Potential Health Benefits Of Green Tea
Many health benefit claims have been made about green tea for centuries. Traditionally, in China and India, green tea was a medicine for controlling bleeding, aiding digestion, and regulating body temperature. In modern times, research has been able to demonstrate some of its health benefits more solidly than others.
One large study in Japan followed 40,000 adult participants over 11 years, and found that daily green tea consumption was linked to lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease. In particular, the study was examining the link between the polyphenols in green tea and cardiovascular diseases. The minimum daily consumption required to see this benefit was five cups per day.
Stroke Prevention
Another large Japanese study, this one following more than 82,000 participants over 13 years, found that higher consumption rates of green tea were associated with reduced risk of stroke. Participants who drank four cups per day or more saw the highest benefit.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a topical green tea extract treatment to treat breakouts of genital warts. This ointment is available by prescription only and is estimated to be effective for between 24% to 60% of patients.
How Much Green Tea Should You Drink A Day
Studies have not been conclusive on how much green tea to drink a day to reap the maximum benefit. It really depends on the person and their own personal health. Different amounts of green tea every day will benefit you in various ways.
For example, in controlled studies, those who drank one to three cups each day had a lower risk of stroke and heart disease than subjects who drank less than one cup. And stomach cancer was less likely to develop in women who consumed over 5 cups daily.
But, we have to look at it this way how much you consume depends on how much you can tolerate. Not everyone wants to drink 5 cups in 24 hours. Adding green tea to your diet is beneficial, but as long as you are drinking a cup or more a day, thats great!
Helps To Improve The Brain Functioning
A cup of green tea does way more than just making you feel energetic like a cup of tea or coffee as it helps to improve the brain functioning, productivity, mood, memory and the reaction time. Due to the presence of caffeine and amino-acids in green tea it works as a stimulant and acts as a brain boosting compound which can cross the blood brain barrier.
The presence of L-theanine in green tea has an anti-anxiety effect on the brain and it also increases the production of dopamine and the alpha waves in the brain.
Not just this but the catechins in the green tea are also proven to be helpful in protecting the neutrons of the brain and a regular consumption of green tea can reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
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What Are Some Health Benefits Of Green Tea
Green tea can help prevent serious chronic health conditions as well as everyday woes like acne and fatigue.
Drinking green tea each day has been linked to not only preventing cancer but actually shrinking tumors as well. Green tea can also keep your heart healthy. It contains antioxidants called flavonoids that help reduce LDL cholesterol. Plus, it can prevent blood clots.
Green tea is a superfood for your brain, too. The beverage has been linked to better concentration and can help prevent cognitive decline as we age.
Green Tea Helps Prevent Tooth Decay
Multiple studies and research have shown that you may prevent tooth decay through the use of green tea.
One study showed that people who drank green tea had a significant reduction in tooth decay compared to those who didnt.
Even more, the study showed that people who drank decaffeinated green tea were just as likely to prevent tooth decay!
Another study confirmed these results by showing that drinking 100 ml of natural green was enough to prevent dental caries.
In fact, they showed that drinking green tea could prevent up to 80% of dental caries when compared with the control group!
This is because phenol compounds in green tea can prevent bacteria from adhering to teeth and gums.
Bottom line:
Drinking a cup or two of green tea each day may prevent tooth decay by up to 80%.
For this reason, drinking green tea should be a daily habit.
You can prevent tooth decay and avoid costly dental bills at the same time!
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Origins Of The Green Tea
This magnificent tea, which has so many health benefits for our body, is a very old type of tea which dates three thousand years back. The first time where we started using leave was really three thousand years ago, and at first, humans were chewing it, like tobacco or the whole beans of coffee. Its was later on we tried boiling these leaves in water and by doing so water got this amazing flavour from these leaves. It was firstly used in Asia, and here are some health benefits of green tea and reasons why you should drink it every day.
Should You Be Concerned About Lead In Matcha Tea
Lead in green tea has been a concern. Green tea is like a sponge for lead, says Cooperman. Its not surprising we have found over the years reasonably high levels in green tea.
But ConsumerLab.coms testing has found that even if lead is found in the leaves used in green tea bags, it doesnt appear to be absorbed into the water. Cooperman says his team was concerned about lead content in matcha, because people consume the ground green tea leaves directly rather than in bags. However, their testing showed that among the six popular matcha brands they testedDoMatcha, Encha Organic Matcha, Rishi Teahouse Matcha, Teavana Imperial Matcha, Kirkland Signature Green Tea and The Republic of Tea Double Green Matcha Teathe powders were not contaminated by lead or other metals, and also did not contain pesticides. As of now, Cooperman says he doesnt believe lead exposure is a risk in the matcha currently sold in the United States.
