8 Powerful Health Benefits of Green Tea
Spring is a great time to reset your wellness and glow-up. And what better way to do that than with a refreshing, healthy drink? Green tea has many health benefits that can help boost energy, support immunity, and protect against aging.
Health benefits of green tea are found naturally in the powerful antioxidants of this plant. Did you know green tea may also reduce the risk of chronic diseases and aging? This article will list the health benefits of green tea on a cellular level, convincing you to sip your way to rejuvenation!
Table of Contents
Green Tea History
Green tea is more popular than ever with the creative and unique recipes, like matcha latte, ice cream, and more. Green tea has a distinctive flavor that you either love or hate. To me it is earthy with hints of nutty bitterness. Sometimes it has a clean, fresh taste. Either way, I love to drink it cold or hot.
Green tea has maintained a loyal following over thousands of years, but why? Is it the Green Tea Health Benefits that make it so desirable?
There is a legend of a Chinese Emperor who discovered green tea when he was boiling water and some tea leaves blew into the pot. This was over 4,000 years ago.
Over time the leaves spread throughout East Asia and became an important part of many cultural ceremonies. According to the World Green Tea Association, the Chinese are the largest green tea-drinking nation. People in China consume approximately 50 % of the total green tea consumption in the world.
Green tea differs from other tea varieties, such as black or oolong, because the leaves are minimally processed. After harvesting, the leaves are quickly steamed or pan-fired to prevent oxidation, keeping the tea’s natural green color and preserving its nutritional content.
China has known of the medicinal properties of green tea since 2000 B.C. and soon it became a valuable resource. Green tea became a status symbol and Chinese cultures found other ways to show its value, like: using tea leaves for gift giving, courtship rituals, ancestor worship, and imperial tribute taxes.
Other nations began to use green tea.
Japan adopted it as part of their hospitality tea ceremony, offering house guests tea to establish peace and harmony.
Buddhist monks were using green tea to promote mindfulness and focus during meditation.
Morrocans infused it with mint and jasmine for a refreshing treat after they discovered it on the silk road, an ancient trade route.
England began drinking green tea in the 17th Century
Americans joined the tea-drinking culture around the same time as England, when it gained a reputation for its numerous health benefits.
Now, you can find green tea beverages in Starbucks!
8 Health Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea is often praised as one of the healthiest beverages you can consume. Ancient China used it for medicinal purposes. It contains plant compounds called polyphenols, particularly catechins, which are powerful antioxidants. Discover these health benefits to convince you to add this drink to your diet.
1. Rich in Antioxidants
- Green tea is packed with catechin, which is a potent antioxidant. Catechins can also be found in some fruits and cocoa. These antioxidants help neutralize free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxidation leads to cellular damage, speeding up the appearance of aging.
- Researchers believe oxidative stress plays a role in the onset of many chronic and degenerative conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, certain eye diseases and others.
- Read more about how lack of self care can keep toxins trapped in the body, contributing to oxidative stress, in my other post, The Main Reason to Heal Your Body from Stress and Toxins
- Reduction of oxidative stress can lead to delayed onset of chronic illnesses, thus possibly contributing to longevity. Adding green tea to your diet can be beneficial.
2. Supports Heart Health
- This study by the American Heart Association shows that green tea consumption is linked to improved cardiovascular health.
- Green tea can reduce cholesterol absorption in the intestines, Increase cholesterol excretion, and Lowers the production of cholesterol in the liver.
3. Aids in Weight Loss
- Green tea is often promoted as a fat-burning supplement due to its ability to increase metabolism and fat oxidation.
- The caffeine and catechins in green tea can boost your metabolic rate, helping you burn more calories throughout the day.
- Green tea regulates blood sugars
- However, drinking excessive amounts of green tea in the hopes to lose more weight is not going to work. In fact, it could harm you. Pay attention to your body and how it reacts as you slowly consume green tea.
4. Improves Brain Function
- Green tea contains a moderate amount of caffeine, naturally, like coffee. However, because green tea also contains L-Theanine, one can enjoy the stimulation without the jitteriness often associated with coffee.
- Caffeine enhances brain function by blocking adenosine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel tired. L-theanine is an amino acid, with neuroprotective properties, which promotes relaxation without drowsiness, and a calm alertness. L-theanine can
- The combination of caffeine and L-theanine can improve cognitive function, focus, mood, and concentration.
- This article reviewed 21 studies and assessed evidence that green tea influences psychopathological symptoms
5. Soothes Skin and Hair
- Reduction of oxidative stress reduces hair loss by inhibiting the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that contributes to male-pattern baldness.
- Anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe and moisturize skin
- For more about green tea’s benefits for skin and hair health, visit my other post, (coming soon).
- Has antihistamine-like properties that relieve allergy symptoms
6. Boosts Immunity
- Green tea contains vitamins and minerals that support immune function, including vitamin C, vitamin B2, and folic acid.
- Its antioxidants also play a role in strengthening the immune system by fighting off pathogens and reducing inflammation.
7. Supports Gut Health
- Polyphenols, or plant compounds, in the diet can impact the gut microbiome by increasing good bacteria and decreasing harmful ones.
- Polyphenols can also be found in spinach, celery, olives, pomegranate, and more.
8. Supports Oral Health
- polyphenols can help reduce the growth of bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
- Green tea can help modify the composition of saliva, making it less acidic and more alkaline. This can help protect teeth from acid erosion and reduce the risk of cavities.
- Green tea may also help reduce bad breath, improve oral hygiene, and promote the remineralization of teeth.
- While green tea has many oral health benefits, excessive consumption can lead to staining of the teeth.
Choosing the Right Green Tea
When I decided to wean myself off coffee by switching to green tea, I realized I needed to research the right kind of green tea for the best health benefits.
If you are hoping to support brain function, glow up and reduce antioxidants too, then read this post I wrote about Matcha, that covers:
- Differences between loose leaf, bagged, and powdered green tea/matcha
- Importance of sourcing high-quality, pesticide-free tea
- Recommended brands
- Other matcha-making supplies
- How to make the best Matcha Latte at home
Who should Avoid Green Tea
Green tea can have side effects. Here are some cautionary tips if you begin drinking it:
- Monitor how much you consume if you have a sensitivity to caffeine.
- Best not to drink on an empty stomach (can cause nausea).
- Those with iron deficiencies (green tea has tannins that can inhibit iron absorption). Drink one-two hours before or after eating iron rich meal.
- Checking with a doctor if pregnant or on medication.
- Use caution if you have blood pressure issues.
- Caffeine in green tea may increase the risk of bleeding for those with bleeding disorders.
- Caffeine in green tea may worsen anxiety.
- Large amounts of caffeine in green tea may cause irregular heartbeat.
- Drinking green tea may increase pressure inside the eye for those with glaucoma.
Conclusion
Green tea isn’t just a soothing beverage, it’s a powerhouse of antioxidants, nutrients, and health benefits that support your body from the inside out. Whether you’re looking to boost energy, protect against aging, improve heart health, or nourish your skin and hair, green tea has something to offer.
By incorporating high-quality green tea into your daily routine, you can harness its natural properties to promote vitality, longevity, and overall well-being. Just be mindful of how much you drink and consider any sensitivities or health conditions before making it a staple in your diet.
So, why not make green tea your go-to wellness drink this season? Sip your way to radiant skin, a sharper mind, and a healthier body, one cup at a time!
