Health Benefits of Green Tea – Green Tea Weight Loss and Other Benefits

Green tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world having a large number of health benefits. A number of scientific researches and studies have provided strong evidence about the many health benefits associated with the consumption of green tea. As a result of this, more and more people have started drinking it regularly with the statistics increasing further day by day. Although the Chinese have known about the medicinal value of green tea from ages, it was only a few years back that the rest of the world discovered about its various health benefits.  Read on to know more about the various health benefits of green tea.

What Makes Green Tea So Special?

The green teas key ingredient comes from Chinese Camellia sinensis plant, which contains catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which are a great source of anti-oxidants. The leaves of Camellia sinensis plant are gently steamed to retain its anti-oxidant property in its natural form. Research found that catechin polyphenols are more powerful anti-oxidant than vitamins C and E and has got several disease fighting properties.

Green Tea Health Benefits:

• The catechin polyphenols present in green tea particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) reduces the risk of certain types of cancers, like, skin, breast, lung, colon, oesophageal, and bladder.
•  Consuming green tea helps in lowering the LDL (bad) cholesterol, increase HDL (good) cholesterol thereby improving artery and heart functions.
• Anti-oxidant property of green tea reduces the risk of forming abnormal blood clot. This, in turn, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke.
• Green tea is also beneficial for our dental health. Bacterial enzymes like gyrase are found in green tea that helps to fight certain forms of bacteria that can cause serious harm to the teeth.
• Many studies have also found that green tea is helpful to arthritic patients. Green tea extracts EGCG, protects joints cartilage from destruction and hence reduces joint swelling and pain.
• Green tea helps in improving the body’s immune system by increasing the activity of the gamma delta T cells that form part of our adaptive and innate immunity.
• Green tea helps to preserve the brain cells from dying and, thereby reduces the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. EGCG is capable of directly protecting against neuronal injury in living brain tissue and so green tea is also helpful in the treatment of multiple sclerosis patients.
• EGCG present in green tea blocks the production of histamine and immunoglobulin E (IgE), which are chiefly responsible for allergic reactions like, eye and throat irritation and sneezing.
• Green tea has got great effect on skin. Its anti-oxidant property protects the skin from damage and together with its ant-inflammatory and anti-bacterial property slows down the skins aging process.
• Green tea also improves metabolism and helps to control weight gain and promote weight loss.

Green tea has a little amount of caffeine as compared to coffee or other general tea.  The caffeine present in green tea can cause insomnia, nausea and frequent urination. But this little side effect of green tea can be neglected in front of its large positive effects. So, if you haven’t started taking green tea yet, then better not waste more time to enjoy its huge health benefits.