25 Benefits of Green Tea

25 Benefits Of Green Tea That You Should Definitely Know

Why all this fuss about green tea all of a sudden?

Green tea is known to be a healthier substitute to normal beverages like coffee and other types of tea, owing to its lower caffeine content. It also contains very strong, natural antioxidants called polyphenols that not only help you attain a healthy body, skin and hair, but also  help to block the growth of cancer cells as well.

Green tea is also a healthier option due to the way it is processed. It is derived from the leaves of the plant, Camellia sinensis. The green leaves for green tea are steamed, which helps in preventing the catechins from oxidizing, while black and oolong tea are made from fermented leaves, which leads to the loss of this very important antioxidant. Of late, a majority of the people living in Western countries have switched over from drinking black tea to green tea.

Origin
Though it originated in China, green tea has now become immensely popular all over the world. Due to the myriad of health benefits it offers, various health foods, beverages, dietary supplements, and cosmetics are now being manufactured with green tea extracts in them. Several medicinal and scientific studies are being conducted around the world to determine the long-term health benefits of green tea, and, in fact, it has been found from collected data that those who drink green tea regularly are at a lower risk of developing heart diseases and even cancer. Compared to normal tea, green tea has lesser caffeine. Large doses of caffeine can lead to an increase in your blood pressure. Being high on flavonoids (phytochemicals found in plant products), green tea possesses antioxidative and anticarcinogenic properties, which it is best known for.

Tip

To get the most out of your cup of green tea, we suggest that you brew it from the loose tea leaves instead of using the tea bag for convenience. This not only imparts flavor but also allows the release of more antioxidants into your cup.

Why Are Antioxidants Good For Us?
Certain molecules known as free radicals are produced when our body breaks down food or even due to smoking or drinking. These free radicals attack the healthy cells in our body and lead to several problems, including aging. Antioxidants are certain substances that protect our cells from the damage inflicted by the action of these free radicals.
Scientists have identified six different catechins in green tea, one of them being epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG in green tea increases the metabolic rate of the human body, which means that it intensifies the levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories, which, in turn, aids weight loss. Green tea reduces the body fat and bloating, while detoxifying the body and suppressing untimely food cravings. Enabled with diuretic properties, it also eliminates excess water and, thereby, reduces excess weight. Hence, drinking green tea daily can really help you in your weight loss journey.

Best Benefits Of Green Tea

1. Weight Loss
Obesity is one of the biggest problems challenging the world today. A sedentary lifestyle, combined with the craving for junk food and drinks, is leading to several obesity-related complications like heart disease, sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension, etc. To combat this monster, we surely need to incorporate green tea into our daily diet.

Why Does It Work
As mentioned earlier, green tea has a natural antioxidants present in it, known as catechin polyphenols. In fact, green tea contains ten times the amount of antioxidants that we can find in fruits and vegetables.

2. Fresh Breath
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be quite an unpleasant problem to deal with. It can be caused by a number of reasons. Here too, green tea comes to the rescue.

Why Does It Work
The benefits of green tea include the ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses that cause dental diseases. It also helps in slowing down the growth of bacteria that leads to bad breath. All you need to do is wash your mouth with a high concentration of green tea (1 tea bag in 1 cup of water), and it will freshen up your mouth instantly.

How To Use
It also helps in reducing any inflammation in the gums. You can either make a paste of the green tea leaves or, you can also make your own toothpaste using a high concentration of green tea liquid and a teaspoon of baking soda. This will not only help reduce gum inflammation, but also will prevent the growth of plaque on your teeth.

3. Reduces Cholesterol
High levels of cholesterol in the body can pose dangerous risks to your health, primarily that of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Why Does It Work
Green tea contains tannins that are known to lower the cholesterol naturally in the body. Tannins help in reducing the level of LDL (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol in the body. LDL is known as the “bad cholesterol” as it can cause a plaque build-up in the arteries, thus causing blockages. This is yet another advantage of green tea.

