Green Tea Benefits.
Reading the previous post on Green Teawill help you know the composition of green tea and help to understand green tea benefits better. The Health Benefits of Green Tea are mainly attributed to its powerful anti oxidant properties which are 30% more than black tea and 100 times more powerful than Vitamin C and E. This is attributed to the flavonoids presents in it in the form of catechins mainly epigallocatachin-3-gallate (EGCG). Recommended amount of green tea is about 5 cups per day.
14 Green Tea Benefits.
1) Green Tea Benefits on cancer.
Due to their antioxidant properties, catechins in green tea destroy the free radicals and help in preventing cancer or reducing its progress. A detailed explanation of how green tea helps to prevent cancer is given in Green Tea and Cancer.
2) Green tea benefits on heart.
Studies conducted suggest that green tea reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. They do so by
- making the blood vessels more flexible, thereby improving blood circulation and reducing the chances of the blood vessels getting clogged.
- Studies also indicated that green tea reduced the systolic and diastolic blood pressures. This is how green tea again benefits your heart.
- Thirdly, the EGCG catechin in green tea, being a powerful antioxidant, blocks the action of inflammatory compounds namely NF-kappa-B and STAT-1, which are responsible for oxidation which damages the heart muscle cells.
3) Green tea benefits on dental cavities.
A study of 2001 indicates that the catechins in tea have an anti cariogenic activity and an anti bacterial activity against streptococcus mutants, a bacteria responsible for causing tooth decay. Green tea thereby helps in maintaining a healthy oral cavity, healthy gums and healthy teeth.
4) Green tea benefits on kidney stones.
Free radicals are responsible for urinary stone formation. As explained above, the catechins in green tea neutralize the free radicals thereby helping in preventing stone formation. Calcium oxalate crystal bind together to form stones. Catechins in green tea bind with calcium oxalate, preventing them from binding together.
5) Green tea increases bone density.
New studies indicate that women who have been consuming tea have a far improved bone density even at ages of 70 years and above. A higher bone density simply means less chances of developing osteoporosis and getting hip fractures. This positive effect of green tea is attributed to the rich antioxidant content of tea, of which green tea has the highest content.
6) Green tea and Diabetes.
Green tea inhibits or slows down the absorption of glucose from the intestine by inhibiting the action of an enzyme called alpha glucosidase. This prevents sudden rise in blood glucose levels which usually happens after meals in diabetes. This was concluded by studies as recent as 2008 conducted by the University of Massachusetts. Brewed tea also increased insulin activity which was proved by a study conducted in mice in 2002 by BHNRC.
7) Green Tea Weight Loss.
Drinking 5 cups of green tea will help burn 70 to 80 calories per day. How green tea helps in losing weight is given in Green Tea Weight Loss.
Green tea and Cholesterol.
Research studies concluded that drinking green tea regularly, reduced LDL, the bad cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the blood.
Not only that but green tea increased the blood levels of HDL the good cholesterol. This is done, as explained above, by green tea inhibiting the gastric and pancreatic lipase which are responsible for digestion of triglycerides in the intestines. Undigested triglycerides are therefore not absorbed into the blood and subsequently their blood levels are lowered. Green tea also promotes excretion of cholesterol through the bile by increasing the HDL cholesterol which carries cholesterol from the blood to the liver for excretion through thee bile.
9) Green tea and Skin.
Green tea promotes a healthy skin and delays the skin ageing. How green tea promotes skin health is explained in Green tea benefits on skin.
10) Green tea and inflammatory bowel disease.
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are two inflammatory disease of the bowels which can cause cancer of the colon. Green tea helps to reduce the inflammation associated with these diseases.
11) Green tea and cell membranes.
Green tea prevents degeneration of cell membrane by its strong antioxidant properties.
12) Green tea and multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative inflammatory disease of the nervous system involving the brain, the spinal cord and the nerves. The fatty myelin sheath around these structures is affected. There is a strong indication from research that drinking green tea regularly may have positive effects in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
13) Green tea and Alzheimer’s disease
The EGCG catechins in green tea may help to reduce the risk of degenerative diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
14) Green tea and cognitive brain function.
The EGCG catechins in green tea combat the oxidation effect of free radicals released during cell metabolism. EGCG present in green tea will help prevent any damage to brain tissue due to its anti oxidation properties of EGCG present in it. A extensive study conducted in Japan concluded that those who drank green tea had improved brain cognitive function even in advanced ages.
Word of caution about Green Tea|Side Effects of Green Tea.
- If you are a visitor to your doctor’s clinic for some health ailment, always take the advice of your doctor before you start taking green tea
- Do not take green teaif you are associated with any of the following disorders.
- Ant heart problem.
- Any kidney disorder.
- Stomach or duodenal ulcer or GERD.
- Psychological disorder like anxiety or depression.
- Pregnant or lactating women should not take green tea.
- Avoid drinking too much green tea because caffeine present in green tea can cause side effects like irritability, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, insomnia, palpitations, and loss of appetite.
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