What Can Green Tea Do For You

Green Tea Is Tied To Longevity

The cells of regular green tea drinkers have a younger biological age than non-drinkers, by about five years. Japanese research also shows that regular green tea drinkers live longer. In one study in older adults, those who drank the most green tea were 76% less likely to die the six-year study period.

Its Good For Your Heart

Studies in Japan and China seemed to find that regular green tea drinkers have a slower decrease in HDL-C cholesterol. Were used to thinking of all cholesterol as bad, but this is actually a good one that helps keep your heart healthy, meaning that green tea could possibly help you live longer.

But theres always a catch, right?

Remember that all of the health benefits above are for regular green tea. The process of decaffeinating green tea takes out a sizable chunk of the antioxidants, meaning that the free-radical-clobbering benefits arent as potent in decaf versions.

Green Tea And Heart Health

Second, with rates of cardiovascular disease on the rise, you might be looking for ways to prevent this chronic illness. One systematic review suggested that adults who drink green tea daily may lower their risk of cardiovascular disease. A study in Japan showed that drinking at least 2 cups of green tea a day can reduce your risk of death from a heart attack by 22% to 33%.

Despite this promising research, more studies are needed to make any direct conclusions about green tea and CVD. This is because the people consuming green tea are also thought to be living an overall heart-healthy lifestyle. So, researchers cant say for sure if green tea alone can prevent CVD.

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Green Tea Can Reduce Inflammation

While antioxidants are healthy, antioxidants themselves don’t do anything to improve acne breakouts. But green tea is also rich in a certain type of polyphenols called catechins.

Very simply, polyphenols are compounds in plants that have health benefits for people. Catechins are antioxidant and also anti-inflammatory.

Here’s where it gets interesting. The catechins in green tea are very effective at reducing skin inflammation. Can green tea then reduce inflammatory acne? Maybe.

A study published in the April 2016 issue of Complementary Therapies in Medicine gave decaffeinated green tea extract supplements to a group of adult women with acne. A second group took a placebo supplement.

Those who took the green tea extract supplement had fewer inflammatory breakouts, especially around the nose, mouth, and chin.

But the green tea supplements didn’t completely clear up acne completely. In fact, between the two groups there was no significant difference in total acne breakouts.

So, it would seem that the green tea supplements may be made existing acne blemishes less inflamed, especially around the nose, mouth, and chin area.

Green Tea Helps Balance Blood Sugar And Prevent Diabetes

A meta-analysis of 17 previously published studies looked at the relationship between green tea, blood sugar control, and insulin sensitivity in humans. Researchers found favorable effects. Green tea helps reduce fasting blood sugar levels, as well as values for Hb A1C, a measure of average blood sugar over the previous three months.

Another study in Japanese adults from 23 communities followed over 14,000 healthy people for five years. Scientists found that the consumption of green tea was inversely associated with the risk of developing diabetes, even after adjusting the data for age, sex, body mass index, and other risk factors. In other words, there is something about green tea that is itself protective.

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Fact: Green Tea Can Help You Lose Weight

If you’re a regular soda, juice, energy-drink, or sweetened-coffee-and-tea drinker and you switch to unsweetened green tea, you could see some results in the long run. That’s because the number one source of added sugar in the American diet is from sugar-sweetened beverages, so opting for a calorie-free alternative is always best. But if you’re already sipping on water flavored with fresh fruit, sparkling water, unsweetened coffee and tea, or the occasional diet beverage, then chances are you’ll have to do more than simply switch up your hydration habits to lose weight for the long-term. Bummer, we know!

Which Green Tea Is Best

Oohhh, now thatâs a tricky question because if you mean which is the best green tea based on taste, then it very much comes down to personal preference.

But if you mean, the best quality tea, then itâs best to choose green tea thatâs organic, as pesticides are often used to grown green tea. Also, use green tea loose leaf rather than teabags if you can. This is because some tea bags have been known to contain chemicals that have the potential to seep into your tea while itâs being brewed. Final tip â choose Sencha green tea because it contains the highest level of antioxidants.7

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One That Casts A Spell

This Voodoo House by Laura Denison is a rich beauty. Instead of scary, it is just charming. For more of her creations you can check out her at G 45 Papers on Typepad. The layering and texture of color and patterns are a feast for the eyes. The little lamps and chandeliers are adorable. Wait! Is that a skull on the floor?!

