Green tea is a type of tea made from steaming, pan-frying, and drying the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It's one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide and has been used for thousands of years.
In fact, green tea is thought to have many health benefits for those who drink it regularly. Here are five possible benefits of green tea and how to incorporate it into your diet.
The amount of caffeine in green tea is much lower than in coffee, so you can get some of the benefits of caffeine without the unpleasant side effects, like jitteriness.
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A small 2019 study observed the effects of drinking green tea on brain function, concluding that regular tea drinkers have higher cognitive functions and better-organized brain regions, as compared to non-tea drinkers. A 2017 review of 21 studies on the benefits of green tea also determined that drinking green tea is beneficial to cognition and brain function.
A large 2006 study also showed that people who consumed six or more cups of green tea day, compared to those who consumed less than one a week, were 33% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
"Green tea may address multiple classic heart risk factors, like lipids, blood pressure, and diabetes," says Melinda Ring, MD, Executive Director of The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University.
Catechin is a major component of green tea. Catechins are natural antioxidants that have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hypertensive effects. They lower cholesterol levels by decreasing the absorption of cholesterol into the body.
An 2011 analysis of 14 studies showed that drinking an average of two cups of green tea per day for 10 years resulted in significant reductions in LDL cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is also known as bad cholesterol, because it can cause plaque buildup in your arteries, which increases your risk of getting a heart attack or a stroke.
"Tea leaves contain fluoride, which might slow osteoporosis, as well as beneficial compounds such as flavonoids and phytoestrogens," Ring says. Flavonoids are and phytoestrogens are plant chemicals that can strengthen bone formation and prevent the breakdown of bone tissue.
A 2009 study also concluded that green tea may benefit bone health, after examining bone-forming cells. The researchers exposed the cells to epigallocatechin (EGC), gallocatechin (GC), and gallocatechin gallate (GCG), which are all main components of green tea. After several days, they observed that EGC promoted bone growth by up to 79%. They also observed that high concentrations of EGC disrupted the activity of osteoclast, a cell that weakens bones.
Green tea has also been shown to have anti-aging properties. A small 2005 study studied the effects of using oral supplements and applying green tea topically on aging skin for 8 weeks. Researchers found that the combination of using green tea topically and orally in the participants caused an improvement in the skin's elasticity.
Catechin, a polyphenol in green tea, also helps to soothe inflamed skin when used topically.
It's important to note that green tea contains caffeine, so if you have a caffeine sensitivity, you might want to consume it in smaller amounts.
Link:
5 benefits of green tea and how it can help your memory, skin, and bones - Business Insider India
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