A large and growing body of research shows that drinking green tea can offer extraordinary health benefits.
Green Tea
Green tea is the healthiest beverage on the planet. Green tea is not oxidized (fermented) during its processing, and so its buds and leaves retain much of the naturally occurring chemicals present in the leaves when they grow, which gives green tea its famed health benefits. Green tea and mint interact with certain medications and other teas, so it’s important to consult with your doctor before drinking green tea or taking green tea supplements.
Besides being a delicious, inexpensive beverage that has no calories, tea has a unique set of natural chemicals that provide various therapeutic benefits. As more research is conducted, tea, specifically black and green, demonstrates significant antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticavity properties.
Type 2 Diabetes
Studies concerning the relationship between green tea and diabetes have been inconsistent. Some have shown a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes for green tea drinkers than for those who consumed no tea, while other studies have found no association between tea consumption and diabetes at all.
Heart Disease
Scientists think, green tea works on the lining of blood vessels, helping keep them stay relaxed and better able to withstand changes in blood pressure. It may also protect against the formation of clots, which are the primary cause of heart attacks.
Lowers Cholesterol
The access to greasy foods puts your health at risk for heart-related complications like high cholesterol. Replacing unhealthy snacks and drinks with green tea could actually help keep your cholesterol levels at bay. Green tea’s powerful antioxidant, EGCG, is believed to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from the large intestine.
Weight Loss
Green tea may promote a small, non-significant weight loss in overweight and obese adults; however, since the weight lost in the studies were so minimal, it is unlikely that green tea is clinically important for weight loss. Other studies have found that green tea is helpful in preventing dental cavities, stress, chronic fatigue, treating skin conditions and improving arthritis by reducing inflammation.
Cancer
Numerous research has demonstrated that tea is beneficial in preventing cancer including prostate, pancreatic, breast, colorectal, esophageal, bladder, lung, and stomach. The catechins found in tea prevent cell mutation, deactivate certain carcinogens, and reduce the formation and growth of tumors. Drinking as many as four cups a day may be necessary to reap the anti-cancer benefits.
Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial
Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from influenza to cancer. In some studies green tea has been shown to inhibit the spread of many diseases.
Health Benefits of Green Tea
How to Make Green Tea Properly
In order to maintain and not destroy the active ingredients of green tea, you need to boil the water and then allow it to cool down to 80°C (which is just bellow boiling), pour it over the tea leaves, cover and infuse for 3 minutes.
Don’t forget that green tea contains a moderate quantity of caffeine, and may cause nervousness and anxiety. The recommended amount of green tea is two to three cups per day.
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