Can Green Tea Affect Iron Levels

Like all types of tea, green tea contains tannins. Tannins can interfere with the absorption of iron so try not to drink tea with an iron-rich meal and leave at least one hour before drinking tea after an iron-rich meal.

Kerry Torrens is a qualified nutritionist with a post graduate diploma in Personalised Nutrition & Nutritional Therapy. She is a member of the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food.

Jo Lewin is a registered nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition with a specialism in public health. Follow her on Twitter .

All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.

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Rose + Green Tea Bath Bags

Oversized teabag-style bath products are becoming so popular, but its easy to make your own. For this DIY we used green tea, but feel free to tailor your tea bath to whichever herbal tea suits you most. For a different combination, how about a chamomile and lavender teabag, or just add in your favourite essential oil.

In the bath, all the salts will dissolve but the tea will stay in the bag, and not end up clogging the drain once youre finished!

You will need:

-Rose essential oil-Medium-sized organza gift bags or organza material

For this DIY you could either buy some organza gift bags and just tie them shut, or make a rectangle-shape out of organza and hem the edges.

In a bowl, mix together two parts Epsom salts to one part Himalayan salt and one part green tea. Add a few drops of rose essential oil. Scoop the mix into your gift/tea bags. If you are sewing your bags, fold the top over and hem or stitch it in place.

You can always add a tag to your teabag, I used string and a piece of balsa to do this.

To use, remove the tag and dunk your teabag into a warm bath.

Have you ever tried a green tea bath, or other type of tea? There are so many simple remedies that can be used in place of the most complex formulas and products! Try this DIY green tea face mask for a refreshing night in.

How To Make And Drink Green Tea

When drinking green tea at home, one teaspoon of tea leaves per cup of water is the best ratio to follow. Simply take a boiling cup of water and dunk in a strainer or a tea bag. Allow it to steep for only two to three minutesleaving it for longer will give the tea a harsher, more bitter taste.

Green tea is traditionally enjoyed without added sugar or milk, which is easy to do when youre brewing at home. But if youre looking for tea on the go, its a different ball game. Many bottled, iced varieties of green tea contain sweeteners, and besides the added sugars, these are likely to be lacking in the flavonoids for which green tea is famous. So if you want to get the most green tea benefits, hot and fresh is best.

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How Much Green Tea Should You Drink

These are some of the many benefits of green tea, but the reality is one cup of tea a day will not give you all the abundant gains. The jury is out on how many cups are necessary some say as little as two cups a day while others insist that its five cups of green tea for the full benefits. If you are thinking of going down this route, you may want to consider taking a green tea supplement instead.

If You Drink Green Tea Every Day Your Athletic Performance Could Improve

Anyone who works out regularly will tell you that they don’t always have enough energy or motivation to get up and go to the gym. That’s why so-called pre-workout supplements are popular among those who want to improve their athletic performance. But it turns out that deciding to drink green tea every day might just be the solution to their problems.

According to Healthline, one of the main ingredients in green tea, caffeine, has a huge impact on athletic performance. Per the website, “caffeine has been shown to increase physical performance by 11-12%, on average.” Additionally, a study from the Division of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Luton found that “caffeine reduces RPE during exercise and this may partly explain the subsequent ergogenic effects of caffeine on performance.”

Not only does green tea give you a healthy dose of caffeine, but that healthy dose can help you achieve all your fitness and athletic goals, which is never a bad thing.

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Green Tea Can Improve Heart Health

Research has concluded that green tea can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. This is thought to be attributable to the polyphenols in green tea, which can lower blood pressure, decrease inflammation, improve epithelial function, and lower cholesterol, all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Is Matcha Good For You

Matcha, a type of green tea, has grown in popularity in recent years. Matcha is derived from the same Camellia sinensis plant however, it is grown without direct sunlight and is then ground into a fine powder.

Matcha powder contains the whole tea leaf, which means it offers more nutritional benefits than regular green tea leaves. Studies have shown the consumption of matcha has been linked to a higher intake of green tea phytochemicals and that the concentration of EGCG in matcha is 137 times greater than the amount of EGCG available in a common variety of green tea bags with leaves. So if youre looking for the healthiest form of green tea, matcha is your best bet.

But theres one pitfall to look out for. Matcha is naturally very bitter in flavor, and so many cafes and beverage chains will often try to counteract this with plenty of sweeteners and creamy additives. Stick to a matcha latte made with unsweetened oat milk to get the most benefits.

