Surprising Green Tea Benefits for Your Health

Does Green Tea Really have Health Benefits?

      Green tea is consumed widely throughout the world, and is believed to have several health-promoting qualities.

Elements of green tea are derived from Camellia Sinensis, and contain high phenolic compounds, most of which consist of catechin derivatives, in addition to low proportions of other compounds such as flavanols and phenolic acids.

History About Green Tea

Tea is one of the most preferred drinks by most people.

Tea from the Camellia sinensis plant, is consumed in many parts of the world as black, green or oolong tea. Among all these, the most significant impact on the health of humans consuming green tea has been observed. India was the first country to export green tea to Japan back in the 17th century

It is estimated that around 2.5 million tons of tea leaves are produced annually worldwide, 20% of which is produced as green tea, which is mostly consumed in Asia, parts of North Africa, the United States, and Europe.

The relationship between human health and the consumption of tea, especially green tea, has long been appreciated.

The manufacture of green tea and black tea are processed differently. To produce green tea, freshly harvested tea leaves are steamed directly for forest fermentation, resulting in a dry and stable product. This steaming process destroys the enzymes responsible for breaking down the color pigments in the leaves, and allows the tea to maintain its green color during the subsequent rolling and drying processes.

This process retains naturally occurring polyphenols, due to their health promoting properties. When green tea is fermented into oolong, and then into black tea, the polyphenolic compounds (catechins) in green tea dimerize to form various theaflavins, so these teas may have different biological activities.

The Green Tea Benefits

Why is green tea healthy? Green tea contains bioactive compounds that can make you healthy.

It's more than just a hydrating drink. The green tea plant consists of various healthful compounds which make it the best drink.

Tea is rich in polyphenols, which are natural compounds that are beneficial to health, such as reducing inflammation and helping to get rid of cancer.

Green tea has a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and offer other benefits.

These substances can reduce the formation of free radicals in your body, protect cells and molecules from damage. Free radicals play a role in aging and various diseases

One of the strongest compounds in green tea is EGCG. Studies have tested its ability to help cure a variety of ailments. It seems to be one of the main compounds that gives green tea its medicinal properties.

Green tea also has small amounts of minerals that may benefit health.

Choose a higher quality green tea brand, as some lower quality brands may contain excessive amounts of fluoride.

However, even if you pick up a lower quality brand, the benefits still outweigh the risks (healthline.com)

Green tea is high in antioxidant polyphenols

Green tea has more health benefits than black tea, it is related to less processing.

Green tea is higher in protective polyphenols. The main polyphenols in green tea are flavonoids, the most active of which are catechins and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which act as powerful antioxidants.

Antioxidants are known to guard the human body against disease, and are an important part of a healthy diet. Antioxidants can be found in many fruits, vegetables and other raw foods.

As part of a balanced diet, green tea is the best source of antioxidants.

Cancer prevention

In countries where consumption of green tea is high, the number of cancer sufferers tends to be lower. However, human studies have not shown consistent evidence to prove that drinking green tea lowers the overall risk of cancer.

A 2020 database review of human epidemiological and experimental studies yielded inconsistent results and limited evidence of the benefits of consuming green tea for lowering cancer risk.

However, the topical application of green tea polyphenolic extracts may have a role in protecting the skin from UVB radiation. A 2018 review of in vitro, in vivo, and human studies points to the potential benefits of tea polyphenols in the chemoprevention of UVB-induced skin cancer.

Animal and test-tube studies have suggested positive effects in the following types of cancer: skin, breast, ovarian, esophagus (throat), lung, stomach, and prostate.

The overall findings from several human studies have yielded inconsistent results and limited evidence of the benefits of drinking green tea on cancer risk.

How Much Green Tea Should You Drink Daily For Health?

Green tea consumption in a day? Research is not sure how much green tea to drink a day to get optimal benefits. It depends a lot on the individual and your personal health.

A different amount of green tea each day will benefit you in several ways.

For example, in controlled studies, humans who drank 1 to 3 cups of green tea each day had a lower risk of stroke, and heart disease, compared to subjects who drank less than one cup. And stomach cancer is less likely to develop in women who drink more than 5 cups each day.

However, you have to look at it like this – how much you eat depends on how much you can tolerate. Nobody likes to drink five glasses in 24 hours.

Adding green tea to your diet has its benefits, as long as you're drinking a cup or more a day, it's great!

Green Tea is not the Miracle Weight-Loss Solution You’re Searching for

Is green tea good for losing weight? Here's the facts:

Although the green tea drink is a common ingredient in weight loss products, it's not a miracle cure. In several studies, scientists concluded that the benefits of green tea for weight loss are minimal.

Is there any caffeine in green tea?

Green tea is full of caffeine, which can boost your energy level, and possibly keep you moving.

Replace your sugary, high-calorie soda with a cup of green tea.

Eliminating excess sugar from your diet, along with increasing physical activity, and eating heart-healthy foods, can help you lose weight.