Green tea is one of the most popular beverages all over the world, well known for its soothing aroma and its antioxidant content. In earlier centuries, green tea was found and consumed only in Asian countries like China, Japan, and India. China has enjoyed the beverage since the 14th century, while Europe and America came across it only during the 16th century. Over the past few decades, green tea has become the preferred beverage for tea drinkers, especially in the West. Green tea extracts are also used in various other health foods, dietary supplements, beverages, as well as cosmetics.
Image source: Pixabay, under Creative Commons License
Green tea is made from the leaves of camellia sinensis, which goes through minimal oxidation during processing. Although green tea leaves and black tea leaves are obtained from the same plant, they are significantly different from each other. The plant is extremely rich in the antioxidant EGCG (epigalloccatechin gallate), which helps fight cancer and treat many diseases. While black tea undergoes fermentation and oxidation, thereby destroying EGCG in the process, green tea does not.
Suggested read: All the health and skin benefits of turmeric
The many health benefits of drinking green tea are primarily based on its antioxidant properties, thanks to the presence of caffeine, catechin, polyphenols, and theonine. Here are just some of them:
1. Helps in losing weight
Image source: Shutterstock
Green tea contains natural antioxidants, polyphenols, and catechin, which help burn extra calories and fats. To maintain a balanced body weight and lose extra weight, you are advised to have a cup of green tea regularly.
2. Manages blood pressure
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
Regular green tea consumption also reduces the risk of high blood pressure by repressing angiotensin.
3. Reduces cholesterol levels
High cholesterol levels increase the risk of a number of ailments, mainly cardiovascular diseases and strokes. Consuming green tea is very effective in reducing the level of cholesterol in blood. It helps raise the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the good cholesterol, and lowers the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol.
4. Lowers blood sugar level
Consuming green tea stabilizes blood sugar in people suffering from diabetes, while improving insulin sensitivity.
5. Reduces stress
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
Green tea is a great way to fight off depression and stress. Along with antioxidants, it also contains theonine, an amino acid compound which helps in relieving stress, anxiety, and depression.
6. Boosts your immunity and energy levels
Green tea is rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants, along with polyphenols and flavonoids, which boost energy levels and enhance the immunity system. This helps the body fight against cold, flu, or any other infections.
7. Prevents allergies
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
EGCG keeps allergies at bay from your body. It blocks the key cell receptors that produce histamine and immunoglobulin E (IgE), the two key compounds involved in allergic responses, and thus stops the body from reacting to allergens.
8. Helps with asthma
Green tea contains theophylline, which relaxes the muscles and gives support to the bronchial tubes, and thus reduces the severity of asthma.
9. Reduces cancer risk
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
There is a low risk of cancer in people who consume green tea on a regular basis. The catechin and antioxidants present in green tea reduce the risk of cancer when consumed regularly.
Suggested read: 20 ways you risk unhealthy skin in your 20s
10. Keeps your bones healthy and strong
The high fluoride content in green tea helps keep your bones strong and healthy. Thus, regularly consuming green tea reduces the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. This is just one of the many health benefits of drinking green tea.
11. Keeps your skin healthy and prevents aging
Image source: Shutterstock
Consuming green tea is very effective for healthy skin. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of green tea help reduce wrinkles and signs of aging. You can improve your skin either by drinking green tea or applying it externally to your skin.
12. Makes a good natural sunscreen
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
Green tea also acts as a great natural sunscreen and protects your skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. It prevents free radicals from settling between skin cells and weakening the skin’s protection system to form wrinkles. To prepare a natural sunscreen with green tea, you can boil two cups of water with green tea leaves and let it cool down to room temperature, and then apply on your face and other exposed parts of the body.
13. Prevents and treats neurological diseases
Polyphenols present in green tea also help maintain parts of brain that regulate learning and memory. Meanwhile, regular consumption of green tea can prevent against cell damage in the brain and neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
14. Cures stomach ailments
Image source: Shutterstock
Green tea is also known for its anti-bacterial properties, and thus its bacteria-destroying capacity helps prevent common stomach ailments like food poisoning. At the same time, it is advised not to consume too much green tea, as it might increase the secretion of acids in the stomach, resulting in acid reflux and ulcers.
15. Healthy liver
One of the important health benefits of drinking green tea is its antioxidant content which reduces the risk of a fatty liver by getting rid of harmful free radicals.
16. Contains anti-cavity properties
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
Green tea consumption can also lower the risk of cavities and tooth decay, promoting dental health. The natural fluoride, polyphenols, and catechin present in green tea are very effective in killing bacteria and giving you fresh breath.
17. Prevents hair loss
Green tea’s EGCG content promotes hair growth by stimulating hair cells. Meanwhile, it reduces the growth of DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), which hinders hair growth and is the key cause of hair fall.
18. Stronger, shinier, and healthier nails
Image source: Pixabay, under Creative Commons License
Green tea is also quite helpful in making your nails strong and healthy. Simply soak your nails in green tea once a week to get rid of yellowness and to make them strong and shiny. Green tea essential oil can also be used to get rid of brittle nails and cuticles.
19. Prevents arthritis
Green tea’s anti-inflammatory properties can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
20. Genital warts
Applying of green tea extract ointments has proved to be a very effective remedy for genital and perianal warts.
How beneficial is green tea in weight loss?
Image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
Green tea is one of the best natural beverages that can help you lose weight. Given how rich it is in antioxidants, it boosts your metabolism and helps burn fats and extra calories. The key antioxidant catechin is mainly responsible in burning unwanted fats of the body. Meanwhile, green tea is also used as a form of traditional medicine in India and China to eliminate excess water from the body.
Keep in mind that if you are obese or overweight, a regular balanced diet and proper exercise are also necessary to help you lose weight.
Side effects of green tea
Green tea is extremely beneficial only when taken in moderation, as excessive consumption of green tea can lead to various side effects. Some of these are listed below.
1. Contains caffeine
The content of caffeine might be lower in green tea than in other beverages, but excessive green tea consumption can also lead to various health ailments like an upset stomach, diarrhea, insomnia, nausea, and many more.
2. Green tea on an empty stomach
Image source: Pixabay, under Creative Commons License
Consuming green tea while fasting or skipping meals might lead to gastrointestinal, liver, and renal toxicities. People have a misconception that as green tea boosts your energy, it might compensate for the nutritional benefits of food during fasting, but this is total wrong.
3. Iron deficiency
Green tea contains tannins, which block the absorption of iron from food. One must avoid drinking too much green tea, as it might cause iron deficiency in your body.
Suggested read: 10 MUST-know winter skin care tips to keep your skin glowing
4. Osteoporosis
Having too much green tea can flush out calcium from the body through urine, which might lead to calcium deficiency and finally result in osteoporosis.
5. During pregnancy
Image source: Shutterstock
During pregnancy, there might be a high risk of miscarriage and many other negative effects if too much green tea is consumed. Excess consumption of this beverage can be life-threatening in such a delicate period. Lactating women are also advised to avoid excess consumption of green tea, as the caffeine in green tea can pass into breast milk and affect the infant.
Facebook
Disqus
Google + 
