Green Tea Full Of Antioxidants
There are so many benefits for your health, to be gained from drinking green tea. Three of the best reasons to include it into your diet are; help with weight loss, it is full of antioxidants, and makes a great anti aging drink.
Here are a few facts regarding green tea, and why you may want to consider drinking it.
Green tea is made from unfermented leaves and reportedly contains the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols, (a chemical that may protect against some common health problems and possibly certain effects of ageing).
A subgroup of polyphenols called catechins, is what is found in green tea, these catechins are considered the most effective of all antioxidants.
One of the most powerful catechins is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallante). EGCG as an antioxidant is about 25-100 times more potent that vitamins C and E, which is great for your immune system.
It is also known to not only destroy cancer cells but also prevent some cancers. EGCG can reduce LDL cholesterol (the harmful cholesterol); this prevents the blood from forming clots, which is a leading cause of heart attacks!
One cup of green tea provides enough polyphenols and has antioxidant effects greater than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots, or strawberries.
The high antioxidant activity of green tea makes it beneficial for protecting the body from oxidative damage due to free radicals, (molecules responsible for ageing, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases).
The EGCG in green tea increases the energy expenditure of the body, so people who include green tea in their diet are more likely to use up more fats than people who do not. Some studies suggest it is the catechins which are responsible for the fat burning effect.
If you are concerned about your caffeine intake, always drink your green tea hot as this helps to reduce the caffeine activity. Brewing green tea allows the catechins and theanine (provides sweetness and freshness) to combine with the caffeine in hot water and this helps the caffeine to become less effective.
Green tea also contains less caffeine than coffee.
Benefits of drinking green tea:
- Inhibiting growth of cancer cells.
- Reducing high blood pressure.
- Protecting against stroke.
- Improving blood flow to the heart.
- Prevent tooth decay.
- Inhibiting the formation of blood clots in artery walls.
- Steadying blood sugar levels.
- Lowering the risk for osteoporosis.
- Acting as an anti-inflammatory agent.
- Enhancing immune function and helping fight infections.
- Inhibiting the growth of bacteria that can cause gum disease, cavities, and bad breath.
- Men, who drink two to three cups of green tea a day, can reduce their risk of prostate cancer.
- Women with a history of drinking green tea have fewer occurrences of breast cancer.
- Slows the ageing process.
- Aids digestion.
- Healthy weight loss.
- Helps keep you looking younger.
Green Tea is rapidly growing in popularity, as more and more people are becoming aware of what it can do.
I have never let a day pass without consuming at least 3 to 4 cups.
Drink the regular and not decaffeinated, as the chemical process involved in removing the caffeine destroys the health benefits of the tea.
