Green tea is a product made from the Camellia sinens Green tea is used to improve mental alertness and thinking.
It is also used for weight loss and to treat stomach disorders, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, bone loss (osteoporosis), and solid tumor cancers.
Some people use green tea to prevent various cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, solid tumor cancers and skin cancer related to exposure to sunlight. Some women use green tea to fight human papilloma virus (HPV), which can cause genital warts, the growth of abnormal cells in the cervix (cervical dysplasia), and cervical cancer.
Green tea is also used for Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diseases of the heart and blood vessels, diabetes, low blood pressure, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), dental cavities (caries), kidney stones, and skin damage.
Instead of drinking green tea, some people apply green tea bags to their skin to soothe sunburn and prevent skin cancer due to sun exposure. Green tea bags are also used to decrease puffiness under the eyes, as a compress for tired eyes or headache, and to stop gums from bleeding after a tooth is pulled.
Green tea in candy is used for gum disease.
Green tea is used in an ointment for genital warts. Do not confuse green tea with oolong tea or black tea. Oolong tea and black tea are made from the same plant leaves used to make green tea, but they are prepared differently and have different medicinal effects. Green tea is not fermented at all. Oolong tea is partially fermented, and black tea is fully fermented.
Benefits of green tea a many Includes improved brain
function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other incredible
1. Green
Tea Contains Various Bioactive Compounds That Can Improve Health
Green tea is
more than just green liquid.
Many of the
bioactive compounds in the tea leaves do make it into the final drink, which
contains large amounts of important nutrients.
It is loaded
with polyphenols like flavonoids and catechins, which function as
powerful antioxidants.
These
substances can reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting
cells and molecules from damage. These free radicals are known to play a role
in aging and all sorts of diseases.
One of the
more powerful compounds in green tea is the antioxidant Epigallocatechin
Gallate (EGCG), which has been studied to treat various diseases and may
be one of the main reasons green tea has such powerful medicinal properties.
Green tea
also has small amounts of minerals that are important for health.
Try to
choose a higher quality brand of green tea, because some of the lower quality
brands can contain excessive levels of fluoride.
That being
said, even if you choose a lower quality brand, the benefits still far
outweigh any risk.
Bottom
Line: Green tea is loaded with bioactive compounds that can have
various beneficial effects on health.
2. Compounds in Green Tea Can Improve Brain Function and Make You Smarter
Green tea
does more than just keep you awake, it can also make you smarter.
The key
active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known stimulant.
It doesn’t
contain as much as coffee, but enough to produce a response without
causing the “jittery” effects associated with too much caffeine.
What
caffeine does in the brain is to block an inhibitory neurotransmitter called
Adenosine. This way, it actually increases the firing of neurons and the
concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.
Caffeine has
been intensively studied before and consistently leads to improvements in
various aspects of brain function, including improved mood, vigilance, reaction
time and memory.
However…
green tea contains more than just caffeine. It also has the
amino acid L-thiamine, which is able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
L-thiamine increases
the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety
effects. It also increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the
brain.
Studies show
that caffeine and L-thiamine can have synergistic effects. The combination of
the two is particularly potent at improving brain function.
Because of
the L-thiamine and the smaller dose of caffeine, green tea can give you a much
milder and different kind of “buzz” than coffee.
Many people
report having more stable energy and being much more productive when they drink
green tea, compared to coffee.
Bottom
Line: Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, but enough to
produce an effect. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which can work
synergistically with caffeine to improve brain function.
3. Green Tea Increases Fat Burning and Improves Physical Performance
If you look
at the ingredients list for any fat burning supplement, chances are that green
tea will be on there.
This is
because green tea has been shown to increase fat burning and boost the
metabolic rate, in human controlled trials.
In one study
in 10 healthy men, green tea increased energy expenditure by 4%.
Another
study showed that fat oxidation was increased by 17%, indicating
that green tea may selectively increase the burning of fat.
However, I’d
like to point out that some studies on green tea don’t show any increase in
metabolism, so the effects may depend on the individual.
Caffeine
itself has also been shown to improve physical performance by mobilizing fatty
acids from the fat tissues and making them available for use as energy.
In two
separate review studies, caffeine has been shown to increase physical performance
by 11-12%, on average.
Bottom
Line: Green tea has been shown to boost the metabolic rate and
increase fat burning in the short term, although not all studies agree.
4. Antioxidants in Green Tea May Lower Your Risk of Various Types of Cancer
Cancer is
caused by uncontrolled growth of cells. It is one of the world’s leading causes
of death.
It is well
known that oxidative damage contributes to the development of cancer and that
antioxidants can have a protective effect.
