Green tea is known to be a healthier substitute to normal beverages like coffee and other types of tea, owing to its lower caffeine content. It also contains very strong, natural antioxidants called polyphenols that not only help you attain a healthy body, skin and hair, but also help to block the growth of cancer cells as well.
Green tea is also a healthier option due to the way it is processed. It is derived from the leaves of the plant, Camellia sinensis. The green leaves for green tea are steamed, which helps in preventing the catechins from oxidizing, while black and oolong tea are made from fermented leaves, which leads to the loss of this very important antioxidant. Of late, a majority of the people living in Western countries have switched over from drinking black tea to green tea.
Origin
Though it originated in China, green tea has now become immensely popular all over the world. Due to the myriad of green tea health benefits, various health foods, beverages, dietary supplements, and cosmetics are now being manufactured with green tea extracts in them. Several medicinal and scientific studies are being conducted around the world to determine the long-term health benefits of green tea, and, in fact, it has been found from collected data that those who drink green tea regularly are at a lower risk of developing heart diseases and even cancer. Compared to normal tea, green tea has lesser caffeine. Large doses of caffeine can lead to an increase in your blood pressure. Being high on flavonoids (phytochemicals found in plant products), green tea possesses antioxidative and anticarcinogenic properties, which it is best known for.
Tip
To get the most out of your cup of green tea, we suggest that you brew it from the loose tea leaves instead of using the tea bag for convenience. This not only imparts flavor but also allows the release of more antioxidants into your cup.
Why Are Antioxidants Good For Us?
Certain molecules known as free radicals are produced when our body breaks down food or even due to smoking or drinking. These free radicals attack the healthy cells in our body and lead to several problems, including aging. Antioxidants are certain substances that protect our cells from the damage inflicted by the action of these free radicals.
Scientists have identified six different catechins in green tea, one of them being epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG in green tea increases the metabolic rate of the human body, which means that it intensifies the levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories, which, in turn, aids weight loss. Green tea reduces the body fat and bloating, while detoxifying the body and suppressing untimely food cravings. Enabled with diuretic properties, it also eliminates excess water and, thereby, reduces excess weight. Hence, drinking green tea daily can really help you in your weight loss journey.