If You Aren’t Drinking Green Tea Every Day, This Might Convince You to Start
Put the kettle on—we're raising a cup to the health benefits of green tea.
Health Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea may help reduce cancer risk
Research on the benefits of green tea and cancer prevention is still in early stages, but the results are promising. Researchers suspect that polyphenols in green tea may help kill cancer cells and stop their progression, or prevent various cancers. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 50 epidemiologic studies of the association between tea consumption and cancer risk have been published since 2006. While the results have been “inconsistent,” some have found an association with a reduced cancer risk of the colon, breast, ovary, prostate, and lung.
Make your heart healthier
According to Harvard Medical School, green tea contains significant amounts of flavonoids, antioxidants that protect against heart disease by slowing the breakdown of LDL cholesterol, preventing blood clots, and improving blood vessel function. The health benefits of green tea also include associations with lower cholesterol and lower rates of artery blockages.
Find out how it’s possible to reverse heart disease.
Soothe arthritis
According to the Arthritis Foundation, green tea is particularly useful for soothing symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The polyphenols in green tea are believed to reduce inflammation while also slowing destruction of cartilage. Another antioxidant called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is thought to block production of molecules that cause joint damage in people who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Boost your brain
A recent review of studies published in the journal Phytomedicine revealed evidence that green tea can reduce anxiety, boost memory and attention, and increase overall brain function. A small study found that green tea extract particularly enhances the working memory, which could prove useful in future treatments for dementia.
You can also feed your brain with this expert-approved MIND Diet meal plan.
Clear up acne
Good news for those seeking an acne remedy: Research suggests that supplements containing green tea extract may help acne. In one study published in Psychopharmacology, which included 80 women who suffered from moderate to severe acne, researchers found that those who took decaffeinated green tea extract daily had fewer breakouts around their nose, mouth and chin after four weeks compared to those taking a placebo.
Find out the best foods for healthy skin that naturally glows.
Cut down on stress
According to Anxiety.org, green tea may be a stress reliever, thanks to the calming amino acid L-theanine.
Take your jitters down an extra notch with these mini-meditations you can squeeze into the busiest (and most stressful) days.
Fight a UTI
In a recent study review, published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, researchers reported that a cup of Japanese green tea (roughly 7.5 grams of dried green tea) is equivalent to approximately 150 milligrams of epigallocatechin (EGC). This amount may be enough to act as an effective antimicrobial agent for urinary-tract infections.
Now that you know the health benefits of green tea, check out eight highly-effective home remedies that are backed by science.
