Proven Health Benefits Of Green Tea

by Mind RefitFeb 2, 2019Healthy Living0 comments

Green tea has quickly gained popularity over other types of tea, and why not? It has some outstanding health benefits that make it a preferred choice. This is why there are so many information being circulated about Green tea, some of which are quite questionable and presented as a marketing stunt.

In this post, you’ll discover research and evidence-based information about the proven health benefits of green tea. Please be advised that the information contained in this post does not directly or indirectly constitute any form of medical advice. You should always check with your Physician before introducing any kind of substance to your body.

What is in Green Tea?

These components are mostly what makes up the benefits of green tea. You can find more detailed information about these amazing components in our Green Tea Overview article as they were extensively discussed there.

Catechins – decreases blood cholesterol, inhibits high blood pressure, prevents bad breath/tooth decay, and reduces body fat.^[1] It has antibacterial, anti-influenza, antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic effect. It has also been found to prevent many types of cancer.^[2]
Caffeine – for increased alertness. It wards off drowsiness, while, increasing your stamina and capacity for mental or physical labor. It is also effective in relieving hangovers.^[19]
Theanine – acts to limit the stimulating effect of caffeine. It has also shown properties for suppressing high blood pressure,^[3] and has been found to reduce symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression.
Saponins – have been shown to lower blood pressure, and prevent influenza, and obesity. It has anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergy properties.^[19]
Fluorine – essential for solid bones and prevents your teeth against tooth decay.^[4]
Chlorophyll – essential for skin healing, reducing inflammation, blood building, detoxification, cancer prevention, weight loss and also has a deodorizing effect.

Vitamins and Minerals – green tea is rich with them. Some of those vitamins include: Vitamin B2, Vitamin C, Folic acid, β-carotene which acts as the precursor of Vitamin A (pro-Vitamin A), Vitamin B5 (Panthenol), and Vitamin E. While minerals include; potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, as well as small quantities of manganese, zinc and copper.^[19]

There are many online shops like Art of Tea that supply fresh green tea both in loosed form and in tea bags. Art of tea offers a variety of flavors of green tea from which you can choose. Due to the variety, you are given the option to subscribe in order to receive random flavors every month, or a specific one you choose.

Benefits of Green Tea: Science-Backed

Although no definite conclusions have been reached,^[6] green tea has been found by many researchers to be beneficial to health, as evident in the green tea components. Also, a lot of people who take green tea has confirmed that green tea is a great substitute for coffee as it has a less jittery effect, therefore, adequate for those who are sensitive to caffeine. This section highlights the benefits of green tea for your general well-being, including details on how it can benefit your hair, skin and weight loss – based on scientific research:

Health benefits

1. Mental Alertness

Green tea increases mental alertness. This is primarily due to its caffeine and theanine component. It can ward off any drowsiness, anxiety and depression you may feel, leaving you refreshed. This is why green tea has been found to be very effective in relieving hangover effects.

2. Energy Burst

While preparing for your exercise or planning to engage in any physical labor, having a cup of green tea may help improve your stamina, energy and endurance.

3. Blood Pressure Regulation

Minerals are known to regulate and balance blood pressures and green tea is rich in them. This is why research suggests that green tea is capable of suppressing high blood pressure and increasing low blood pressure where necessary.

4. Anti-aging and Longevity

So many diseases and health conditions common to adults, usually occur as you age. Having a cup of green tea on a regular basis may enhance the quality of life by boosting your immunity, preserving your nervous system and keeping your body cells always ready to prevent and fight diseases.

5. Heart Health

Bad cholesterol is bad for the heart and green tea is effective for lowering bad cholesterol. Also, if you lead a sedentary life, green tea’s effect on your body’s metabolism will keep your heart beating at a healthy pace, thus improving your heart health^[7] and reducing any risk of cardiovascular disease.^[8]

6. Colon Health

Because green tea supports digestion, you may not need to worry about constipation. Caffeine is a known laxative and a moderate proportion of it is contained in green tea.

7. Fights Cancer

Green tea’s anti-aging properties, antioxidants, vitamins, and other health-promoting components are the reasons why it has been found to be effective for prevention and treatment^[9] of cancers such as skin, prostate, breast, lung, liver, colon, pancreatic, as well as various other cancers,^[10] including cervical dysplasia.^[11]

8. Cognitive Disorders

Research suggests that green tea may reduce the risk of cognitive disorders such as arteriosclerosis, dementia, strokes, and Alzheimer’s disease.^[12] It may also alleviate the symptoms of Down syndrome,^[13] thereby improving quality of life.

9. Miscellaneous Diseases

Regular consumption of green tea may reduce the risk of developing other diseases such as scurvy, diabetes, leukemia, pneumonia, etc. It has antibacterial, anti-hyperglycemic and anti-influenza effects. Some have even found green tea effective in curbing joint pain. Although it may not have been concluded to serve as a medication,^[6] research has found that it definitely contributes to health. Its folic acid component may also prevent fetal neural tube defects (NTD) in pregnant women.^[19]

10. Oral Health

Green tea contains amazing components which are effective in preventing tooth decay, and deodorizing bad breath.

