Green tea consists of flavonoids, mostly catechins that are powerful antioxidants and can provide a wide range of health benefits. It has disease-fighting properties that are much needed to prevent oxidative stress-related disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and reduce cholesterol levels. If consumed in moderation, green tea can be one of the healthiest beverages.
Princy A. J |
June 30, 2022
Though tea drinking has been associated with health benefits for centuries, its medicinal properties have been discovered by researchers only recently. The several benefits of green tea are attributed to the high content of flavonoids, or plant-derived antioxidants, that make it one of the healthiest and most highly consumed beverages across the world. Out of the many flavonoids, catechins are the most common category since they are more powerful than vitamins C and E and possess disease-fighting properties. To get the most out of their cups, green tea lovers need to know its healthy powers before including it in their daily hectic lives. Additionally, according to market analysts, the global green tea market is expected to generate a revenue of $29,267.30 million and grow at 8.04% CAGR in the 2022-2030 forecast period.
How to Make an Ideal Cup of Green Tea for Yourself?
Here are some tips for your ideal morning cup of green tea:
- Always pick brands that use all-natural ingredients and do not contain any artificial preservatives. Additionally, one should opt for two types of green tea – Hojicha and Matcha. While Hojicha is made from roasted green tea leaves that consist of lower levels of caffeine, Matcha is made from ground green tea leaves that consists of more antioxidants.
- Try to skip tea bags and opt for tea leaves since you can get extract the essence from green tea leaves by pouring hot water on them. As per researchers, using tea bags can potentially reduce the chemical reaction.
- One can drink at least 3 cups of green tea a day and it is advisable to drink it in between meals, i.e., more than an hour after breakfast and lunch to reduce the absorption of folic acid and iron.
How is Green Tea Beneficial for Our Health?
Here are the top 5 health benefits of regular green tea consumption:
- Supports a Healthy Brain
As we grow old, our brain tends to forget most things and doesn’t stay as sharp as it used to be when we were young. According to researchers, drinking green tea may support a healthy brain due to the presence of antioxidants that may have some beneficial impacts on our neurological system. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is one such antioxidant that protects brain cells from oxidative stress that can lead to disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.
- Enhances Heart Health
Several studies suggest that drinking green tea regularly may lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risks of heart disease. In fact, according to a Japanese study, people who drink 3-5 cups of green tea daily, especially women, had decreased risks of any cardiovascular disease and stroke as compared to those who drink less than a cup per day.
- Controls Weight Gain
Green tea consists of catechins and caffeine that might increase energy metabolism and control weight gain in a non-significant yet effective way. In addition, drinking green tea can also decrease hunger and help you in keeping away from high-calorie foods.
- Keeps Optimal Blood Sugar Levels
Since most people suffer from chronic diseases and health issues like diabetes across the world, especially in the US, researchers are keen to find out if drinking green tea can control blood sugar levels. According to the studies, catechins in green tea might help in lowering fasting blood sugar levels as well as reduce hemoglobin A1C levels, which is a long-term measure of blood sugar levels.
- Might Reduce the Risk of Specific Cancers
According to The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, drinking 3-5 cups of green tea daily might reduce the risks of certain cancers like EGCG due to the strong antioxidant properties of catechins.
Progressing Towards a Healthy Lifestyle
It is proven that green tea consists of catechins that are great antioxidants and more powerful than vitamins C and E that might offer you a wide variety of health benefits and can boost your healthy lifestyle. Whether you wish to reduce your risks of diseases and enhance your immunity or just improve your general health, consuming green tea regularly is surely a healthy way to add antioxidants to your daily diet.
