Tea has been drunk around the world since ancient times. It is not only a refreshing drink but also acts as a detoxifying agent.
Tea is obtained from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Depending on how the leaves are processed, tea can be classified into four categories:
In the United Kingdom and the United States, black tea is preferred, while green tea is the preferred drink in China, Korea and Japan. The Chinese and Taiwanese mostly consume oolong tea.
Read below to learn more about green tea:
Treats allergies
Allergy is an immune disease and manifests itself in various forms. Some allergic reactions in the body include asthma and sinusitis.
Allergies are often treated with glucocorticoids and antihistamines. However, these are not considered treatments and provide only palliative relief. Therefore, research is underway for natural products with anti-allergic properties.
Recently, green tea has been shown to be effective against asthma and food allergies due to its content of bioactive compounds such as catechins and saponins.
Supports brain function
The human body has a very limited ability to fight oxidative damage to brain cells, which leads to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Regular consumption of green tea has been shown to reduce memory impairment and prevent stress and oxidative damage, and this effect may be beneficial in managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Helps with weight management
The antioxidants in green tea may have a weight loss effect on obese individuals by increasing fat metabolism and reducing the total number of fat cells in the body.
Provides anti-diabetic effects
Recently, diabetes and its complications have become a major global health problem.
Research has shown that drinking tea can reduce the risk of developing diabetes and its complications. Green tea not only complements the effects of some anti-diabetic drugs, but clinical trials have shown that tea helps prevent and treat diabetes and its complications.
Prevents cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease is a major lifestyle disorder. Several recent studies have shown that drinking green tea reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The catechins in green tea also lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Promotes oral health
The catechins in green tea inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth, preventing tooth decay and bad breath.
Delays the signs of aging
Green tea in beverage form or dried powder in capsule form can act as an antioxidant that prevents skin damage and reduces the formation of wrinkles, thus slowing down aging.
Fighting infections
Since ancient times, green tea has been used effectively to treat various types of diarrhea and typhoid in Asia.
The catechins in green tea inhibit the growth of ulcer-causing bacteria in the stomach. They also inhibit the influenza virus, especially in its first phase, and act against the herpes simplex virus.
Boosts immunity
Green tea has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties, all of which help to improve immunity and prevent many diseases.
How are the health benefits of green tea different from other types of tea?
The chemical components of tea include polyphenols, flavonoids, free amino acids and many flavor-enhancing compounds. The concentration of these varies depending on the type of processing.
Of these compounds, polyphenols are responsible for the health benefits associated with tea consumption. Since green tea is produced with minimal processing, it is rich in polyphenols, making it the healthiest of the various teas.
A certain class of polyphenols called catechins is found in abundance in green tea and is responsible for the health benefits associated with green tea.
A great deal of research has been done recently on the health benefits of green tea and a detailed account is provided in the following sections.
