Do you know that green tea and extracts have amazing health and skin benefits? If not, where have you been hiding? There are some impressive health benefits of drinking green tea daily, like skin health, and weight loss benefits that might surprise you.
It is crazy how beneficial drinking green tea can be. The ability to lose weight, possibly prevent cancer, promote healthy teeth, and lower cholesterol, makes this tea truly a powerful drink.
Drinking green tea daily can benefit your health in so many ways.
Health Benefits Of Drinking Green Tea
In recent times, the benefits of green tea have been widely reported in the media. In most cases, green tea enthusiasts base their opinions on personal experiences with the beverage.
But it seems accepted globally that this is a healing tea.
It is used to treat various ailments, from headaches to cancer prevention. Green tea has many health benefits, which are being revealed through various health studies that I share with you.
In addition, green tea contains polyphenols, which include flavanols, flavandiols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Most green tea polyphenols (GTPs) are flavonols, commonly known as catechins (1).
So, what are the benefits of green tea? Studies indicate green tea contains more antioxidants than black tea (2).
Five of green tea's most significant benefits can substantially change your life. Let's jump right in and discuss those benefits now.
Weight Loss - Health Benefits Of Drinking Green Tea
Due to the high polyphenol concentration in green tea, fat is oxidized, and thermogenesis is encouraged. During thermogenesis, the body burns calories.
Due to green tea's energy boost, which raises metabolism, more weight may be lost than normal. Compared to most other beverages consumed in the morning, green tea contains fewer calories than most others.
Comparatively, to green tea, daily calories are higher if coffee is consumed daily, as most people's morning drink. By switching from coffee to green tea, you might reduce your waistline significantly.
So if your goal is to drop a few pounds, then the benefits of green tea can aid in your weight loss journey.
Healthy Teeth - Health Benefits Of Drinking Green Tea
Green tea may improve your oral health mainly due to its high antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
Green tea, which is an essential source for providing polyphenol antioxidants, can protect against various oral diseases, including dental caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, halitosis and oral malignancy (protection and regression).
In addition, it can prevent oral oxidative stress, inflammation resulting from cigarette smoke, and reduce dentin erosion and abrasion. Due to one of its ingredients, fluoride, green tea is said to help keep teeth clean (3).
Bacteria that cause plaque are killed by fluoride in the mouth due to its antimicrobial properties.
According to dentists, fluoride helps maintain healthy, cavity-free teeth and prevents general tooth decay. Consuming green tea has been shown to improve tooth health significantly.
There are however many studies about fluoride, opposing its benefits, and you may want to read around that if it concerns you, or simply ensure you do not drink too much green tea in that case.
You may feel though that the other benefits of green tea outweigh the fluoride content. Unlike coffee, which discolors teeth with a yellow tinge, this will not stain the teeth like that.
Health Benefits Of Drinking Green Tea Daily And Cancer Effects
Various studies have proven that green tea is an effective way to prevent free radical damage to the body. Free radicals can cause cancer and ageing.
This all comes down to the wonderful antioxidant benefits of drinking green tea daily.
The polyphenols found in green tea constantly monitor free radicals to prevent them from being formed into unstable oxygen molecules, in a process known as oxidation.
Upon oxidation of cells, proper tissue is damaged and has been related to ailments like cancer, heart disease, and strokes.
Green tea is a superb source of flavonoids, including theaflavins and thearubigins, found to help prevent cancer of the pancreas and colon.
In addition to preventing premature cell division and inflammation, green tea polyphenols have been shown to destroy most cancer-causing agents. Green tea contains higher levels of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (ECGC), which may inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Green Tea Has A Fourth Benefit - It Lowers Cholesterol
Drinking a cup of green tea a day may also help lower your cholesterol levels.
High cholesterol sufferers may find relief from the effects of green tea. Bad cholesterol is often linked to heart attacks, and green tea may reduce this high risk.
Research has shown that green tea may protect blood vessels from damage by lowering the levels of oxidized cholesterol in blood.
Further, it also prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which is an important contributor to atherosclerosis.
Oxidized LDL cholesterol causes the blood vessels to thicken and narrow, leading to hypertension and heart disease. During the circulating process of LDL cholesterol in the body, heavy deposits may be formed in the arteries.
When a person drinks green tea, their levels of bad cholesterol, including LDL cholesterol, drop. This is due to the various catechins present in green tea, which can lower blood cholesterol levels.
Another way green tea can help protect the arteries is by strengthening blood vessels.
