Green tea, a trending drink among health conscious population,
originated in China and also associated with many cultures throughout Asia. Nadine
Taylor (author of Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life) states
that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years. Green
tea has recently become more widespread and a very popular drink worldwide
because of its immensely powerful health benefits. Green tea is made from the
leaves from Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal
oxidation during processing makes it a good source of antioxidants.
Over the last few decades green tea has been subjected to
many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its
long-purported health benefits, which includes lowering risk of heart disease
and certain types of cancer, and in weight management. The average amount of flavonoids,
a group of phytochemicals present in plant products with health effects such as
anti-oxidative and anti-carcinogenic functions, is higher in a cup of green tea
(approximately 80 - 100 mg of polyphenols in a cup) than that in other
food and drink items like fresh fruits,
vegetable juices or wine of the same quantity or volume.
It is extraordinarily amazing what green tea can do for your
health. And if you're making a habit of drinking three to four cups of green
tea a day, then definitely you're doing a big favor to your health.
Here are the 21 reasons why you should start drinking green
tea right now:
1. Green tea and cancer: Green tea helps
reduce the risk of cancer [Link],
as Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) in green tea is found to be 100 times more
effective than vitamin C and 24 times better than vitamin E, which helps body
at protecting cells from damage, believed to be a leading cause for cancer.
2. Green tea and heart disease: Green tea
helps prevent heart disease [Link],
especially stroke as it help in lowering the level of cholesterol. Even after
the heart attack, it is found to prevent cell deaths and speeds up the recovery
of heart cells.
3. Green tea and Anti-aging: An antioxidant
known as polyphenols present in green tea fights against free radicals to slow
down aging process and promotes longevity.
4. Green tea and weight loss: Green tea helps
with your body weight management [Link]. Don’t
mistake that it is a medicine for immediate weight loss since green tea does
not raise the metabolic rate enough to produce such an immediate effect, but a
green tea extract containing polyphenols and caffeine has been found to induce
thermogenesis and stimulate fat oxidation, boosting the metabolic rate 4%
without increasing the heart rate, helping you to burn up to 70 calories in a day,
which means up to 3 kg in an year.
5. Green tea and skin: The antioxidant in
green tea protects the skin from the effects of free radicals that cause
wrinkling and aging effects on skin. It also helps fight against skin cancer as
we already discussed.
6. Green tea and arthritis: Green tea can help
prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. University of Michigan
scientists found that compound Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) present in green
tea may reduce inflammation and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis [Link].
It also protects the cartilage from wear and tear by blocking the enzyme that
destroys it.
7. Green tea and bones: Green tea improves
bone health [Link]
as it contains EGCg, which is found to increase the activity of enzymes that
promote bone growth and help to strengthen bones. EGCg also helps in preventing
bone deterioration by inhibiting certain cells that weaken bones. The
researchers hope green tea to be developed as future treatments for
osteoporosis and other bone maladies.
8. Green tea and cholesterol: Green tea can
help lower cholesterol level [Link]. It also
improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad
cholesterol level.
9. Green tea and obesity: Green tea prevents
obesity [Link]
by stopping the movement of glucose in fat cells. If you are on a healthy diet,
exercise regularly and drink green tea, it is unlikely you'll be obese.
10. Green tea and diabetes: Green Tea has been
shown to inhibit the enzyme amylase produced and secreted by the salivary
glands and pancreas for the digestion of starches. This slows the rate at which the sugar
contained in starches is metabolized and released into the bloodstream,
prevents sharp increases in blood sugar level and balances your metabolism
rate. [Link]
11. Green tea and Alzheimer’s disease: EGCg in
green tea appears to protect the brain from the accumulation of amyloid plaques
that believes to cause the brain deterioration associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
[Link]
12. Green tea and Parkinson's disease: Polyphenols in the
green tea has antioxidant actions, free radical scavenging, and iron-chelating
properties which helps in preventing cell damage in the brain which could cause
Parkinson's disease [Link].
People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson's.
13. Green tea and liver disease: Green tea
helps prevent transplant failure in people with liver failure. Researches
showed that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.
14. Green tea and high blood pressure: Green
tea helps prevent high blood pressure. Drinking green tea helps keep your blood
pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.
15. Green tea and food poisoning: Catechin
found in green tea can kill bacteria which causes food poisoning and kills the
toxins produced by those bacteria.
16. Green tea and immunity: Polyphenols and
flavonoids found in green tea help boost your immune system, making your health
stronger in fighting against infections.
17. Green tea and cold and flu: Green tea
prevents you from getting a cold or flu. Vitamin C in green tea helps you treat
the flu and the common cold.
18. Green tea and asthma: Green tea serves as
a treatment for asthma. Green tea includes a compound named theophylline, which
helps to relax as well as support your bronchial tubes. Regularly drinking
green tea will result in fewer & less severe attacks.
19. Green tea and tooth decay: Green tea
destroys bacteria and viruses that cause many dental diseases. It also slows
the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.
20. Green tea and stress: L-theanine, a kind
of amino acids in green tea, exerts anti-stress effects which help in relieving
stress and anxiety.
21. Green tea and allergies: EGCg found in
green tea relieves allergies [Link].
So if you have allergies, you should really consider drinking green tea.
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