9 Health Benefits Of Green Tea - Green Tea Effects

9 Health Benefits Of Green Tea - Green Tea Effects

9 Health Benefits Of Green Tea

Few cups of green tea every day can increase well being, extend life and make you happy. Sounds like a healthy resolution for the new year - but what exactly is behind it? We decipher the ingredients of tea and what they do for our health.

Green miracle cure?

Green tea can't do everything. However, there is a good reason why it is considered an essential part of a healthy diet. These are the health benefits of green tea:

• Diabetes prevention
• Help with cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure
• Lowering cholesterol levels
• Cancer prevention
• Prevention of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's
• Promote dental health
• Combating obesity
• Slowing down the aging process
• Strengthening the immune system and protection against infections.

How exactly is that supposed to work? Let's see what's in the green drink.

A first positive effect: green tea makes you alert and focused. This is not only ensured by the caffeine it contains , but also by the amino acid L-theanine , which lifts and relaxes the mood. The caffeine content of a cup of Gyokuro or Sencha can definitely keep up with a serving of coffee. So if you long for a cup of coffee every morning, you might as well reach for green tea. Contrary to popular belief, black tea does not necessarily have more caffeine than green tea!

In addition to the waking effect, the memory is boosted. Hence, drinking green tea is a good prevention against diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. Caffeine in moderation also lowers the risk of high blood pressure (hypertension). At the same time, L-theanine soothes the stimulating effect of caffeine, so that the body feels less stress than when drinking coffee. The typical side effects such as heart rate and nervousness only occur with very large amounts.

Incidentally, theanine is not to be confused with tannin . This is a bitter substance that appears especially when the tea is steeped for a long time. Black tea has less of it than green tea, so it is not as sensitive if you let it steep for longer. With the second infusion, significantly more of it gets into the green tea, but fewer amino acids. Apart from the taste, the tannin tannin also has an antibacterial effect.

Vitamins and phytochemicals: healthy blood pressure, strong immune system
We learn from an early age that vegetables have healthy vitamins. But these are not only found on the plate, but also in the cup. The popular vitamin C in particular is found in abundance in the tea plant. The immune system is happy and infectious diseases have less chance of afflicting green tea drinkers. Vitamins have a positive effect on healthy skin, shiny and strong hair and good eyes, among other things.

Also polyphenols , which are among the phytochemicals, are anti-bacterial. This is particularly important for dental health: tooth decay and periodontal disease can be eliminated. Beta-carotene , which is a precursor to vitamin A, is also found in the cup , along with other carotenes . These also inhibit the development of some types of cancer such as breast and colon cancer.

You can even taste catechins . It is secondary plant substances that cause the astringency - the furry mouthfeel - of the tea. This can be seen particularly clearly with Matcha. But catechins can do even more: for example, promote blood circulation and lower blood pressure, as studies have shown. Therefore, they are particularly valuable for the cardiovascular system. Last but not least, they also promote - especially the catechin EGCG - the prevention of cancer and fat burning. The latter is an effect that is very much appreciated in diets.

Clinical studies show, however, that catechins are harmful to the liver in large doses. However, this is very unlikely with high quality varieties. Such an overdose only occurs with specially processed diet teas or capsules with green tea extract that contain the ingredients in a highly concentrated manner. Drinking three cups of green tea daily does not usually cause side effects in healthy people.

 

Anti-aging effect with antioxidants

Vitamins, carotenes and catechins have one thing in common: they are antioxidants . These substances inhibit the effects of free radicals in the blood. Free radicals are not in themselves harmful - in fact, they have benefits for us too. However, if there are too many without counteracting them, they cause oxidative stress. This damages cells in the body, which in turn accelerates the aging process. It also favors infections and is responsible for many diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. This is why antioxidants are so important in preventing this from happening.

You can also absorb these valuable ingredients with black tea. However, vitamins and carotenes are destroyed during fermentation, which is done with black and oolong tea, but not with green tea. The catechin content is also much higher in green tea. The water temperature is also important. If you need a low temperature for a cup of tea for matcha, for example, the vitamins and carotenes are completely retained. It is different with boiling water.

Green tea also contains some substances that are not particularly well known, such as diphenylamine . This accompanying substance helps to lower blood sugar, which is why it is valuable for combating type 2 diabetes. 

At a glance: this is what makes green tea so valuable

We have seen what the Camellia sinensis tea plant can do. These ingredients make up green tea:

• Caffeine: increases alertness and concentration and is effective against high blood pressure
• Amino acids: L-theanine in particular plays an essential role in relaxation, mood enhancement and memory
• Diphenylamine: helps keep blood sugar in check
• Tannin: not only makes the bitterness in green tea, but also the antibacterial effect
• Polyphenols: fight unwanted bacteria in the body and in the mouth
• Antioxidants: these substances protect against diseases of the cardiovascular system, cancer, infections and diabetes
• Vitamins and carotenes: they have a positive effect on the immune system and are essential for many functions of the body. Carotenes can also protect against cancer
• Catechins: the secondary plant substances have a blood pressure lowering effect and support the blood circulation. They also help you lose weight.

It also depends on the variety, how much of the active ingredients you absorb when drinking. The young leaves, such as those found in Shincha , do not have such a high concentration of some ingredients. Matcha , Gyokuro and Sencha tea are the green teas with the highest caffeine content. The steeping time, water temperature and whether you drink the first or second infusion also play a role.

The right preparation is the alpha and omega of green tea in order to maintain its health-promoting effect. Tip: be careful with milk . According to scientific studies, those who like these in their green tea can use them to promote the effect of some ingredients such as catechins, but in turn destroy others. We therefore recommend drinking green tea straight. You can read here how to do this correctly and in a tasty way .