You can ingest without worrying, says Cooperman. We havent tested every brand out there, but the premium brands we have tested have been clean.
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What Is Green Tea Good For
Whether you look to Traditional Chinese Medicine, modern science or simply the calming effect you experience when drinking it, its fair to say green tea is great as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Given the potential green tea benefits listed above, it stands to reason that green tea may also be good for longevity! Large-scale, longitudinal Japanese studies found that regular green tea drinkers were significantly less likely to die during the research period20.
What Is The Best Time To Drink Green Tea
For most people, the best time to drink Green Tea is late in the afternoon. That happens because the caffeine it contains can keep you up for more time and improve your concentration. Other people prefer to drink it early in the morning to regulate their blood sugar intake through the day and induce water absorption by your body.
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Green Tea Can Prevent Disease
Well, there are many!
Green tea has been shown to protect against disease because of its powerful antioxidant activity.
One study showed that drinking green tea reduced the risk for pancreatic cancer by 70%.
Another study confirmed that people who drank five cups of green tea per day had a 14% lower chance of developing stomach cancer than those who did not drink any at all.
Other studies have also suggested that consuming two or more servings of green tea each day could reduce your total mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease and stroke by up to 29%!
All these incredible benefits come from one thing: antioxidants found in green tea, which will keep you protected against disease and disease-causing free radicals.
With this in mind, you should regularly drink green tea if you want to stay healthier for longer!
Is Green Tea Safe For Everyone
If youve been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anaemia you should be aware that, like other teas, green tea contains natural compounds called tannins. These compounds interfere with the absorption of iron for this reason its useful to avoid drinking tea with an iron-rich meal and leave at least one hour before having a brew.
Because of green teas beneficial effects, a number of health products include traces of green tea. However, there is limited evidence to suggest these products are effective. If you are hoping to use green tea for medicinal purposes, refer to your GP to ensure you may do so without risk to your health.
If you are sensitive to caffeine, it is advisable to limit the total number of caffeinated drinks you drink in a day. Too much caffeine may disrupt sleep and, in some people, increases anxiety if this is relevant to you, look to reduce your intake and aim to have your last caffeinated drink at about 12 noon.
Looking for more information on how much caffeine is in tea? Our in-depth guide compares different types of tea and discusses which factors affect the caffeine content.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Drinking Green Tea
While its one of the healthiest drinks out there, green tea still carries side effects. The beverage contains caffeine, so drinking too much, especially before bedtime, can lead to disturbed sleep, anxiety and headaches.
Drinking too much green tea can also affect how your body absorbs iron. Green tea contains antioxidants called catechins. And while catechins are loaded with health benefits, ingesting too many can prevent your body from absorbing iron in your diet, potentially leading to anemia. Keep in mind that these side effects should not be a problem unless you drink an excessive amount of tea. You should be fine if you limit your consumption to five cups per day.
Effects On Absorption Of Metal Ions
Tea catechins can affect iron absorption, particularly in groups at risk of iron deficiency , but their effects on other ions are poorly understood. Green tea ingestion over a long period does not affect the apparent absorption of copper, whereas it decreases that of zinc and increases that of manganese . However, catechin intake does not affect the plasma concentration of these ions . Green tea catechins have the potential to affect absorption and metabolism of ions because flavonoids interact with a variety of metal ions .
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Potential Risks Of Tea
Drinking tea doesnât have many health risks associated with it. However, because some teas have high levels of caffeine, including black tea and green tea, there are a few points to be aware of as you drink it.
Too Much Caffeine Intake
When you consume too much caffeine, you could experience symptoms like a faster heartbeat, tremors in your muscles, headache, nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia. However, these symptoms are more commonly associated with drinking a lot of coffee, which has substantially more caffeine than even the strongest teas.
Other than overconsuming caffeine, there are few risks associated with drinking tea. Enjoy a cup to hydrate your body and gain important minerals and microminerals.
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Discover The Benefits Of Drinking Tea Before Bed
1. Sleep Well
Its a well-known fact that we should all be getting around 8 hours of sleep per night in order to remain healthy, but for some of us, this seems like an impossible task.
However, sipping green tea before bed could help you if youre suffering from sleep-related problems like insomnia.
Thats because L-theanine is found in green tea, as well as many of Teami’s Blends! This is an amino acid with a plethora of properties. It helps you relax and reduces anxiety, which will be a huge benefit if you struggle to find sleep each night. It will improve the quality of your sleep, too without leaving you feeling lethargic and sleepy like other natural and synthetic sleep supplements.
