Green tea, native to India and China, has been consumed and hailed for its health benefits for centuries. Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. However, 78% of the world uses black tea, and only 20% consume green tea. It is one of the healthiest beverages on earth. It was traditionally part of medicine in China and India. Used in medicine to control bleeding, heal wounds, aid digestion, improve heart and mental diseases, and regulate body temperatures.

Recent studies have shown that it is beneficial from weight loss to liver disorder. The green tea plant contains a range of healthy compounds that make it into the final drink. EGCG is one of the most powerful compounds in green tea. Research has proved its ability to treat many diseases. This compound is one of the main compounds that give green tea its medical importance. It also improves mood, memory, vigilance, and reaction time.

It consists of antioxidants that have health benefits, which includes:

• Improved brain functioning
• Lower the risk of cancer like Breast cancer, Prostate cancer, and Colorectal cancer
• lower the risk of heart diseases

Types of Green Tea

It is available in many types including:

• Bottled and sweetened with sugar/artificial sweetener
• Single tea bags
• Loose leafs
• Instant powder
• Supplements that are sold in the form of capsule or liquid extracts

According to the 2010 research presented at the American Chemical Society, bottled teas are not equivalent to brewed teas as some 16 ounce bottled teas can contain fewer polyphenols than one cup of brewed tea.

Reason to use

There are many reasons to start consuming Green tea, which includes:

Improve brain functioning

It does more than to just keep you alert. Although, it contains caffeine which is known as a stimulant. However, caffeine quantity is low as compared to coffee. It contains many other brain-boosting compounds like L-Theanine (amino acid), which can cross the d-brain barrier. L-theanine increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety effects. L-Theanine also increases the dopamine and production of Alpha waves in the brain. The research has shown that L-theanine and caffeine have a synergistic effect. This means that the combination of these two has particular effects on improving brain functioning.

Prevent Diabetes

It helps to prevent type 2 diabetes. Insulin comes along to decrease sugar levels but with T2D, the body is not so sensitive to insulin, so blood level goes up. The tea especially helps sensitize cells so that they are better to metabolize sugar

Helps in reducing weights

Green tea helps to Bruce fats by melting fats. But the fact is that there are hardly any drinks which help in reducing fat. Green tea helps in metabolism and this fast metabolism decreases weight. The ingredient EGCG helps in dropping weight to a few pounds. However, the consumption of Green tea is far better than any sugary drink. “All things being equal, if you sub 1-2 cups of green tea for one can of soda, over the next year you’d save over 50,000 calories,” Ochner says. “That’s more than 15.”

Live Longer

The daily 1-2 cups of Green tea can increase your life, not directly. Daily consumption improves your physical performance. The health benefits also seem to include boosting physical performance, increasing exercise endurance, and decreasing reaction time, and there are many, many such studies showing these effects from caffeine, although other ingredients may aid this effect.

Side effects

There are hardly any side effects or contraindications of use by adults. However, the following complications should be made clear.

Caffeine Sensitivity– Persons with caffeine sensitivity can observe insomnia, nausea, and upset stomach.

Blood thinners– Those taking blood thinners (anticoagulant drugs) such as Coumadin/warfarin should drink it with caution due to its Vitamin K content.

In particular, pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with heart problems or high blood pressure, kidney or liver problems, stomach ulcers, or anxiety disorders should not take supplements or extracts.

As a result, the usages of green tea can help you medically. However, you should choose the brands carefully. It is because of the excess amount of Flouride. But if you choose a lower-quality tea brand, it can still outweigh any risk. It protects from many diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart, and cancer. Several studies show that the catechin compounds in green tea can have various protective effects on neurons in test tubes and animal models, possibly lowering the risk of dementia. For more info, visit here.