Green tea is nothing new…it’s been around for thousands of years. However, it’s only been recently that scientist have had the tools to study it and test the various health claims it’s users report. By far its biggest benefit comes from something called catechins, which are antioxidants that fight and might prevent cell damage in our bodies. The list of ailments that these catechins can potentially improve seems to grow by the day.
This is just a sampling of the potential benefits:
- Preliminary studies suggest it could be an alternative treatment to prevent acne
- When green tea (or green tea extracts that contain caffeine) are paired with strength training studies have found it results in increased loss of abdominal and overall body fat and a decrease in triglyceride levels.
- Green tea has been used in Asia for centuries as a treatment for diarrhea and typhoid. It’s ability to inhibit infection have also been shown in cases of early-stage influenza and Herpes simplex (the cause of those annoying mouth sores!).
- Green tea consumption has been associated with higher bone density and a decreased risk of hip fracture.
- Some studies are linking it to a decrease in Alzheimers, Parkinsons and other neurological diseases
- Ingestion increases blood flow and lowers cholesterol, which decreases blood pressure and helps prevent congestive heart failure.
- Green tea appears to stabilize blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Convinced yet? Who knew tea leaves could be so healthy? As with anything else, the amount you consume is important…too much of a good thing is still too much. 2-3 cups per day is enough to access the health benefits listed. Green tea does contain caffeine (between 10-60 mg per cup, depending on how you brew it) so it should not be consumed late in the day if you have trouble sleeping. And while it can be part of a healthy routine, it is not magical…a healthy lifestyle filled with real food, enough rest and activity and good relationships is still important.
So, how do you drink it? Here are a few tips:
- Boiling water destroys some of the catechins. Use water that is hot, but not boiling, to protect these little powerhouses!
- Adding lemon helps our bodies absorb the catechins, while milk inhibits it.
- Quality matters. Higher prices tea leaves will usually contain more catechins than bottled green tea drinks.
- Plain green tea can be bitter until you get used to it so play around with adding a LITTLE honey, some vanilla or trying a different brand.
The caffeine in green tea is a great little boost for the 2pm afternoon slump and it can count as one of your cups of water if you’re joining us for our Spring Cleaning for Your Health Challenge on April 2nd! If you’d like to sign up (or ask questions) click on the link below and I’ll be in touch with you soon!
https://goo.gl/forms/izyGvqKghoMZj7fi1
PS The sources for the health claims came from the list of articles below. Dig in, Science friends! 🙂
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5384166/
