A wide and ever-growing circle of investigators indicates that drinking green tea brings many benefits for health. Just as black tea, green tea is obtained from the leaves of Camellia sinensis.
However, in contrast to black tea, green tea is not obtained by fermentation, as allows the medicinal properties of leaves of this plant remain intact. In this article we will explain some of the most health benefits of green tea. So make yourself a cup of green tea, sit back and enjoy.
Green tea speeds up metabolism
Drinking green tea is a great way to speed up your metabolism since Green tea is rich in catechin, a type of flavonoid that speed up metabolism. When metabolism goes to standby faster work, he begins to burn more energy, helps lose excess weight.
During one clinical trial, 132 obese people were put to the test drink with close to 625 milligrams of catechin of green tea and 39 milligrams of caffeine or control drink with the same amount of caffeine, but without catechin. All participants were are similar to dietary regimes – with similar calorie and similar levels of physical activity.
Finally after twelwe-week study period, participants were measured their weight. Both groups reduced their body weight, but those who drank beverages with catechin lost significantly more weight than those who drank a control beverage.
Green tea – a natural remedy for pimples
The status of green tea helps to fight overweight is his far the most famous effect, but it does not mean that his positive action on the body stops there. Recent studies have shown that the addition of green tea in your diet can significantly help in moving away problems.
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major catechins in green tea, have proven effect on the production of hormones and the activity associated with the the outbreak of pimples. For green tea is also considered to have anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effect, which further helps protect against an outbreak of pimples.
A powerful antioxidant and a mean to combat aging
Green tea, especially green tea made from the whole list, is an excellent source antioxidants such as catechins. Antioxidants are, as you may already know, compounds that slow the aging process and protect the body from disease.
According to research conducted by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) states, green tea is superior to black tea when it comes to antioxidant effect. It appears that the process of enzymatic oxidation (Fermentation) to be applied in the production of black tea is responsible for its weaker effect as antioxidants.
The mean to combat allergies
Another health benefit attributed to the green tea, and in particular Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), is its ability to relieve allergic reactions. To understand how EGCG affects allergies, it is important to understand how allergic reactions occur. Here is a summary explanation:
Human cells produce histidine decarboxylase, an enzyme that helps to histidine transforme into histamine. Histamine is then bound by receptors in the immune system, and that the reaction that causes the typical symptoms related to allergic reactions.
Traditional antihistamines used to treat allergic reactions, act to prevent the binding of histamine to the receptors of the immune system. In contrast, EGCG from green tea prevent allergic reactions on the basis of a completely different mechanism – preventing an allergic reaction on the very initially, a reaction preventing histidine decarboxylase. How antihistamines lose effectiveness over time, green tea is often recommended as potential replacement or supplement for certain types of allergies.
A mean for strengthening the immune system and reduce stress
Green tea contains a lot of theanine, an amino acid that can only be found in plant Camellia sinensis. Studies show that theanine in tea helps strengthening the immune system and preventing infections by strengthening the group’s activity cells that have a specific intention of combating the disease, and called gamma delta T cells.
As an additional benefit, theanine in green tea helps remove the stress and provides sense of calm and relaxation. This calming effect, which is usually felt within 40 minutes of drinking tea, caused by the ability to theanine stimulates the generation of alpha brain waves. The generation of alpha brain waves is directly linked to mental relaxation. Theanine is involved in the construction gamma amino butrilinske acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter with potential anti-stress effect.
Cancer Prevention
Catechins, the same compounds that are responsible for most of the above benefits green tea to human health, are known and highly effective effect protect cells from DNA damage that can lead to cancer. But preventive properties of green tea are not limited to protection of the DNA by the catechins; and in vitro studies indicate that green tea acts as an inhibitor nitrification, bodily reaction that was associated with the development of some cancers, including stomach cancer and cancer of the esophagus.
Additionally, green tea is capable to suppress the effect of urokinase, an enzyme which is showed that the increased active patients suffering from cancer and who is perhaps most responsible for its spread throughout the body.
While the evidence to the effect of green tea on cancer convincing enough, people who are already suffering from cancer would have to consult a doctor before start using it, since it has been shown that green tea may intervene in the effect of some cancer drugs.
Cardiovascular health
There are some speculations that people who regularly drink green tea have healthier cardiovascular system. A blind and randomized study revealed that participants who were given green tea extract had lower blood pressure after a three-week study period. Their upper and lower pressure average is reduced to 4 to 5 millimeters of mercury. In addition, their cholesterol levels declined by 10 milligrams per deciliter.
Another study that researched the benefits of green tea per cardiovascular health found that green tea polyphenols have ability to block cholesterol absorption in the intestine of the animals. It has been found that these same polyphenols stimulate discharge of cholesterol from the body.
Green Tea – Preparation
Tip: Use the maximum that green tea can provide using the entire list
To get the most from green tea, use the whole list instead of the bag when you make myself tea. According to a survey conducted in 2008-the year published in the journal “Food Chemistry”, the release of green tea catechins significantly more pronounced when using whole leaves than when using tea bags.
Another trick that helps increase favorable properties of green tea add a few drops of lemon juice or other juice rich in vitamin C. Research shows that vitamin C catechins seem more accessible human body.