Green tea is
an excellent source of powerful antioxidants, so it makes
perfect sense that it could reduce your risk of cancer, which it appears to do:
- Breast cancer: A
meta-analysis of observational studies found that women who drank the most
green tea had a 22% lower risk of developing breast cancer, the most
common cancer in women.
- Prostate cancer: One study
found that men drinking green tea had a 48% lower risk of developing
prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer in men.
- Colorectal cancer: A study
of 69,710 Chinese women found that green tea drinkers had a 57% lower risk
of colorectal cancer.
Multiple
other observational studies show that green tea drinkers are significantly less
likely to get various types of cancer.
It is
important to keep in mind that it may be a bad idea to put milk in
your tea, because it can reduce the antioxidant value.
Bottom
Line: Green tea has powerful antioxidants that may protect against
cancer. Multiple studies show that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of
various types of cancer.
5. Green Tea May Protect Your Brain in Old Age, Lowering Your Risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
Not only can
green tea improve brain function in the short term, it may also protect your
brain in old age.
Alzheimer’s
disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in humans and a leading
cause of dementia.
Parkinson’s
disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and involves the
death of dopamine producing neurons in the brain.
Multiple studies
show that the catechin compounds in green tea can have various protective
effects on neurons in test tubes and animal models, potentally lowering the
risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Bottom
Line: 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.
6. Green Tea Can Kill Bacteria, Which Improves Dental Health and Lowers Your Risk of Infection
The catechins in
green tea have other biological effects as well.
Some studies
show that they can kill bacteria and inhibit viruses like the influenza virus,
potentially lowering your risk of infections.
Streptococcus
mutans is the primary harmful bacteria in the mouth. It causes plaque
formation and is a leading contributor to cavities and tooth decay.
Studies show
that the catechins in green tea can inhibit the growth of streptococcus mutans.
Green tea consumption is associated with improved dental health and a lower
risk of caries.
Another awesome benefit
of green tea… multiple studies show that it can reduce bad breath.
Bottom
Line: The catechins in green tea may inhibit the growth of bacteria
and some viruses. This can lower the risk of infections and lead to
improvements in dental health, a lower risk of caries and reduced bad breath.
7. Green Tea May Lower Your Risk of Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes is
a disease that has reached epidemic proportions in the past few decades and now
afflicts about 300 million people worldwide.
This disease
involves having elevated blood sugar levels in the context of insulin
resistance or an inability to produce insulin.
Studies show
that green tea can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels.
One study in
Japanese individuals found that those who drank the most green tea had a 42%
lower risk of developing type II diabetes.
According to
a review of 7 studies with a total of 286,701 individuals, green tea drinkers
had an 18% lower risk of becoming diabetic.
Bottom
Line: Some controlled trials show that green tea can cause mild
reductions in blood sugar levels. It may also lower the risk of developing type
II diabetes in the long term.
8. Green Tea May Reduce Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular
diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are the biggest causes of death
in the world.
Studies show
that green tea can improve some of the main risk factors for
these diseases.
This
includes total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Green tea
also dramatically increases the antioxidant capability of the blood, which
protects the LDL cholesterol particles from oxidation, which is one part of the
pathway towards heart disease.
Given the
beneficial effects on risk factors, it is not surprising to see that green tea
drinkers have up to a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Bottom
Line: Green tea has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol, as
well as protect the LDL particles from oxidation. Observational studies show
that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
9. Green Tea Can Help You Lose Weight and Lower Your Risk of Becoming Obese
Given that
green tea can boost the metabolic rate in the short term, it makes sense that
it could help you lose weight.
Several
studies show that green tea leads to decreases in body fat, especially in the
abdominal area.
One of these
studies was a randomized controlled trial in 240 men and women that went on for
12 weeks. In this study, the green tea group had significant decreases in body
fat percentage, body weight, waist circumference and abdominal fat.
However,
some studies don’t show a statistically significant increases in weight loss
with green tea, so this needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
Bottom
Line: Some studies show that green tea leads to increased weight loss.
It is particularly effective at reducing the dangerous abdominal fat.
10. Green Tea May Decrease Your Risk of Dying and Help You Live Longer
Of course,
we all have to die eventually. That is inevitable. However,
given that green tea drinkers are at a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and
cancer, it makes sense that it could help you live longer.
In a study
of 40,530 Japanese adults, those who drank the most green tea (5 or more cups
per day) were significantly less likely to die.
- Death of all causes: 23%
lower in women, 12% lower in men.
- Death from heart disease: 31%
lower in women, 22% lower in men.
- Death from stroke: 42%
lower in women, 35% lower in men.