Green tea is one of the most popular health drinks in the world. It is obtained from the plat, Camellia sinensis. Green tea is packed with catechins which have numerous science-proven health benefits. This post highlights 10 benefits of the green tea and reasons why you should drink it on a regular basis.
Benefits of green tea
1. Aids in weight loss
Green tea has caffeine and catechins which boost metabolism and induce fast fat oxidation. A study revealed that green tea extract is high in EGCG content which stimulates genes that effectively breakdown fat. Another study showed that green tea EGCG can reduce 37 percent of visceral fat by lowering lipid absorption.
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2. Helps fight cancer
Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell division and is the second leading reason for death in the United States. Green tea has powerful antioxidants which might help fight the cancer by destroying harmful free oxygen radical which causes oxidative damage to the DNA and cells.
The anticancer property of green tea might help reduce the genetic expression of breast cancer and also the reactive oxygen species levels. It reduces the activity of oncogenes and cancer cell division.
3. Reduces insulin resistance
Diabetes is a global disease, and it might affect around 629 million people in the next decade. People suffering from diabetes have the high blood sugar levels due to body’s poor ability to produce sufficient insulin (type I diabetes) and insulin resistance (type II diabetes).
Epigallocatechin gallate increases satiety, helps weight loss, decreases waist circumference, boosts insulin sensitivity, and also regulates the blood sugar levels.
Drinking three cups of green tea in a day could reduce the risk of type II diabetes.
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4. Improves cardiovascular health
Cardiovascular diseases like stroke, heart disease, and cardiac arrest are the main causes of death every year. Also, these diseases are primarily caused due to very high LDL cholesterol levels and serum triglycerides, high blood pressure, and obesity. A study found that EGCG lowered the LDL cholesterol significantly. Drinking green tea helps reduce visceral fat deposition by 17.8 percent, decrease cholesterol absorption as well as LDL oxidation, and reduce blood pressure. Low dose of green tea helps prevent the atrial fibrillation and improves heart health.
5. May improve brain function
Scientists have revealed that l-theanine and EGCG have antioxidant properties. These chemicals help protect the brain and improve the brain function, mood, cognition, and attention. The neuroprotective property of green tea induces neuritogenesis and helps control brain dysfunction. Studies found that drinking green tea could help improve memory and decrease the risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
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6. Promotes hair and skin health
Green tea antioxidants help protect the skin from oxidative stress, UV rays, photodamage, and the skin cancer. Antioxidants in green tea help delay collagen aging, so keeping the skin looking too young. The anti-inflammatory properties also protect skin from inflammatory reaction and skin condition such as acne, keloids, atopic dermatitis, warts, candidiasis, and hirsutism. A study in Journal of Cosmetic Science revealed that the use of green tea extracts on scalp help reduce scalp greasiness. Also, green also helps reduce androgenetic alopecia and hair loss. Green tea might stimulate the hair growth by inhibiting dihydrotestosterones, and softens the hair. It contains polyphenol and vitamins E and C , which promote lustrous hair.
7. May reduce high blood pressure
Complications from very high blood pressure take around 9.4 million lives per year. Inactivity, poor diet, age, genetics, and gender miight cause high blood pressure. Also, green tea helps reduce high blood pressure and also relaxes smooth muscles. Scientists revealed that green tea and green tea extracts can reduce diastolic and systolic blood pressure in obese adults. A study showed that green tea helps lower systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory property of the green tea helps relax the smooth muscle contraction, reduce inflammation, and reduce vascular oxidative stress, so reducing the high blood pressure.
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8. Reduces inflammation
Inflammation is the first response of the body to any injury, autoimmune diseases, and infection. It boosts the process of healing. However chronic and constant inflammation might cause weight gain, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
9. Reduces anxiety and depression
Around 300 million people suffer from depression and 40 million people from anxiety. Green tea could reduce the likely symptoms. Research studies reveal that the green tea catechin helps lower the symptoms of anxiety and depression. The green tea antioxidant also helps reduce depression in those who had stroke. Green tea polyphenol or catechin work by lowering stress hormones associated with depressions and anxiety.
10. Increases longevity and boost immunity
Research revealed that Chinese people who consume green tea live longer and had reduced risk of mortality. Consuming green tea might help strengthen the immunity and also lower functional disability. The green tea consumers who are also non-smokers might have less risk of death from high cholesterol, stroke, depression, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.