If you could find a natural ingredient that helps you boost your immune system plus fights free-radical damage, plus has a plethora of health benefits, wouldn’t you want to know about it?
This is exactly what the YEI Editor wanted to know about, and made it her mission to research and investigate this simple and cost-effective drink that claims to be a superhero drink.
The YEI Editor says: “Years ago, I was in a Chinese shop and the owner tried to persuade me to drink green tea for my health and to lose weight. I bought some, probably because I was pressurised, loathed the taste and gave the tea away. Fast forward 25 years, and on researching the benefits of green tea when it comes to ageing and health, I was gob-smacked at the number of health benefits that green tea claims it has, and decided to give it another go, but went on a hunt for something more palatable, and found Woolworths Lemon Ginger Green Tea (not an advert, I promise!)! Well, it’s a lovely drink. I found limited studies on the effects of green tea and ageing, but the studies and articles I did find were very promising”.
The origins of green tea?
Green tea is a type of tea made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. It comes from the same species of plant as its popular cousin, black tea. The difference between the two is that green tea is not fermented before steaming and drying, whereas black tea is.
Green tea dates back to 2737 BC and originated in China. The discovery of green tea was an accident. Chinese Emperor Shennong drank some water with a dead tea leaf boiled inside. He found the drink refreshing and so a new beverage was born! In those days, green tea was costly and only available to the highest tiers of Chinese society. It was only in the 14th century that green tea became more accessible to the general public and it was realised that green tea came with many medicinal qualities.
In the 19th century, European explorers travelled back West and took the green tea with them. It became a huge commodity and was called “bullet tea”.
The benefits of green tea are endless!
The benefits of green tea are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial.
Natural antioxidants
Green tea is packed with antioxidants and contains both polyphenols and catechin (aka EGCC). These natural compounds contain powerful natural antioxidants which help to protect cells and molecules from free radicals that can cause damage and disease, and also prevent and treat infections and also skin problems. If you are also wanting to lose weight and lower your cholesterol levels, then green tea is for you.
Green tea is packed with antioxidants, including polyphenols and catechins. These natural compounds work hard to protect cells and molecules from free radicals that may cause damage and disease. People looking to lose weight healthily or lower their cholesterol levels can also benefit from green tea.
Anti-inflammatory
The anti-inflammatory effects of green tea contain many benefits. The benefits include treating and preventing certain conditions such as ageing, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. This property has been shown to be very effective when it comes to treating skin inflammation and cancerous changes in the skin.
Skin benefits
Green tea as a skincare ingredient contains antibacterial properties which help to fight against infection. It is such a good antioxidant that it helps to keep your skin looking brighter and smoother. You can reduce dark circles and puffy eyes when using green tea as a skincare ingredient. Green tea’s anti-inflammatory properties assists with reducing irritation and redness on the skin. It helps to fight premature ageing. Green tea increases cell turnover and regeneration thanks to the Vitamin E in it.
Brain function
Green tea can also help to protect again Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. According to a Swiss study, the bioactive compounds in the drink may protect neurons and improve the part of the brain responsible for memory.
Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
The polyphenol- and polysaccharide-rich tea leaves could help lower and stabilize blood sugar levels. It is said that green tea can reduce insulin resistance and increase insulin sensitivity, which in turn helps to manage blood sugar spikes.
Stabilise cholesterol levels
It is said that green tea can help rid the body of bad cholesterol while maintaining the amount of good cholesterol.
Bones can get stronger
There is natural fluoride in green tea. Other than improving oral health (see below), there is a link between green ta and bone density – drinking green tea regularly has been linked to a lowered risk of osteoporosis and related fractures. It is believed that the antioxidants in green can prevent bone density loss and improve those bone-building cells.
Losing weight
There are a number of benefits when it comes to drinking green tea every day and losing weight. The polyphenols in green tea increase the rate at which the body is able to transform food into calories. Green tea helps boost metabolism when combined with caffeine, and the catechins also help to promote weight loss.
Hair loss can be prevented!
DHT is the hormone that is the driving force behind hair loss. Polyphenols and catechins in green tea can block DHT. There is another component in green tea called EGCG – epigallocatechin gallate – this can stimulate hair growth.
Fights ageing
As mentioned above, the polyphenols in green tea work as powerful antioxidants. These can shield the skin from harmful free radicals. One really interesting fact is that oligomeric proanthocyanidins, another ingredient in green tea, has been used to treat very common symptoms of ageing such as poor circulation, nerve damage and even macular degeneration.
Lowering of blood pressure
The Archives of Internal Medicine conducted a study that revealed those who drank green tea, specifically one-half to two and a half cups a day for an entire year, reduced their chance of high blood pressure significantly when compared to people who did not drink green tea.
Longevity promoted
A Japanese study was conducted with a group of 40,530 adults. This group of people consumed five or more cups of green tea a day, and it was found that they were less likely to die within the 11-year testing period. In addition, their risk of heart disease and strokes were lowered. The researchers believe that green tea has the ability to prevent plaque build-up, which is one of the reasons for the clogging of arteries.
How many cups a day would be ideal.
Dear Dan, thank you for contacting us. The team at YEI are not Health or medical experts and can therefore not comment or advise on the specifics of doses or cups of tea a day. Kind regards, Angela (YEI team)
The article says the people in the study drank 5 cups a day