Also, scientific studies have shown that catechins decrease the cholesterol absorption in the gut, thus helping in reducing the problem of high cholesterol. Thus, we can say that green tea helps in keeping your heart healthy. Of course, in order to keep your cholesterol in check, you should also avoid high cholesterol foods, in addition to drinking green tea on a regular basis.

4. Healthy Skin
A number of studies have been conducted to draw positive conclusions related to the benefits of green tea for the skin.

Why Does It Work
We are all aware how antioxidants are really beneficial for our skin and how abundantly they are present in green tea. Green tea has a number of properties that help you achieve a glowing skin, and these benefits can be derived from consuming as well as applying green tea externally. Cosmetic formulations containing green tea are a good choice since they reduce the sun damage. Green tea protects against sun damage acting on the free radicals and also reduces inflammation. The polyphenols present in green tea slow down the appearance of the signs of aging.

How To Use
Just mix 100 gms of green tea and half a liter of water, and let it sit for 30-40 minutes at room temperature. Strain the liquid and store it in the refrigerator. You can use this mixture to instantly refresh your tired face after a long day, or to treat minor rashes, cuts and blemishes, and also to treat sun burns. This will also help clear acne from your skin, while preventing it from coming back.

Use it instead of your toner on a regular basis. Just freeze freshly brewed green tea for this purpose. Take the ice cube out and rub gently on your skin. It will give you a refreshing feel and benefit your skin as well.

NOTE: Green tea leaves can also be used as a gentle exfoliator. Mix 3 teaspoons of yogurt with 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves and slowly massage your face with it. Let it stay for 5 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water. Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins are one of the most powerful antioxidants found in nature and are present in high levels in green tea. They help in slowing down the premature aging process, thus leaving your skin youthful.

5. Keeps Allergies At Bay:

Why Does It Work
EGCG found in green tea blocks the key cell receptors that produce histamine and immunoglobulin E (IgE), that are compounds involved in producing an allergic response, and thus, helps in stopping your body from reacting to allergens like pollen, pet dander and dust, amongst others. For this purpose too, you can use green tea in the methods described above.

6. Healthy Hair

Why Does It Work
Green tea inhibits the growth of DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), which hinders hair growth and causes hair fall. The components of green tea react with testosterone making sure that the amount of testosterone in the blood remains balanced so that it does not react with 5-alpha reductase and convert to DHT. Due to its antiseptic properties, it also helps in preventing and curing common hair problems such as dandruff and psoriasis by reducing the inflammation.

Green tea is also known to stimulate the hair growth and soften the hair. It contains polyphenols, vitamin E and vitamin C, which are known to boost lustrous hair. You can easily make a green tea rinse at home by steeping 3-4 bags of green tea in half a liter of water and using this water as the last rinse after you have shampooed and conditioned your hair.

7. Managing Diabetes

Why Does It Work
Green tea helps in managing Type II diabetes. The natural antioxidants present in it inhibit the secretion of an enzyme known as alpha-glucosidase, which, in turn, slows down the absorption of glucose in the blood stream. It means that less insulin is required to manage the glucose in the blood stream and thus, green tea’s properties help in controlling and managing this disease. Green tea can also help improve the glucose tolerance in healthy individuals.

8. Managing Blood Pressure

Why Does It Work
Green tea contains caffeine, which is not good for people suffering from hypertension. But, because the percentage of caffeine is very low in green tea, with positive effects on the overall health of the heart, it helps in managing diabetes and cholesterol, thus managing high blood pressure. Green tea is known to suppress the angiotensin 1- converting enzyme.

The caffeine issue can be easily resolved by switching to a decaffeinated brand of green tea.

9. Prevention Of Platelet Aggregation

Why Does It Work
The antioxidant flavonoids present in green tea are known to prevent platelet aggregation (which is a precipitating factor in cardiovascular diseases) by a number of mechanisms. Thus, the intake of green tea may be beneficial for patients affected by coronary heart disease. In fact, research suggests that green tea may reduce the mortality rates due to cardiovascular disease in both men and women.

