The craze of green tea among population is increasing day by day. It is believed that sipping on green tea cleanses, heals and rejuvenates our body from within.
An excellent detox drink and have many benefits, it facilitates healthy and clear skin. Regular consumption of green tea is also said to help in lowering cholesterol levels.
Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, polyphenols and flavonoids that not only boost immunity but also protect us against inflammatory diseases like cough and flu.
Green tea was used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine to control bleeding and heal wounds, digestion, improve heart and mental health, and also regulate body temperature.
Green tea helps to improve mental alertness and thinking etc.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the polyphenols in tea have been shown to decrease tumour growth and may protect against damage caused by ultraviolet UVB radiation.
It is known that oxidative damage contributes to the development of cancer and that antioxidants may have a protective effect. Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants, so it could reduce your risk of cancer.
Some studies have also shown the positive impacts of green tea on the following types of cancer:
- breast
- bladder
- ovarian
- colorectal (bowel)
- esophageal (throat)
- lung
- Capsules
- prostate
- skin
- stomach
Therefore high level of polyphenols in tea that helps kill cancerous cells and stop them from growing.
Green tea contains catechins, polyphenolic compounds that are thought to exert numerous protective effects, particularly on the cardiovascular system.
It is not surprising to see that green tea drinkers have up to a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Consuming green tea, either as a beverage or in capsule form, was linked to significant but modest reductions in total and LDL or “bad” cholesterol.
Drinking green tea on a regular basis is associated with a reduced risk of stroke. You may make a small but positive lifestyle change to help lower the risk of stroke by adding daily green tea to your diet.
Green tea can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels. Studies concerning the relationship between green tea and Diabetes have been inconsistent. Some have shown a lower risk of developing type 2 Diabetes for green tea drinkers than for those who consumed no tea.
Green tea has been shown to increase fat burning and boost up the metabolic rate. Green tea may promote a small, non-significant weight loss in overweight and obese adults. However, since weight loss in the studies was so minimal, it is unlikely that green tea is clinically important for weight loss. Suppress the elevation of blood glucose during food intake and reduce the body weight.
A study shows that green tea could hold promise as a new treatment for skin disorders such as psoriasis and dandruff. Researchers studied for inflammatory skin diseases, often characterized by patches of dry, red, flaky skin caused by the inflammation and overproduction of skin cells.
Green tea can enhance our brain’s cognitive functions, particularly the working memory. Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, but enough to produce an effect. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which can work synergistically with caffeine to improve brain functions.
Not only can green tea improve brain functions in the short term, it may also protect your brain in old age. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in humans and a leading cause of dementia. Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and involves the death of dopamine producing neurons in the brain. Therefore multiple studies show that the catechin compounds in green tea can have various protective effects on neurons, potentially lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Instead of drinking green tea, some people apply green tea bags to their skin to soothe sunburn and prevent skin cancer due to sun exposure. Green tea bags are also used to decrease puffiness under the eyes, as a compress for tired eyes or headache.
Some people gargle with green tea to prevent colds and flu. Green tea extract is also used in mouthwash to reduce pain after tooth removal.
Other studies have found that green tea might be helpful in preventing dental cavities, stress, chronic fatigue, treating skin conditions, and improving arthritis by reducing inflammation.