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Green Tea Can Help You Lose Fat Especially Harmful Abdominal Fat

When it comes to actual pounds lost, the effects of green tea are relatively modest.

Although many studies show that people do in fact lose weight, there are also some studies showing no effect.

Two reviews of many controlled trials on green tea supplements found that people lost about 3 pounds on average (

27 ).

Therefore, green tea should reduce your risk of many major diseases down the line, which may lead to a longer and healthier life.

Summary

Green tea extract or catechin supplements may help you lose visceral fat a fat that is particularly harmful to your health.

Focus On The Effectiveness Of Green Tea

Many studies provide evidence for the beneficial effects and benefits of Green Tea to your health.

An article published in the Austin Journal of Clinical Medicine proves that catechins in Green Tea can improve thermogenesis in fat cells. That could be the key to lose weight for people that are obese.

Regular intake of Green Tea could potentially help obese people to lose weight since they keep their stomach full of water and consume less sugar throughout the day.

Another article published in Clinical Study correlates the consumption of Green Tea with the ease of diabetes symptoms. A cup of Green Tea contains the right amount of catechins and antioxidants to help reduce blood sugar levels and increase insulin secretion from the pancreas.

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Treatments To Help Clear Your Skin

In addition to green tea, you’ll also want to get started on a daily acne treatment routine. This will give you the most effective and reliable results.

For mild breakouts, over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide is a good choice. Try that for eight to 10 weeks and see if that helps improve your skin.

If OTC products aren’t doing much good, or you have moderate acne or severe acne, you’ll definitely want to get on a prescription acne medication instead. There are plenty of treatment options out there, and one will work for you. Put in a call to your dermatologist.

Autoimmune Disease: An Immune System Out Of Balance

Virtually all autoimmune diseases – conditions where the immune system begins to attack self-tissue – have either a Th1 or a Th2 dominance.

Put another way, autoimmune conditions generally have either a T cell upregulation and B cell suppression or the opposite .

Its imperative that people with autoimmune disorders maintain Th1/Th2 balance.

When the immune system is dysregulated and starts attacking body tissues, the more out of balance the immune system is, the more voraciously it will attack those tissues.

For example, in someone with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks cartilage, the more out of balance the Th1/Th2 system is, the more cartilage destruction will take place.

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You Might Have A Decreased Risk Of Cancer If You Drink Green Tea Every Day

For many people, it can feel like there’s nothing that can be done to prevent cancer, as it’s one of the most common causes of death throughout the world.

However, there have been several studies that prove drinking green tea on a regular basis can help prevent cancer. As one study found, women who drank green tea had a 20 to 30 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer. Another study found that men who drank green tea had a 48 percent lower risk of developing prostate cancer. Clearly, the antioxidants in green tea have a huge role in the beverage’s health benefits. As Healthline reported, “Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants, so it makes sense that it could reduce your risk of cancer, which it appears to do.”

If you drink green tea every day, you might just decrease your risk of developing cancer, which is a pretty big deal.

Can I Drink Green Tea On An Empty Stomach

Despite the benefits of green tea, its best to not drink it on an empty stomach. Doing so can cause you to experience nausea. Its the tannins in the tea that cause the problems. Tannins can increase stomach acids, leading you to feel sick and even have a stomach ache. Its best to drink green tea in between meals. Dont drink green tea with your meal, as it could interfere with iron intake.

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Myth: Green Tea Boosts Metabolism

While a few small-scale studies have linked an increased metabolic rate to drinking green tea , the only truly variable factor in your basal metabolic rate is increasing your lean body mass, a.k.a. building muscle. That’s why strength training is key to keeping your metabolism up for the long-term, and crucial to bone, muscle, and immune function, which ultimately helps to support metabolism over time. The only real, tried-and-true way drinking green tea will help boost your metabolism? By helping you wake up to get your tush to the gym.

Is It Safe To Drink Green Tea Every Day

Green tea is safe to drink every day, but not all day. With all of the proven health benefits, you may be preparing to dive into a bath of green tea right now. While its safe to drink regularly, its always possible to have too much of a good thing. Studies have found benefits from drinking anywhere between one and five cups per day.

If youre aiming for the five-cup end of that range, avoid consuming extra chemicals and make sure your green tea is organic. We like the Rishi brand.

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