This is supported by a poll of 2,000 people, suggesting that enjoying a cup of tea at around 9:10 PM before going to sleep at 10:26 PM is one of the best ways to drift off to the Land of Nod quickly and easily.
2. Reduce Your Risk of Cancer
Studies demonstrate how various cancer risks can be lowered by consuming green tea. These include prostate, pancreas, bladder, stomach, breast, colon, and liver cancer.
In fact, one study of 70,000 women indicated how consuming green tea on a regular basis reduces colorectal cancer.
And Mayo Clinic described how green tea extract shows promising results in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
3. Benefit from Improved Cardiovascular Health
4. Feel Less Stressed, Anxious, and Depressed
5. Burn Fat and Lose Weight
6. Lower Your Cholesterol
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Green Tea Can Lower Your Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is becoming an epidemic in the United States, with nearly 10% of the population having this condition . Drinking green tea could lower your risk. Compared to those who drank one cup per week, participants who drank more than six cups of tea per day had an astonishing 33% lower risk of type 2 diabetes . This effect remained even after researchers controlled for factors such as age, sex, and body mass index.
Boosts Up Your Energy Levels
Yes, as you know all kinds of tea contain caffeine, of course, considerably less than the coffee itself, but it contains. For example, why its better to start consuming green tea instead coffee, you can more easily get the caffeine buzz without overdoing it. It is also a lot healthier and has a greater impact on your body than coffee. This tea also contains L-theanine amino acid, which helps the brain and helps you on staying focused and concentrated. You can also try consuming tea made from Kratom plant. This Kratom tea is also a great energy booster as well as pain reliever. You can buy Kraton tea here.
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Can Green Tea Help You Lose Weight
No food or drink is going to make the number on the scale magically slide south. But coupled with a balanced, healthy diet, it does seem that green tea may play a role in aiding weight loss.
“Green tea has been shown to help with weight loss,” says Weisenberger. “It is a good source of caffeine and has been shown to help increase metabolism. Green tea has also been shown to help reduce appetite.”
The Recommended Dosage Of Green Tea
Drinking three to five cups of Green Tea per day can provide you with 180 mg of catechins and at least 60 mg of L-Theanine. You can also have the caffeine levels you need to keep you up all day.
Remember that if you go over the five cups of Green Tea per day, you will have stomach issues. EGCG is the most popular of the catechins molecule, but it can result in liver damage if you take too much without eating first.
In case of overdose, then you need to stop taking green Tea immediately. Overdose can give you the following symptoms:
Always ask your doctor before you start consuming bigger than usual portions of green Tea. Black Tea can also have the same overdose effects, to be ready to anticipate a similar type of symptoms when drinking a Japanese or any other teas cup.
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Minimal Processing Leaves Nutrients Intact
Unlike soda, another common source of caffeine, tea is relatively unprocessed. After picking the leaves, they are allowed to soften before being rolled to wring out their juices . After heat is applied to the leaves, they are dried and ready to use. This minimal amount of processing means that green tea retains many of the phytonutrients that are available in the actual tea plant.
Lowers The Risk Of Cancer
Rich in polyphenols, green tea helps in reducing inflammation and is said to prevent and lower the risk of being affected by several types of cancers including the ones in mouth, kidney, stomach, mammary glands and the pancreas and other types of cancers like breast cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. Being one of the leading causes of death worldwide, cancer is caused due to an uncontrolled growth of the cells. Green tea consists of antioxidants which protects our body against the chronic inflammation causing oxidative damage that leads to deadly diseases like cancer.
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Green Tea Fights Inflammation
The flavonoids in green tea have been proven to fight inflammation in the body. The component epigallocatechin gallate in green tea has anti-inflammatory effects and protects cell DNA. There are also antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties in green tea which also work against inflammation.
Protection Against Neurodegenerative Diseases
Some research has found drinking green tea can protect against certain neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This is likely due to green tea’s high concentration of powerful compounds called antioxidants, according to a 2019 research review published in Molecules. Antioxidants defend cells against damage that, over time, would otherwise lead to neurodegenerative diseases.
A 2022 study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found that after following 1,545 elderly people in China with healthy brain functioning for one year, those who habitually drank teaincluding green teahad lower rates of cognitive decline compared to non-tea drinkers. This was true even after researchers adjusted for factors like education, smoking, and exercise.
Cognitive decline is one of the first noticeable symptoms of Alzheimer’s and related forms of dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . It refers to worsening or more frequent instances of confusion and/or memory loss.
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