Keeping ourselves healthy is a challenge for many of us in this high-tech, fast-paced world. Maybe you could use a little more exercise or a little less junk food. While there’s no magic pill that will instantly make you healthier, there’s one thing you can do to get on the right track – and all you have to do is add hot water. We’re talking about the health benefits of Green Tea.
Green Tea has been used for medicinal purposes in Japan and China for thousands of years. It is mainly consumed as a beverage, both hot and cold, but is also sold in liquid extracts, capsules and tables. The tea is safe to drink when consumed in moderate amounts. Green Tea is made by steaming the leaves of the tea plant to create a dry product that can be steeped.
The effects of Green Tea consumption have been studied a lot in people, laboratory experiments and in animals. Here are some of the ways drinking Green Tea each day may help improve your health, based on these findings.
1. Helps Protect Against Heart Disease
Green Tea is among the most popular beverages around the world. The tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant by steaming then drying its leaves, which preserves the natural polyphenols that give the tea its health-promoting properties. Reports about population-based studies show that the antioxidant properties of the tea may help prevent coronary artery disease by lowering triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Consuming three cups of Green Tea per day may decrease your chances of a heart attack by 11 percent, researchers say.
2. Inhibits the Growth of Breast Cancer Cells
The polyphenols found in Green Tea could help slow or halt the growth of breast cancer cells, researchers said. One study of 472 women with various stages of breast cancer found that women who drank the most Green Tea had the least spread of the cancer. Women with early stages of breast cancer who drank at least five cups of Green Tea received the most benefits from it.
3. Controls Your Blood Sugar Level
An estimated 2.5 million tons of tea leaves are produced each year worldwide, about 20 percent of this amount is Green Tea, which has traditionally been used to control blood sugar levels. Studies show the tea may help regulate glucose in the body. This could help prevent the development of type 1 Diabetes or help manage type 2 Diabetes.
4. Lower Chances of Liver Problems
Men who drank more than 10 cups of Green Tea per day have shown to be less likely to develop liver problems, according to reports about population-based studies. Another benefit is that the tea provides some protection for the liver against the damaging effects of alcohol.
5. Green Tea Helps You Lose Weight
The extract in Green Tea can boost your metabolism and help burn fat, which could lead to weight loss, based on clinical studies. For people who are overweight, a combination of Green Tea and caffeine improved weight loss.
6. Prevents Bladder Cancer
Studies show that women who drank powdered Green Tea and black tea were less likely to develop bladder cancer. Another related student showed that people with bladder cancer who drank Green Tea had a better 5-year survival rate than those who didn’t drink the tea.
7. Extends Lives for Ovarian Cancer Patients
Researchers who studied Chinese women with ovarian cancer found that those who drank at least one cup of Green Tea per day lived longer with the disease than those who didn’t drink Green Tea.
8. Protects Against Pancreatic Cancer.
A large-scale clinical study found that people who drank the most Green Tea were the least likely to develop Pancreatic Cancer. The study found that women who drank the most tea were half as likely to develop this cancer. Men who drank the most Green Tea were about 37 percent less likely to develop it, compared to those who drank less tea.
9. Helps Protect Against Other Types of Cancers
A University of Maryland Medical Center report suggests Green Tea helps protect against various other types of cancer. It is believed the polyphenols help kill cancerous cells and prevents these cells from growing. The list of cancers that may benefit from Green Tea consumption include:
- Colorectal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Skin Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
10. Reduces Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Because Green Tea is believed to help prevent colon cancer, researchers suggest it may also reduce inflammation associated with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. These are the two types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
11. Calms Arthritis
Green Tea contains a chemical compound called quercetin, which acts as an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. Studies of mice show those that drank the equivalent of four cups of Green Tea a day were far less likely to develop arthritis that test mice that drank water.
12. Elevate Your Alertness
Two compounds in Green Tea, L-theanine and caffeine, can raise your alertness. One study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that drinking one cup of Green Teat a day made people age 55 and older about 38 percent less likely to experience a decline in their mental abilities. That number rose to 54 percent when drinking a second cup.
13. Clears Up Acne
A University of Miami study suggests that the tea’s antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds can clear up acne. This combination cleared nearly two-thirds of pimples from people with mild to moderate acne when used for six weeks, twice a day.
14. Clears Up Urinary Tract Infection
The antioxidants in Green Tea are also said to be able to clear up a urinary tract infection, if you drink two to three cups a day. Also, Green Tea drinks have a much lower chance of a UTI than those who didn’t drink Green Tea.
15. Cuts Down on Allergy Symptoms
If you have allergies, the various ingredients in Green Tea can be used to relieve allergies, reduce puffy eyes and reduce asthma symptoms. To heal a black eye, place to wet Green Tea bags on your eyes and lie down for 20 minutes.
16. Reduces Stress
Drinking five cups a day could lower your stress, based on a study of a large group of Japanese people. Green Tea is lower in caffeine than most other teas.
17. Beats Other Antioxidants
Tufts University scientists measured the total antioxidant power of 22 fruits and vegetables and Green Tea and found that tea brewed for five minutes beat even those on the product list. Antioxidants are key to neutralizing and removing free radical atoms from your bloodstream that could damage cells and create disease.
Should You Be Drinking More Green Tea?
Consumption of Green Tea has been practiced for a long time in China, India and Japan, where it is also used for medicinal purposes. Today in the U.S., Green Tea is used as a dietary supplement in hopes that it can improve mental alertness, relieve digestive symptoms, stop headaches and promote weight loss.
Several studies have shown a possible link between Green Tea and various health benefits, but scientists say more research needs to be done to confirm these reports. One of the key ingredients in Green Tea is polyphenol, which gives the tea strong antioxidant properties.
Part of a Healthy Lifestyle
For individuals looking for ways to live healthier lifestyles, drinking Green Tea regularly seems to be a positive step in the right direction. The tea itself doesn’t have any harmful effects, although you should be aware it does contain caffeine. Drinking several cups of Green Tea per day seems to have the most positive impact on your health.
Tea time can be any time of day. Some recommended drinking two or three cups per day. Consider a cup in the morning, afternoon and one after dinner for a balanced approach. Also, the popularity of Green Tea means that you can find it in grocery stores, supermarkets and convenience stores. Chances are it is also served at your favorite restaurants. If not, just bring a pouch with you – remember, all you need is to add hot water.
The benefits of Green Tea make it an easy way to improve your health. But it can’t do it alone. You’ll also need to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly so that you can enjoy a healthy life, especially if you’re on always on the go.
If you have any concerns about how Green Tea and its properties, including caffeine, may affect you or the medications you may be taking, you should consult your health care provider. Certain types of medicines can interact with Green Tea. Depending on the medication, the tea could make it more effective or increase the risks of side effects.