Hair benefits

Using green tea regularly as a hair conditioner may benefit your hair in the following ways:

1. Hair Loss

The presence of antioxidants and caffeine in green tea reduces hair loss. Dihydrotestosterone (DTH), is a hormone which is responsible for hair loss^[21] and thinning. Caffeine has been found to restrict the effects of this hormone, thereby improving the thickness of your hair and stimulating hair growth.^[23]

2. Hair Growth

Catechin in green tea (EGCG) works to accelerate hair growth.^[14] This antioxidant helps to stimulate skin cells in hair follicles, triggering the growth of hair. Polyphenols are known to help speed up cell turnover. Since green tea contains polyphenols,^[15] along with its caffeine component for preventing hair loss and catechin component for accelerating hair growth, it is no wonder that green tea promotes new growth and regrowth of damaged hair follicles.

3. Hair Strengthening

Panthenol, derived from Vitamin B5 is often used in the shampoos and conditioners you occasionally buy, to richly infuse moisture in the hair. Green tea is a good source of panthenol. Its theanine component, along with panthenol works to strengthen your hair shaft and prevent split ends.

4. Hair Shine

The astringency quality of the catechin component in green tea locks in the moisture infused by panthenol, while adding shine and luster to the hair, making your hair look absolutely gorgeous.^[22]

5. Healthy Scalp

Vitamins and Chlorophyll present in green tea may protect your hair and scalp from sun damage, while offering you relief from dandruff and other scalp problems as a result of its antibacterial property. Its anti-inflammatory property is also efficient in soothing irritated skin.

Skin benefits

You can use green tea as a skin wash, facial cleanser or just applied on the skin regularly, to enjoy the following skin benefits:

1. Skin Rejuvenation

The special antioxidant (EGCG) present in green tea is, according to research, effective in exfoliating and rejuvenating dying skin cells by reactivating the reproduction process of skin cells and are excellent at fighting premature aging. Antioxidants in green tea eliminate free radicals that can cause fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a healthy glow.

2. Skin Firming

Green tea is a known blood thinner which is effective for preventing and healing swelling, dark circles and puffy eyes. Vitamin B and C in green tea enhances and maintains collagen production and skin moisture, which increases skin elasticity, firming your skin, preventing wrinkles and improving skin roughness.

3. Skin Healing

The saponin and vitamin components in green tea promotes anti-inflammation and reduction of sebum production, while simultaneously improving your immune system.^[20] This is why green tea is said to be effective for acne by declogging your skin and removing excess oil and dirt that can cause breakouts.^[24] It has also been found effective for evening out your skin tone and reducing blemishes, according to research.^[16]

4. Skin Protection

Some cosmetic products contain green tea as one of its ingredients, and for a good reason. Green tea’s β-carotene, vitamin E and chlorophyll components protects and repairs your skin against sunburn. In a research carried out in 2007,^[17] oral green tea consumption was shown to reduce redness and inflammation associated with sun exposure and may also help to minimize the appearance of age spots caused by sun damage. Green tea hydrates, nourishes your skin and promotes cell regeneration, while also increasing benzoic acid levels—a key compound used to treat skin irritation caused by burns as well as conditions such as eczema.

Weight loss benefits

1. Metabolic Boost

When your body converts the food you eat to energy for use, that process is called ‘Metabolism’. Catechin and caffeine have both been found to speed up metabolism^[18] by increasing the amount of energy the body uses.

2. Body Fat Reduction

Green tea has blood thinning properties and serves as a mild diuretic which helps expel excess water from your body, thereby reducing weight. Catechin can help to break down excess fat while reducing high blood cholesterol.

Green tea has been found to have some positive effects on weight loss, however, these effects are insignificant. This is because research studies^[5] in this area used doses that contained a higher proportion of catechin or caffeine which is less than the proportion found in a typical cup of green tea. Increasing your green tea dosage to exploit this weight loss benefit will likely do more harm than good as many dangerous side effects have been associated with over-consumption. Green tea may be more beneficial to weight loss when combined with exercising and healthy dieting.

How to Enjoy the Benefits of Green Tea

Preparation, in order for you to enjoy the benefits of green tea, is quite simple. The water temperature determines the taste and color of your perfect cup of green tea. Warm water for sweet taste and bright yellow color, hot water for astringent taste and pale green color, and boiling water for bitter taste and dull green color. You may cool freshly brewed green tea, and use as a skin wash or hair conditioner to enjoy the skin and hair benefits.

For those who may have been hearing about it, but oblivious of the benefits of green tea, I hope you’ve found relevant information in this article. If you haven’t already, and you’d like to find out about green tea, whether it’s right for you, including usage and side effects, feel free to check out our Green Tea Overview article.

References

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