You may have already been in the habit of drinking green tea without even realizing the numerous health benefits it can render your body. Nowadays, tea is considered to be second to water as the most consumed type of beverage. There are actually two more types of tea, like black and oolong, and the difference between these lies in the way that they are processed.

Green tea is made out of unfermented leaves and is known to have the highest amount of potent antioxidants that are called polyphenols. These help fight free radicals that damage essential compounds in your body.

Green tea has been widely known all over the world.  In fact, it has been used by the Chinese for around 4,000 years now. They use it to treat almost any kind of ailment from something as simple as a headache up to something as worse as depression. In this modern day and age, numerous scientific research studies in the western and Asian side of the world have been showing hard proof of the various health benefits that it can render individuals. In 1994, the National Cancer Institute published a study saying that drinking green tea can lessen the risk of cancer by up to sixty percent. To further convince you why you should drink green tea, here are some of the other amazing health benefits that it can provide your body today.

Why Green Tea is Good for You

The essential properties found in green tea can help steer you away from coronary artery disease. Many researchers say that it reduces the risk of having a heart disease by simply lowering the level of your cholesterol. Researchers estimate that it can help reduce the risk by almost 11 percent, if only you would try to consume 3 cups of green tea each day.

Green and black tea can help protect you from various kinds of cancer, as suggested by clinical studies. The polyphenols present in tea plays an essential role in cancer prevention. They help eradicate cancer cells and are capable of fully stopping its production. It can help prevent bladder, breast, ovarian, colorectal, esophageal, lung, pancreatic, prostate, skin and stomach cancer.

Furthermore, green tea can help in the reduction of inflammation due to colitis and Crohn’s disease. It can also help in controlling blood sugar levels and it lowers your chances of developing liver disorder. It can protect the liver, especially for people who frequently consume alcohol. Its extracts also boost the body’s metabolism and eventually help you burn fat if you are concerned with losing weight fast.

It is also found helpful in the prevention of tooth decay and other dental carries. It has been perfect for treating pimple and warts. In fact, numerous skin products in the market today appear to have green tea in their ingredients such as those found in skin creams, deodorants and many more. The only noted drawback that has been reported from drinking green tea is insomnia since it has some portions of caffeine in its composition. But still, it contains less caffeine than actual coffee. Additionally, green tea consumption also helps stop the symptoms of flu and colds.

Green Tea - Unraveled

According to the latest study made by a group of scientists at Newcastle University, regular consumption of green tea exerts a protective effect against the development of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other brain disorders. The team which was led by Dr. Ed Okello sought to know if green tea’s protective properties can still be active even after it has been brewed.  What amazed the researchers was the fact that, when green tea was digested by gut enzymes, the chemical by-products of the digestive process appeared to be more effective against important factors that predispose the development of Alzheimer’s disease.  This is made in comparison with the undigested form of green tea.

Aside from its effects in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, they also discovered that digested green tea compounds contain anti-cancer properties that can slow down the development of various tumor cells. The result of the study was published in Phytomedicine, an academic journal.

Dr. Okello also adds that regular drinking of green tea must be accompanied with a healthy lifestyle which means that it should come hand in hand with good diet and regular exercise.

Natural Alzheimer’s Prevention:  Green Tea and More

A healthy diet is one of the key factors in promoting brain health. Sufficient amounts of nutrients and protein are needed so that the brain can perform its function and process well. Breakfast is deemed to be the most essential meal of each day and your brain needs it more than your stomach in the morning. Various scientific studies proved that athletes and students get to do better in examinations and competitions when they take in a morning meal.

There are also several foods that are considered as ‘super’ which serve as ideal sources of nutrients that your brain needs. Nuts for one are great sources of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids along with vitamins B6 and E. They assist in balancing the levels of your serotonin while almonds, particularly, can help boost memory through its nutritional content in the form of riboflavin.

Blueberries also help by protecting your brain cells from being damaged. It can help in ameliorating your cognitive skills and even normalize the communication lines between your brain cells. Of course, there is green tea which has polyphenols and catechins which aid in letting the brain relax and even stimulate the levels of dopamine. It is helpful in increasing your brain’s concentration and memory levels. You can take it as a hot or cold drink to match your meal for everyday.

Other superfoods also include whole grains, eggs, seeds, and wild salmon. Other fruits and vegetables that fall under this category are avocados, tomatoes, red cabbage, spinach, bananas and dry beans. Dark chocolate can also help in boosting better blood circulation in your brain. Since it is made up of 70% pure cocoa, it render potent antioxidants that increase blood flow which enables enhanced memory, concentration level and other cognitive processes. If you like desserts, instead of settling for other kinds of sweets, choose to use dark chocolate.

One lesson is to be learned from discovering more about green tea: that there are numerous foods and drinks out there that we may take in without us knowing its miraculous benefits. Now that we know how it can help the overall state of our health and brain functions, we would surely enjoy more in brewing our next cup of perfect tea right in the comforts of our own home.

Sources
eurekalert.org
suite101.com
umm.edu
chinesefood.about.com