A few days back I went to my Aunt's place and she asked me if I'd like to have Juice or Green tea (Green tea, obviously! It's my favorite) but well, I wasn't expecting that because she always offered either coke or coffee. It occurred to me how everyone has become health conscious these days. So when I went back home I did a little digging and found out that my favorite beverage is practically an elixir for health. No, I'm not exaggerating. Green tea is packed with nutrients and anti oxidants. With the various advantages of green tea you can not only stay in shape, have great skin and hair but also make your body resistant to fairly dangerous diseases.
If you haven't started drinking green tea yet, here's a list of reasons that I believe will definitely make you want to add green tea immediately to your groceries list.
Green tea can enhance metabolic rate instantly which can help you lose weight. A study revealed that green tea increases fat oxidation (burns fat) by 17% and various other studies show that drinking green tea reduces body fat around the abdominal area. So if you're as lazy as I am and want to lose weight then good news! You don't have to hit the gym, simply sitting at home and sipping green tea regularly could somewhat do the job.
Green tea enhances your skin's elasticity and helps in flushing out toxins which make your skin healthy. It possesses healing properties for the skin which help in healing scars and blemishes on your skin making your skin glow. A study conducted in 2003 revealed that green tea is beneficial in the treatment of wounds and skin diseases.
Do your dark circles diminish all the attention that your beautiful eyes should get? Drinking Green tea will help you with that. It shrinks blood vessels around the delicate areas of your eyes and is used to treat dark circles and puffy eyes.
Drinking Green tea can be useful in getting rid of pimples and acne. The antioxidants (Catechins) present in Green tea are anti-bacterial in nature, they help your body in fighting bacteria that causes pimples. One of the main reasons of acne is hormonal imbalance and this is regulated with the help of these antioxidants. The redness and inflammation caused by acne which makes you sad every time you look in the mirror is reduced by the anti-inflammatory property present in Green tea.
You can slow down your ageing process with the help of green tea. No, I don't mean that you'll not turn a year older next year. But if you drink green tea then you don't have to 'look' a year older. I'm making this broad proclamation because green tea has chemical compounds that have antioxidant properties (polyphenols) present in it helps in slowing down the aging process. Let me put it simply, Green tea helps in delaying signs of aging like wrinkles, sagging skin and age spots. Another kind of antioxidants (known as Catechins) in green tea help in making your skin more resistant towards the harmful effects of the UV rays. UV rays are also a major cause of premature skin aging.
You can also avail a good deal of its benefits not only by drinking it, but you can also apply it on your face as a mask. Simply mix two tablespoons of green tea leaves with a spoon full of lemon juice and honey, spread the lemon, green tea and honey mix on your face like a mask and rinse it off after five to ten minutes. If you have oily skin then you can combine all three and if you have dry skin like me then you should skip lemon juice and just apply green tea and honey mix.
I know that you know prevention is better than cure. Green tea serves as prevention against heart problems. Scientists believe that Green tea helps in keeping your blood vessels relaxed and able them to withstand the changes in blood pressure. It can also help your body in developing resistance to the formation of blood clots which are essentially the main reason for heart attacks. Green tea can help in reducing the risk of other cardiovascular diseases such as strokes (which are one of the largest causes of deaths in the world).
Green tea enhances the anti-oxidant ability of the blood. It is shown that green tea can prevent Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL particles from oxidation and reduce Bad Cholesterol (medically known as LDL cholesterol). Observational studies came up with a conclusion that people who drink green tea have a lower risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease.
We all love Burgers and Pizzas (with extra cheese please!) and we love our bodies too. We also know that they're not good for our health, but who cares, we're young! Unhealthy greasy foods are the main cause of increase in cholesterol. Another important antioxidant (EGCG) present in green tea is believed to have a great health benefit. This particular antioxidant helps in restraining the absorption of cholesterol by the large intestine. A research revealed that green tea helps in lowering total cholesterol and increasing HDL or Good cholesterol.
I'm not saying that you should stop eating greasy food altogether (I myself can't do that) but you can try coupling it up with a cup of green tea to balance out any irregular cholesterol level (if any).
One of the unfortunate causes of death in the world can be resisted by the amazing antioxidant properties of green tea. Oxidative damage is a reason of the development of cancer, thus it is only logical that antioxidants can provide a protective effect.
Multiple studies reveal that people who drink green tea face a lower risk of having various kinds of Cancer (Prostate, Breast, Colorectal). It is known to target oral and pancreatic cancer. I was totally blown away when I got to know this fact that it has been found most recently that the strongest antioxidant present in green tea can help in killing cancer cells. Isn't that just amazing?
An analysis of an observational study discovered that women who consumed green tea had a 22% less risk of developing breast cancer which is one of the most common kinds of cancer in women. Another study found that men who drank green tea had a 48% less risk of developing prostate cancer which is one of the most common cancers in men. Many other observational studies reveal that people who drink green tea are less prone to develop various kinds of cancers. I'm sure you'll be convinced to include green tea in your daily diet now.
While drinking tea has a bad reputation for staining your teeth; one of the numerous advantages that you'll receive with drinking green tea is that it will improve your dental health. Green tea kills bacteria, improves dental health and reduces the risk of infection.
The primary harmful bacteria in the mouth (Streptococcus mutans) cause the formation of plaque and are the foremost contributor of tooth decay and cavity. Studies found that the catechins present green tea can inhibit the growth of streptococcus mutans. Another amazing advantage of green tea is that multiple studies have concluded is that it reduces bad breadth.
It is proven that the antioxidants present in green tea can penetrate the tissues of the eyes and perform its activity. Catechins (antioxidant found in green tea), are able to absorb themselves into the tissues of the eye. So drinking green tea can be beneficial for your eyes too.
A study published in 2001 that green tea can prevent cataract-induced blindness. (This study was performed and observed in rats; the results of the study have to be confirmed in humans yet).
Drinking green tea can reduce the risk of these deadly diseases and protect your brain in old age. Alzheimer's has become the most common neurodegenerative disease and it is the leading cause of dementia. Parkinson's is the second most common neurodegenerative disease; it involves the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. According to a fitness expert Bose, "Green tea may protect your brain in old age, lowering your risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's."
As mentioned in an article in The Hindustan Times, Dr. Anuj Kumar, a Delhi-based neurosurgeon said: "The bioactive compounds in green tea can have various protective effects on neurons and may reduce the risk of both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, the two most common neurodegenerative disorders."
Green tea contains caffeine which is a known stimulant (it just has everything doesn't it?), not as much as coffee though, but enough to induce a response without causing hyperactive effects caused by the excess of caffeine.
Caffeine blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter (Adenosine). Caffeine has been comprehensively studied since a long time and it has time and again been proven that it leads to improvement in various aspects of brain function, including vigilance, reaction time, improved mood and improved memory. Green tea possesses more than just caffeine, it also has the amino acid L-theanine. It increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter (GABA), which induces anti- anxiety effects. Studies show that the combination of caffeine and L-theanine improves your brain function.
It is an undeniable fact that overconsumption of anything could lead to side effects. Green tea is no exception to this fact, it too has some side effects.
So I would also like to add a footnote on the precautions that you should take while drinking Green tea.
Hi! I’m Gunjan, a self-proclaimed tea fanatic and intrigued with alternative ways to lead a healthy life. I firmly believe that we should take care of our bodies because it’s the only place we live in.
