Whether sipped or added to food, this superfood is truly healthy. Green tea has earned its health halo. Green tea leaves can be steeped to make tea or sipped whole (in the form of matcha powder). The leaves and tea itself can be used in cooking. Here are 10 green tea benefits and easy ways to incorporate this wonder plant into your daily life:
1. Green tea is full of Antioxidants
It is rich in polyphenol antioxidants that help fight inflammation, a known cause of premature ageing. These antioxidants also protect cells from damage that can lead to chronic illnesses, making it a multi-purpose superfood.
2. Green tea is good for brain health
Green tea is known to calm the mind. Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that has a calming effect. Caffeine and L-theanine together have been shown to improve working memory, cognitive performance, and mood. Green tea’s antioxidant properties protect it against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
3. Green tea and weight loss
Green tea has been shown to boost metabolism and burn fat in both humans and animals. It also inhibits angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, which is required for fat tissue growth.
4. Green tea prevents cancer (The Health Benefits Of Green Tea)
Green tea fights cancer in many ways. The plant guards against damage that could cause uncontrolled cell growth and cancerous mutations. The same anti-angiogenesis effect that prevents fat gain also prevents cancer spread.
5. Green tea benefits the immune system
Green tea antioxidants are antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. Antibacterial properties help fight bad breath. Green tea is also a prebiotic, food for good gut bacteria linked to immunity.
6. Green tea boosts bone mass
Green tea antioxidants have been shown to protect against bone loss and fracture risk. In animal studies, moderate green tea consumption improves bone strength and quality. A recent study looked at polyphenol-rich foods like green tea and osteoporosis. The researchers concluded that phenols influence bone mineral density by reducing inflammation and preventing oxidative damage to bone cells.
7. Drinking green tea can help prevent diabetes
A meta-analysis of 17 studies looked at green tea, blood sugar control, and insulin sensitivity in humans. Researchers found benefits. Green tea lowers fasting blood sugar and Hb A1C, a measure of three-month average blood sugar.
A five-year study of 14,000 healthy Japanese adults from 23 communities. Even after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and other risk factors, researchers discovered that green tea consumption reduced the risk of diabetes. In other words, something about green tea protects.
8. Green tea is heart-healthy
Green tea does it again. Green tea has been shown to protect the heart by lowering total cholesterol, “bad” LDL, blood pressure, and triglycerides, or blood fats. It also prevents LDL oxidation, which causes artery hardening and heart disease. It is also linked to a lower risk of stroke.
9. Green tea anti-aging
Green tea polyphenols have been shown to protect the skin from UV rays. This has anti-aging, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea compounds also help prevent wrinkles by preventing the breakdown of collagen and elastic fibers, which prevents skin elasticity loss.
10. Green tea prolongs the life
Another The Health Benefits Of Green Tea is prolonged life. Regular green tea drinkers have five years younger cells than non-drinkers. Green tea drinkers live longer, according to Japanese research. Those who drank the greenest tea were 76% less likely to die over a six-year period.
Adding green tea to food
Beyond the drink Green tea can be used in smoothies, oatmeal or overnight oats, or to steam vegetables or whole grain rice. To use green tea or matcha powder in recipes, steep it first.
For recipes, see our green tea recipes and green tea recipes with chia seeds. Get creative and reap the rewards!