10. Genital Warts

Why Does It Work
The topical application of green tea extracts has been found to effectively treat external genital and perianal warts. One green tea extract, sinecatechin, is an FDA approved drug used for this purpose.

11. Pregnancy

Why Does It Work
As we already discussed above, green tea has a lot of health benefits that make it really popular amongst pregnant women. The high antioxidant level helps the body recover from cell damage, regulates the blood sugar and insulin levels, and also helps in controlling hypertension.

Gestational hypertension and diabetes are common problems faced in the later stages of pregnancy. The high antioxidant levels in green tea help in reducing the probability of facing these issues by boosting the immune system of the pregnant woman.

Caution
Though drinking green tea during pregnancy has its benefits, it is important to consider some of the minor risk factors it poses. Green tea contains caffeine, though in a very small quantity. Caffeine is a diuretic and it forces the body to release or excrete more water than usual, which, at times, leads to dehydration.
Maintaining the level of hydration is essential during pregnancy as dehydration can prevent the body from absorbing the necessary nutrients. Pregnancy requires an increased amount of vitamins and minerals, and diuretics can facilitate the loss of these nutrients through urine, so it important to consult your doctor in this case.

12 . Prevents Arthritis

Why Does It Work
Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. It benefits your health as it protects the cartilage by blocking the production of the enzyme, chemokine. Chemokines are proteins that promote inflammation in the body and destroy the flexibility of the cartilage, which is a common symptom of arthritis.

13. Prevents Skin Cancer

Why Does It Work
The polyphenols present in green tea inhibit the growth of two proteins — Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and the Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), which are known to promote tumor cell growth. Green tea helps in blocking the cancer-promoting actions of carcinogens and ultraviolet light. It is also known to heal the pre-cancerous scaly keratosis, a skin ailment that occurs due to unnecessary and chronic exposure to the sun. It helps in treating not only minor skin problems, but also in keeping it immune to serious damages like skin tumors.

14. Reduces Stress And Depression
Stress and depression are two other monsters threatening to take away our peace of mind.

Why Does It Work
Green tea can actually help you fight depression. A research conducted by the American Botanical Council has found that the more green tea an elderly person drank in a day, the less likely he or she was to be depressed. Green tea is actually great for your brain. The polyphenols present in green tea help your brain maintain a steady supply of its primary fuel – glucose.

Apart from the antioxidants, green tea also contains a compound called theanine. Theanine is an amino acid that helps in relieving stress and anxiety. Theanine also works great as an anti-depressant. The lower percentage of caffeine in green tea is also an added advantage for people suffering from anxiety disorders and other stress-related problems.

15. Increases Immunity

Why Does It Work
Green tea has antioxidants, along with polyphenols and flavonoids, that help in boosting the immune system of your body, thus making you healthier by helping you fight against infections. This further prevents you from getting a cold or flu. In case you catch an infection, the large amounts of vitamin C present in green tea help you effectively treat the same.

16. Helps With Asthma

Why Does It Work
For people who have severe asthma issues, green tea is quite useful as it contains theophylline, which claims to relax the muscles that give support to the bronchial tubes, thus reducing the severity of asthma. As mentioned above, green tea reduces the sensitivity to allergies, thus keeping in check any asthmatic reactions to any allergies as well.

17. Healthy Liver
Green tea is also good for your liver as the antioxidants present in it help in getting rid of the harmful free radicals and keeping your liver in a healthy shape. It also reduces the risk of an individual getting a fatty liver, a disease where fat accumulates in the liver.

Why Does It Work
As green tea helps keep your weight and obesity in check by increasing the metabolic rate, it prevents the movement of glucose in the fat cells and thus, helps in reducing the pressure on the liver.

18. Prevents Osteoporosis

Why Does It Work
Low bone density is a common problem amongst women, observed especially after menopause. Osteoporosis causes the bones in the body to become weak and brittle, increasing the risks of fracture. The high fluoride content in green tea helps in keeping your bones strong and slowing its breakdown, thus reducing the chances of developing issues like osteoporosis.

