Green tea, native to China and India, has been consumed and hailed for its health benefits for centuries, but has only recently gained popularity in the UK. Tea is considered the most consumed beverage in the world behind water, however and only about 20% of this is green. Green tea is made from un-oxidized leaves and is the least processed type of tea and therefore contains the most antioxidants and beneficial polyphenols.
Benefits of Green Tea?
Weight Loss
Green tea has been shown to help the body burn extra calories and fats, and this is the reason why it is used as a popular ingredient in diet pills. Although drinking green tea does not provide fast results like some other weight loss products, it can help you lose weight, slowly and safely without compromising your health.
- Cancer defence?
The polyphenols in tea have been linked with protect against damage caused by ultraviolet UVB radiation. In countries where green tea consumption is high cancer rates tend to be lower. Green tea drinkers are possibly even less likely to develop pancreatic cancer. This is especially true of women, who were 50% less likely to develop the disease. It is hypothesised that it is the high level of polyphenols in tea that help kill cancerous cells and stop them from growing.
- Increase exercise endurance
The catechin polyphenols that are present in green tea will stimulate your muscle cells and liver to use more fatty acids. As a result, your body will use carbohydrates at a slower rate. With more carbohydrates remaining in your body, you can exercise for a longer period of time, and your body will burn more calories.
- Improve brain function
The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known stimulant. It doesn’t contain as much as coffee, but enough to produce a response without causing the “jittery” effects associated with too much caffeine. Caffeine has been intensively studied before and consistently leads to improvements in various aspects of brain function, including improved mood, vigilance, reaction time and memory. Green tea contains more than just caffeine. It also has the amino acid L-theanine. Caffeine and L-theanine together are particularly potent at improving brain function.
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