Chinese author Lu Yu wrote a book called Tea Classic. In this book, Yu described green tea as one of the oldest documented beverages.
That was in 600 AD.
For thousands of years, cultures have been relying on green tea to cure a number of ailments, both physical and mental. Today, we know for a fact that they were onto something. Let’s dive right into 7 proven benefits of drinking green tea regularly.
#1 – Brain Power
According to researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland, regular green tea drinkers have increased activity in the parts of the brain that handle memory. Specifically, green tea was found to increase the communication between the frontal lobe and parietal lobe.
This translates to an observable spike in memory function.
And that’s not all – research has also shown that drinking green tea regularly blocks the formation of the brain plaque responsible for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Experts believe the epigallocatechin-3-gallate in green tea is what causes these effects.
#2 – Diabetes Prevention/Treatment
According to the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, green tea contains polyphenols and polysaccharides that lower blood sugar.
The epigallocatechin-3-gallate responsible for green tea’s brain-boosting effects also helps out here by mimicking insulin and reducing the liver’s glucose production.
This can help both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics.
#3 – Oral Health
According to a study published in the Journal of Periodontology, regular intake of green tea goes a long way towards promoting healthy teeth and gums.
The study reports that one’s risk of any sort of oral disease decreases with each cup of green tea consumed per day.
What do we have to thank for this? A green tea antioxidant called catechin. It works by warding off harmful periodontal bacteria and reducing inflammation in the mouth.
For best results, don’t mix the green tea with any sweetener.
#4 – Body Weight Maintenance
According to a study published in Physiology & Behavior, green tea can be a valuable part of any weight loss plan.
Our good old friend epigallocatechin-3-gallate is responsible for this; it increases your body’s amount of norepinephrine, a hormone that instructs fat cells to break down fat. This broken down fat is then, in turn, pushed into the bloodstream where it becomes energy.
#5 – Hair Loss Prevention
Green tea just keeps sounding cooler and cooler, doesn’t it?
In green tea, you’ll find vitamin B. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B helps to both strengthen and condition your hair.
And that’s not all!
Green tea also contains a DHT-blocker known as 5-alpha-reductase. DHT plays a major role in hair loss, so you’ll want to block that sucker as quickly as an ex-partner.
While drinking the green tea can help your hair, check out this guide to learn how you can use it topically.
#6 – Anti-Aging
Remember those polyphenols I mentioned earlier? Well, they – along with flavonoids and catechins – work as powerful antioxidants.
According to the widely-accepted free radical theory of aging, oxidation damage is the primary cause for body degradation with time. Antioxidants, as their name would suggest, reverse this damage.
This has positive effects on not only the brain but skin, joints and bone density as well.
Green tea also works to reduce cholesterol levels – a significant concern during the aging process.
What does that mean for you? Well, it means that with a few cups of green tea daily, you’ll look, feel and function so much younger!
#7 – Lower Blood Pressure
A review published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that long-term green tea intake significantly improves blood pressure.
Researchers studied 25 randomized, controlled trials and found that green tea reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 2.6 mmHg and 2.2 mmHg respectively after just 12 weeks.
3 to 4 cups of green tea, which works out to 6 grams, is ideal for this purpose.
Ready to reap the benefits of green tea? Here’s a good, organic search to get you started!
Sources: