The health benefits of Green Tea

The tea vs coffee debate has raged for centuries. People are divided into the types of beverages you drink. While research is still unsure about if any beverage is better than the other, there are studies to prove the health benefits. Coffee, black tea, milk tea, and decaf have been around for much longer. The newer, super drink is supposed to be Green Tea. But is it as good as they say? Or is it even better? There are several health benefits to drinking Green Tea regularly. Before we find out what those are, let’s learn some history about Green Tea.

All kinds of tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Green tea is called so because of its peculiar color. The emerald green color is released when unprocessed tea leaves are brewed. Though it is a newer phenomenon in the West, eastern countries have been drinking green tea for 5,000 years. It is known to have multiple health benefits for drinkers. There are different varieties and flavors of green tea.

The difference between green and black tea is the manufacturing process and style. Black tea needs to be fermented and processed, thus changing its flavor. Green tea is unprocessed and un-fermented. Sencha is one of the most popular varieties of green tea. This Japanese green tea is first plucked, then steamed and then shaped. Sencha tea is usually yellowish with a sweet and grassy flavor. Matcha is really popular with the millennials nowadays. Matcha leaves are extremely high in chlorophyll which produces the vibrant green color. The leaves are ground into a fine powder. You can mix the powder with boiling water and whisk gently before consuming the tea. The light and sweet flavor makes it perfect to be added to desserts and other drinks.

Lemon, ginger, honey, and chamomile are some flavors that green tea is usually mixed with. You can buy green tea as loose tea leaves or in tea bags. If buying tea leaves, remember to buy recently plucked leaves. Once opened, store your tea leaves into an airtight container to keep the flavor and quality intact. Now that we have known the origin, types, and varieties of green tea, time to find out what the benefits are.

• Boosts your Brain Function- The active ingredient in Green tea is caffeine. Caffeine is a brain stimulant and can help in improving your mood, energy, and concentration. But unlike coffee which contains a lot of caffeine and can make you jittery, green tea has the right amount. Users have commented that having green tea makes them feel alert and productive without the side effects of jitters or sleeplessness.
• Boost your Metabolism- The science is still new but green tea has known to help with fat loss and boosting your metabolism. This is in addition to a healthy diet and exercise routine. Don’t eat junk and have a sedentary lifestyle and expect green tea to act as a magic cure!
• Excellent source of antioxidants- Green tea is famously loaded with antioxidants. These help in fighting cancer and other diseases. To get the most of your tea, skip adding milk to it.
• Protection from Aging- The Catechin compounds in green tea help in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia.
• Fight Bad Breath- Catechins to your rescue again. Catechins help in fighting bad breath and improve your oral health.
• Prevent Cardiovascular diseases- The powerful antioxidants in green tea make it perfect to battle cardiovascular diseases. While just drinking green tea may not be sufficient, it definitely helps when maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Help you live longer- Significant consumption of green tea can help you in building a healthy immune system and life. Studies have found that regular green tea drinkers had a longer life span than the ones who didn’t drink green tea.
• Contains healthy bioactive compounds- Drinking quality green tea can assist you in battling the disease, obesity, and other diseases. It will also help you in cutting down the consumption of sugary beverages.
• Improve Quality of Sleep- Research suggests that green tea can help reduce stress and help you relax. Consuming green tea before bedtime can hence improve your quality of sleep. But there have been conflicting reports which suggest that the caffeine could in fact make it difficult for you to sleep. It is therefore ideal to consume green tea 1-2 hours before bedtime, giving it time to work. Chamomile tea is perfect for people who want to sleep better.

These benefits of Green tea are only effective when had in conjunction with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Green tea is definitely the healthier option compared to milk tea or any other sugary drink. Green tea contains caffeine so you can’t have several cups a day. Some flavors may not suit everybody so please try flavors carefully.