Understanding the Magical Powers of Green Tea

Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet thanks to its abundance of antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful and beneficial effects on the body.

What is Green tea?

Green tea is made from Camellia sinensis leaves, which come from a species of evergreen shrubs or small trees that are native to East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. In addition to being native to Asia, these leaves are also cultivated today in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

The tea is green in color because the Camellia sinensis leaves have been harvested at a younger age and dried without fermenting or oxidation. The color of the tea can range from light pale yellow to a bright dark orange, and every color range in between. The greener the tea is in color, the more nutrients your tea will contain. If green tea appears brown in color, the discoloration of the tea is the result of oxidation and loss of nutrients.

What is the Difference Between Green Tea and Black Tea?

Green tea can be differentiated from oolong and black teas because the Camellia sinensis leaves have not been subject to withering or oxidation, which is the process used to make oolong and black teas.

What are the Health Benefits of Green Tea?

1. Helps to promote cardiovascular health. Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
2. Promotes bone health.
3. May reduce appetite. Helps with weight loss. Lower the risk of obesity.
4. May help to reduce the likelihood of Type 2 diabetes or Insulin Resistance.
5. Improve brain function and mental performance.

6. Increased fat burning and improved physical performance.
7. Lower the risk of some types of cancer.
8. Kills bacteria and viruses. Lowers the risk of infection. Strengthens immune system.
9. Helps to improve metabolism and digestion.
10. Anti-inflammatory
11. Improves your mood. Helps you relax. Reduces the effects of depression
12. Promote skin health.
13. Promote vision health.
14. Improves blood pressure.
15. Promote healthy hair. Helps to reduce hair loss.

1. Helps to promote cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Green tea has an effect on the lining of the blood vessels that allows them to stay relaxed and withstand changes in blood pressure. Regular consumption of this tea may help to reduce the formation of clots in the blood vessels, which is the primary cause of heart attacks. Green tea can also improve the ratio of good cholesterol and bad cholesterol in the blood.

2. Helps to promotes bone health. Reduce the likelihood of Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a condition where the density and the quality of bone is reduced. This increases the risk of bone fracture. Green tea contains the catechin epigallocatechin (EGC) which helps to stimulate the action of a key enzyme that promotes bone growth. The effects of boosting EGC also increases the level of bone mineralization in the cells. The result is stronger bones.

3. May reduce appetite. Helps with weight loss and lower the risk of obesity.

Green tea may have the ability to suppress your appetite by affecting norepinephrine and dopamine. These two peptide hormones, known as catecholamines, activate the sympathetic nervous system where one of the known effects is a reduction in appetite. EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) which is one of the most active compounds in green tea inhibits the breakdown of an enzyme that would normally break down the catecholamines. This results in a reduction in the desire for food.

4. May help to reduce the likelihood of Type 2 diabetes or Insulin Resistance.

Green tea helps to regulate glucose levels in your body, slowing down the increase of blood sugar after eating. The polyphenols present in the tea possess healing properties because they are powerful antioxidants. The main polyphenol EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) is known to accelerate the body’s metabolism process which helps to reduce and breakdown sugar which helps to reduce the likelihood of Type 2 diabetes.

5. Helps to improve brain function and mental performance.

The key active ingredient in green tea is caffeine. Not only does this tea keep you awake, it can make you smarter because caffeine is a known stimulant. So how can caffeine make you smarter? Caffeine blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter Adenosine, which results in an increase of the firing of neurons in the brain. Caffeine may improve mood, vigilance, reaction time, and memory retention. Green tea contains the amino acid L-theanine which increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain.

Because of the synergistic effects of caffeine and L-theanine, green tea can give you a different kind of “buzz” when compared to drinking coffee. Drinking green tea can provide you with more stable energy. As a result, you may find yourself being more productive when compared to drinking coffee.

6. Increased fat burning and improved physical performance.

Since green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants and contains large amounts of a catechin called EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate), EGCG’s role as a fat burner comes from its ability to trigger enzymes that get adipose (fat) cells to release their stored fat and increase the amount of fat used for energy. Remember that green tea also contains caffeine which will also increase your physical performance.

7. Helps to lower the risk of some types of cancer.

Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants that can help to prevent cell damage. Drinking this tea may also help to reduce your risk of certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.

8. Kill bacteria and viruses. Lower the risk of infection. Strengthen your immune system.

Tea catechins, which are chemical antioxidants, are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, dental caries (cavities), and can treat influenza. Green tea contains large amounts of a catechin called EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) which is a natural antioxidant that helps to prevent cell damage.

9. Helps to improve metabolism and digestion.

Drinking green tea helps to increase your metabolism and digestion. The polyphenols found in the tea intensify the levels of fat oxidation and the rate that your body turns food into valuable calories. Digestion may be improved because the availability of vitamins important to the body, such as vitamins B, C and E. The polyphenols and catechins found in green tea may also help with digestion since antioxidants help cells in the body function more efficiently and help to clear waste.

10. Great anti-inflammatory.

The polyphenols found in green tea helps to reduce inflammation. The tea contains large amounts of a catechin called EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) which is a natural antioxidant that helps to prevent cell damage, and stops the production of some inflammatory chemicals in the body.

11. Improve your mood. Helps you relax. Reduces the effects of depression.

Theanine, an amino acid naturally found in green tea leaves, combats depression and provides a relaxing and soothing effect. As a result, L-theanine may also alter the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine, which can affect and alter mood levels. Himalayan salt lamps can also help you relax and improve your mood.

12. Promote skin health.

Green tea can leave skin looking healthier, smoother, and more radiant thanks to its beneficial vitamins B2, C and E. The polyphenols found in the tea can help to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. In addition to the effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, topical application of may also be beneficial for your skin. Reduction in acne, alleviate excessive skin oiliness, rejuvenate the skin and reduce the visible signs of aging, and protection against damaging UV rays are just some of the benefits.

13. Promote vision health.

The magic of green tea lies in the special antioxidants (called flavonoids) that are found in the tea leaves. Flavonoids can help to protect the eyes against certain diseases, such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and some types of glaucoma. One particular flavonoid, called gallocatechin, collects in the retina and helps to protect the retina against harmful UV rays.

14. Helps improve blood pressure.

Consuming green tea on a regular basis may reduce the risk of high blood pressure. This is due in part because of the flavonoids contained in the tea leaves, which can have a positive effect on the lining of the blood vessels. The flavonoids allow the blood vessels to stay relaxed, resulting in improved blood flow.

15. Promote healthy hair. Helps to reduce hair loss.

Green tea contains various nutrients and antioxidants such as Vitamin B (panthenol). Vitamin B helps promote healthy hair by controlling split ends, softens the hair, and strengthens hair roots/follicles. Green tea also contains the antioxidant EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) which can stimulate hair growth.