from occurring in the first place by making lifestyle changes. Green tea can combat certain risk factors for cardiovascular disorders, like high levels of LDL, cholesterol, and triglycerides, before they start erupting in their initial stages.
Not only that, green tea even boosts the antioxidant capacity of your system and the blood stream. This, in turn, paves the way for better immunity. It even protects the LDL particles form oxidation which form the base of any heart disease.
Observational studies show that green tea drinkers have, in general, 31% lower risk of falling prey to cardiovascular disorders in the long run.
9. Green Tea Can Help You Lose Weight and Lower Your Risk of Obesity
This is, by far, the most common benefit of green tea in discovered and utilized in recent times. It has been proven that green tea can boost one’s metabolic rate and, consequently, promote weight loss. Green tea also works exceptionally well to bring down body fat, especially around the abdominal area.
A recent study conducted on 240 men and women for 12 weeks long showed that people who consumed green tea had a significant drop in body weight, body fat percentage, body weight, and belly fat.
Having said that, the effects of green tea also heavily depend upon how an individual’s body reacts to it. Although most people witness a significant drop in body weight, some people may not be able to see any considerable change whatsoever.
10. Green Tea May Help You Live Longer
Not denying the mortality of human beings, but living a long, healthy life must always be a priority. Death is inevitable, but one must strive to keep their health in shape for as long as possible.
In a study conducted on 40,530 Japanese adults, people ho drank up to 5 cups of green tea per day had a lower chance of dying in the next11 year period.
Now this is not a hard-and-fast rule. And this is may only be applicable if the rest of your health is in place provided that your lifestyle habits are healthy too.
Another study conducted on 14,001 Japanese adults showed that people who consumed green tea were 76% less likely to die in the next 6 years.
Green tea works in prolonging your life in addition to keeping you healthy with a strong immunity for as long as you live. And who doesn’t want that?
Conclusion:
Green tea is extremely beneficial both for your mental as well as physical health. The benefits may not be very apparent right in the beginning but they start coming up over a period of time when you start consuming green tea.
