Green tea has a long, storied history as being a healthy, medicinal beverage – far beyond the typical idea we have of tea being a simple, warm and comforting drink to swallow by the bucket load on a cold February morning.
Ancient Chinese and other Asian cultures would often resort to green tea for a wide and varied number of health issues, as well as an important source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that the body craves.
And these benefits of green tea are no less appreciated today. Just type “green tea benefits” into your Google search bar and you’ll find articles galore yammering on about the natural perks and nutrients of this savory brew – and this article is no exception.
So what are these legendary green tea benefits?
Let’s find out – here’s an in-depth look at all the benefits green tea has to offer, and how you can get the most out of yours!
Green tea boosts weight loss
A university study carried out by Penn State College of Agricultural Studies showed that regular ingestion of green tea tends to lead to a decrease in body fat.
Interestingly, further evidence seems to show that this isn’t just a placebo effect or part of a wider group of factors (although, of course, exercise is always recommended).
Polyphenols found in green tea are thought to increase the speed of fat oxidation, which contributes to the speed your body burns through calories.
In essence, green tea can help to increase your metabolism.
Green tea is heart friendly
Due to the high EGCG levels (epigallocatechin gallate) present in green tea, drinking the stuff is thought to prevent troublesome cholesterol build-ups in the body and subsequently lower the risk of contracting some forms of cardiovascular disease.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry summed up the benefits of green tea over your cardiovascular system by showing that the present EGCG stops fat from building up and blocking your arteries.
Additionally, some other studies point to green tea having a relaxing effect over the lining of the body’s blood vessels, meaning they can handle changes in blood pressure and reduce the chance of any blockage due to blood clotting.
Green tea can battle against different types of cancer
Although many alternative ingredients and ‘super foods’ are sold as being key components in the fight against cancer(s), green tea has actual evidence on its side.
Oxidation is a large contributor to the damage caused by various cancers – which means that ingredients, foods and drinks which are high in antioxidants are often sought for their ability to cancel some of this damage out (of course, antioxidants are desirable for a whole host of other reasons, too).
Green tea is a fantastic and convenient source of antioxidants, meaning that it can easily be argued to reduce the chances of cancer. There have also been numerous studies showing that green tea has positive effects on various types of cancer…
- Breast Cancer: A study carried out by the University of Minnesota discovered that there was a lower risk of breast cancer amongst its test group of women, when drinking green tea.
- Prostate Cancer: A similar piece of research conducted by the Japanese Research Centre for Cancer Prevention and Screening noted that green tea was linked with a decrease in advanced prostate cancer risk amongst men.
- Colorectal Cancer: Yet another similar study, conducted with a test group of 69,710 women, found results which indicated a possible link between green tea consumption and the risk of Colorectal Cancer.
Also, according to CancerResearchUK.org, some cancer sufferers drink green tea, during their treatment, as it’s thought to boost the immune system, improve energy levels, help rid the body of certain toxins and help with the mental side of things (more on that later).
All this being said, it’s highly important to note that solely drinking green tea will not eradicate the risk of developing any of these, or other, types of cancer – nor is it considered an appropriate form of treatment, in any way shape or form.
The cancer-based benefits of green tea are still under widespread research, but the general gist is that there’s no harm in drinking the tea for its anti-oxidant benefits, which may hold some sway over the risk, but not the certainty of developing cancer.
Green tea keeps your teeth healthy
Yet another active and healthy ingredient found in green tea are catechins, which can help kill off bacteria and battle the onset of a whole host of viruses (such as influenza) and lower the body’s risk of contracting infections.
Indeed, these catechins are also thought to be especially effective against streptococcus mutans – the most common form of damaging bacteria found in the mouth, which can cause plaque growth and promotes cavities and tooth decay.
Studies in both the Journal of Periodontology and the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research both give credence to this beneficial aspect of green tea, having being convinced that the humble beverage can actively ward off tooth decay.
Green tea can boost your brain function
As with any form of tea, green tea contains traces of caffeine – which we all know and love for kicking us out of bed and giving us the necessary energy to face another day.
The amount of caffeine is significantly lower than that of coffee or some stronger teas, though, which makes it perfect for people who want to avoid that jittery, over-stimulated effect of having one too many espressos of a dark morning.
Caffeine has a long history of improving brain function, energy levels, boosted moods and reaction time – mainly because it manages to block off Adenosine, a neurotransmitter that holds back neurons and other neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.
In essence, drinking green tea can give your brain enough caffeine to delay the brain’s normal inhibition of certain elements that contribute to a more active, alert and energetic mood; but also just a small enough amount that it won’t have the same deteriorating effects of having drunk too much coffee.
A perfect blend for waking you up and getting on with a tough day at work!
Green tea may also help with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s risks
An interesting study carried out by the University of Missouri found that green tea, when combined with exercise, could halt or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s in mice.
The belief is that active ingredients in green tea actually protect your current brain cells from dying off or being caused any direct damage. Again it’s all down to the catechin levels and their positive effects over neurons firing in the brain.
As the two leading neurodegenerative diseases common in the human brain, finding some form of solace or protection from the threat of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s has to be a huge advantage for any modern substance, let alone an ancient Chinese tea.
Green tea lowers and combats depression levels
Green tea has long been used as a naturally occurring solution to anxiety, nervousness, insomnia and some elements of depression (all four of which can exist in a cyclical nature with one another).
In particular, the anti-depressant side of things stems from Theanine, an amino acid that makes up a significant portion of the green tea leaf structure. Theanine is thought to produce a warm, relaxed effect on the drinker, which can help to rid the mind of troublesome thoughts.
Additionally, this soporific effect of the tea is why it’s often used as a handy method of curbing sleep issues, or persistent insomnia – the scent, ingredients and actual warmth of the brew all acting together to create the perfect night cap for a long, undisturbed slumber.
And, we all know how important a good night’s sleep is when it comes to our moods and mental state.
Green tea is good for your skin
Research carried out by Japan’s Josai University showed that the catechin element of green tea can be an active contributor toward anti-aging in the skin, and protect against harmful UV rays from the sun.
Note: this is less through the traditional tea-brewing method of ingesting the leaves and more through actually applying essences of green tea to the skin directly, much like one might apply sunscreen.
Again, however, it’s worth mentioning that few medical professionals would recommend this as a sole alternative to actual sun protection balms and creams themselves, and more of an additional extra!
As well as this, we need to look at the antioxidants again (and also the anti-inflammatory properties of the tea leaves), as they are both believed to be active combatants against other skin issues such as wrinkling and sagging.
Green tea may help regulate, or avoid, diabetes
Type II diabetes has seen an enormous upsurge in the last few decades (due to a number of health, environmental and societal issues creating the perfect storm), and is now thought to affect around 300 million people across the globe.
That being said, some studies have shown that green tea can have positive effects over blood sugar regulation and help to manage glucose levels after eating a meal, this in turn can help to prevent sudden spikes in insulin production – huge factors when considering diabetes treatment and prevention.
Research carried out by Osaka University showed that there was a notable relationship between green tea (and other caffeinated beverages such as coffee) and the risk of developing type II diabetes.
This doesn’t mean that indulging in an otherwise unhealthy diet and then topping it off with some green tea at the end of the day will curb the total risk of developing the disease, however. A healthy lifestyle is required for a healthy body; it’s merely recommended that green tea be an active part of that total healthy lifestyle in the first place.
Green tea is yummy!
The most important reason for drinking any tea? It’s delicious! And there are a great many different variations, brands and flavors of green tea out there, so get experimenting!