19. Cures Common Stomach Ailments

Why Does It Work
The bacteria-destroying abilities of green tea not only make it a great antiseptic but also help in preventing common stomach ailments like food poisoning, stomach infection, etc. Excessive consumption is not advisable as the tannins present in green tea are known to increase the secretion of the acids in the stomach, causing acid reflux and ulcers.

20. Natural Sunscreen
Why Does It Work
Green tea acts as a natural sunscreen against the exposure to UV rays. It helps in preventing the free radicals from settling between the skin cells, which weakens the healthy protection system of the skin, thus causing the formation of wrinkles on the skin.

How To Use
To make a green tea sunscreen at home, boil two cups of water with half a cup of green tea leaves for 5-10 minutes on medium heat. Separate the leaves and let the solution cool down to room temperature. To apply it, take a small quantity of the solution on a clean cotton ball and apply it on a clean face. You can store the rest in an airtight container.

21. Stronger And Shinier Nails
Why Does It Work
Green tea can also make your nails strong and healthy. To get rid of yellowness of the nails, just soak your nails in green tea once a week and you will find your nails becoming strong and shiny after a few weeks. Also, you can use green tea essential oil as a cuticle oil. Just add a drop to each nail once or twice a week and get rid of brittle nails

22. Prevention And Treatment Of Neurological Diseases

Why Does It Work
The polyphenols in green tea may help maintain the parts of the brain that regulate learning and memory. They slow down the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain and also prevent cell damage in the brain. The regular consumption of green tea helps in the prevention of degenerative and neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson`s.

23. Repairs Tissues

Why Does It Work
Lemons are a rich source of vitamin C, which is also a highly powerful antioxidant. Mixing the juice of this citrus fruit with your cup of green tea helps develop and repair different tissues in your body, including blood vessels, skin, bones, teeth, ligaments and cartilage. It also helps in healing wounds.

24. Helps In The Absorption Of Iron

Why Does It Work
Drinking green tea with lemon juice also helps your body immensely in absorbing iron from certain foods that you consume. Certain compounds present in green tea restrict the body from absorbing iron (1). Lemon juice lowers this effect and allows your body to have the iron it requires to stay healthy.

25. Promotes Dental Health

Why Does It Work
The EGCG that is found in green tea has been found to have a powerful effect against bacteria known as Streptococcus mutans (2), which is found in the mouth. This nutrient is used in many dental products, but you can gain the benefits mostly by regularly drinking green mixed with a little bit of lemon juice. Research has shown that the antibacterial properties of this beverage also help in fighting other dangerous dental bacteria

How Safe Is Green Tea?

Green tea is safe to drink, but it is important not to consume too much of it. Like everything, it is best in moderation. This beverage has become extremely popular in recent years, but with all its goodness, it also comes with a dark side. Here is a brief look at some of the effects of drinking too much green tea:

A number of health problems can crop up if you drink more than 3 to 5 cups of green tea a day. These problems include insomnia, nausea, diarrhoea, restlessness etc.
Pregnant women should not drink more than 2 cups of this beverage in a day, as it can increase the risk of miscarriages and other problems. Lactating women should also keep away from green tea as the caffeine in it can get passed into the breast milk and affect the baby.• Green tea can have adverse effects on the body when it is combined with any medication that you are prescribed. It is best to talk to your doctor if it is safe to drink it while taking your medication.

Drinking an excessive amount of green teacan have an effect on the amount of calcium that is flushed out with urine. This will obviously cause a deficiency of calcium, which you can compensate with calcium supplements.
As mentioned earlier, it is not green tea that is unsafe, it is its excessive consumption. You can drink it regularly, but remember not to exceed 5 cups a day. You should also remember to consult your healthcare provider before you include it in your daily diet to make sure that it does not interfere with your medication, or cause any problem to you.

We have seen how beneficial and healthy green tea is. But, it is healthy and beneficial only when it is consumed in moderation. Green tea has side effects but most of them occur due to excessive consumption. Stick to 2-3 cups of green tea a day and get ready to lead a healthy life and derive all the benefits from this healthy habit.