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The catechins improve the body's health by maintaining a healthy ratio of good to bad cholesterol. In this way, they prevent fatty plaques from forming in the arteries.
How does it work?
Green tea's ability to lower bad cholesterol levels is due to its high antioxidant activity. This is why it is considered a powerful detoxifier.
Research has found that the polyphenols in green tea extract can increase nitric oxide levels to create a healthier blood flow. Nitric oxide helps constrict the blood vessels, which in turn, may help prevent atherosclerosis.
Drinking Green Tea Benefits Your Skin
What are the skin benefits of drinking green tea? Drinking green tea has many benefits for your skin. The antioxidant benefits in green tea can help protect the skin from free radicals and slow down the aging process. This is due to how green tea helps your body produce new cells.
Green tea also has anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce the redness of acne and inflammation of the skin. This is because green tea contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants. This helps fight inflammation.
The antioxidant benefits in green tea also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles caused by aging. This is because they can neutralize free radicals.
The antioxidant benefits of green tea can also help lighten skin color, which is caused by skin damage. This is because they can reduce the production of melanin.
Green tea can also help with acne, because it contains catechins, which are antioxidants. These antioxidants help fight the bacteria that cause acne.
Bottom Line Health Benefits Of Green Tea And Extracts
If weight loss, cancer prevention, healthy teeth, and a low cholesterol level do not convince you that green tea and extract benefits are a miracle worker, then try it for yourself.
I certainly love my morning cup with a dash of lemon, so let's see if this is enough to convince you to start drinking green tea daily from now!
Consider my recipes for:
If drinking green tea is not your thing, you can try out green tea extracts or green tea tablets to get some benefits associated with drinking this delicious beverage.
Green tea extract has been shown in some studies to increase fat oxidation at rest and during exercise (4).
You can try this green tea extract on Amazon for its health benefits.
How Much Caffeine Does Green Tea Contain?
Green tea is a beverage many people find healthy because it contains antioxidants. It also contains caffeine, which can help improve mental alertness and athletic performance.
One cup of green tea contains about 35-45 milligrams of caffeine. Consider the benefit of drinking green tea daily.
How Many Cups Of Green Tea Should You Drink A Day To Gain Health Benefits?
The recommended amount of green tea is about 3 cups per day to gain the health benefits mentioned. Some research suggests drinking more than that in upwards of 10 cups a day is beneficial.
However, it is important to note that excessive caffeine consumption can negatively impact your body.
Drinking a few cups of green tea daily may help significantly decrease the risk of developing a few other health problems, in addition to all the health benefits previously mentioned.
Currently, the only side effect is possible excess caffeine, resulting in increased heart rate and blood pressure, but one would have to drink significant amounts of tea for that.
However, like anything with caffeine, it's important to be mindful not to overdo it.
My recommendation is to simply replace your regular coffee or black tea with green tea instead.
How To Make Matcha Green Tea?
What Is The Best Way To Drink Green Tea?
It is also sensible to drink green tea with a meal, because this will help keep your blood glucose levels steady, as well as give you more energy.
Steep dried green tea leaves over hot water for about 3 to 5 minutes. Then you can add in a plant-based milk with maple syrup or drink it plain with a bit of fresh lemon for additional flavor.
Let Me Know Which Health Benefits Of Drinking Green Tea Suprised You?
Were you surprised of the skin and health benefits of drinking green tea for weight loss, cholesterol, oral health, and even surrounding cancer effects? Let me know in the comment section below.
You can also connect with me @EatYourNutrition on Instagram. I love seeing your photos. #EatYourNutrition #LauraVillanueva
📚 References
- Chacko SM, Thambi PT, Kuttan R, Nishigaki I. Beneficial effects of green tea: a literature review. Chin Med. 2010;5:13. Published 2010 Apr 6. doi:10.1186/1749-8546-5-13
- Chan EW, Soh EY, Tie PP, Law YP. Antioxidant and antibacterial properties of green, black, and herbal teas of Camellia sinensis. Pharmacognosy Res. 2011;3(4):266-272. doi:10.4103/0974-8490.89748
- Khurshid Z, Zafar MS, Zohaib S, Najeeb S, Naseem M. Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis): Chemistry and Oral Health. Open Dent J. 2016;10:166-173. Published 2016 May 11. doi:10.2174/1874210601610010166
- Hodgson AB, Randell RK, Jeukendrup AE. The effect of green tea extract on fat oxidation at rest and during exercise: evidence of efficacy and proposed mechanisms. Adv Nutr. 2013;4(2):129-140. Published 2013 Mar 1. doi:10.3945/an.112.003269
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