Top 10 Factual Health Benefits of Green Tea

Tea Plantation
By Bjørn Christian Tørrissen

Green tea is the most beneficial drink in the world and has long been used as a medication beverages for  centuries, originating in China however well-known throughout Asia. Green tea is made from the leaves from Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea is full of antioxidants and nutrients which have powerful effects on the human body. This includes enhanced brain function, weight loss, a lower risk of cancer along with several additional fantastic advantages. The reason that green tea has more health benefits attached to it compared to black tea is because of the processing. Black tea is processed in a way that allows for fermentation while green tea’s processing eliminates the fermentation procedure. For that reason, green tea keeps highest quantity of antioxidants and poly-phenols the substances that give green tea its many benefits.

Here are 10 health benefits of green tea that have been confirmed in human research studies.

Tea of different fermentation:
From left to right:
Green tea, Yellow tea, Oolong tea and Black tea
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1. Green Tea increases fat burning and improves physical performance.

Green tea boosts the metabolic process. The polyphenol present in green tea will work to escalate levels of body fat oxidation and the rate where your body converts food into calories. If you check out the ingredients list for any fat burning health supplement, most likely green tea will be on there. In one research in 10 healthy men, green tea improved energy expenditure by 4%. Another research indicated that fat oxidation was improved by 17%, showing that green tea may selectively increase the burning up of body fat. In spite of this, certain studies on green tea don’t indicate any increase in metabolic process, so the results may rely upon the individual.



2. Green tea can prevent from developing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's and Protect Brain in Old Age.

A host of new research has looked at a number of aspects of how green tea affects the brain. A flavonoid in green tea appears to protect the brain from the development of amyloid plaques that scientists believe could lead to the brain deterioration correlated with Alzheimer’s Disease. Another research has revealed that the catechin substances in green tea will have several protective effects on neurons, potentially reducing the risk of Parkinson’s. Furthermore green tea enhance brain functionality for the short term, it can also protect your brain in old age.



3. Green Tea could lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes are biggest public health issues worldwide, contributing to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Various studies have shown the advantageous effects of green tea, not merely on cardiovascular diseases but also on type 2 diabetes itself. In a retrospective cohort study accomplished in Japan, a 33% risk reduction of developing type 2 diabetes was found in subjects drinking six or more cups of green tea every day compared to those drinking lower than 1 cup weekly. Many researches are being carried out to explain the accurate molecular mechanisms of green tea and ultimately, its clinical application in type 2 diabetes.



4. Green Tea may reduce heart disease risk.

Studies show that green tea can improve some of the primary risk factors for heart disease. This includes total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Green tea also significantly enhances the antioxidant functionality of the blood, which prevents the LDL cholesterol particles from oxidation, which is an important part of the pathway towards heart disease. 2011 meta-analysis of 14 randomized, placebo-controlled medical tests discovered that green tea significantly reduced LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Many of the studies had been carried out with capsules containing catechins, the active polyphenols in green tea, instead of with the beverage itself.



5. Green Tea carries numerous bioactive substances that can improve health.

Many of the bioactive substances in the tea leaves contains a great deal of essential nutrients. It is actually rich in polyphenols such as flavonoids and catechins, which work as potent antioxidants. These compounds is effective in reducing the formation of free radicals within the body, protecting cells and molecules from deterioration. These kinds of free radicals often tend to play a role in aging and all sorts of disorders. One of the more highly effective substances in green tea is the antioxidant Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), which has been studied to take care of various diseases and may be one of the main reasons green tea has such powerful healing elements. Green tea also has small amounts of minerals which are essential for health.



6. Green Tea may lower risk of various types of cancer.

A meta analysis published in 2014 indicated that green tea could reduce the risk of developing mouth cancers. Another meta analysis has suggested that green tea consumption could lessen the risk of lung cancer. One study has shown a protective effect of green tea on bladder cancer growth. The risk of developing cancer of the food pipe also seems to be reduced in women who consume green tea. In July 2009, the Cochrane Library released a review of 51 studies which included more than 1.5 million people. This review was trying to find a connection between consuming green tea and having a lower risk of cancer. The cancers included in the review were digestive tract cancers, breast cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer, as well as cancer of the mouth.    



7. Compounds in Green Tea can improve brain function.

In a new study, the researcher teams from the University Hospital of Basel and from the Psychiatric University Clinics found that green tea extract increases the brain's effective connectivity, meaning the causal influence that one brain area exerts over another. This effect on connectivity also led to improvement in actual cognitive performance: Subjects tested significantly better for working memory tasks after the admission of green tea extract. L-theanine increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety effects. It also increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain.



8. Green Tea can help lose weight and lower risk of becoming overweight.

As a consequence of the ever-growing obesity pandemic, the anti-obesity effects of green tea are being increasingly researched in cell, animal, and human tests. Green tea, green tea catechins, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have been demonstrated in cell culture and animal models of obesity to decrease fat mass, body weight, fat absorption, plasma levels of triglycerides, free fatty acids, cholesterol, glucose, insulin and leptin. There is certainly still a need for well-designed and controlled medical studies to validate the existing and encouraging human studies. Since EGCG is recognized as the most active component of green tea, its specific effects on obesity is required to be researched in human trials.



9. Green Tea is a strong Anti-viral, Anti-bacterial, and Anti-fungal agents.

Catechins, a very interesting class of chemical constituents in green tea are believed to have a range of beneficial health effects such as neuroprotective activity, and anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic effects. The best known catechin is epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), which constitutes 50-75% of the total flavonoid content in green tea, and is the single most studied catechin in relation to health contributing potential. EGCG is a potent antioxidant, and acts to inhibit a number of physiologically important enzymes, and it has been shown to interfere with the epidermal growth factor receptors.



10.  Green Tea may help for skincare and the signs of aging.

There have been several encouraging researches of skin advantages of green tea. Animal tests showed protection from skin cancer. Both animal and human studies have credibly showed that topical green tea formulations reduce sun damage. Green tea appears to exert sun damage protection by quenching free radicals and minimizing inflammation rather than by blocking UV rays. Therefore, green tea may synergistically enhance sun protection when used in addition to a sunscreen. A small research showed benefits of 2% polyphenone (via a particular type of green tea extract) in papulopustular rosacea. In particular, a significant decrease in inflammatory lesion was reported compared to placebo. Considering their well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, topical green tea polyphenols are likely to decelerate the development of some signs of aging. Whether green tea can actually diminish wrinkles and skin sag is far more uncertain.