Here are 9 terrific reasons to drink green tea as often as you can.
While water should be your go-to to help quench your thirst, tea is a close second. Herbal teas offer a multitude of health benefits, for everything from your heart and brain to your skin and even your mental health. Green tea in particular is packed with flavonoids, antioxidants and polyphenols that can help boost your health in a variety of ways. If you ever need an excuse to brew a cup, here are nine:
- It helps maintain a healthy heart Research has linked green tea to many heart-healthy benefits, including reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, and lower blood pressure. Green tea helps improve blood flow and allows the arteries to relax, which can help lower cardiovascular risk. ECGC — a powerful catechin in green tea — has been linked to a reduced risk of arteriosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.
- It promotes healthy vision The catechins in green tea are beneficial for healthy vision. Studies show they’re able to travel from your digestive system into the tissues of your eyes, to help protect you against glaucoma and vision problems.
- It gives you a natural energy boost If you’re in need of a boost, skip the dangerous energy drinks and try green tea instead. The caffeine in green tea acts as a clean and healthy source of energy, especially compared to the sugary carbonated drinks that are overloaded with caffeine, then cause a crash later on.
- It benefits your mental health Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that can help you feel alert, but also relax your mind without the feeling of drowsiness. Studies also suggest that the EGCG in green tea provides sedative effects that help lower the body’s production of stress hormones.
- It can help lower your risk of cancer Green tea contains multiple anticancer compounds, including polyphenols, antioxidants and EGCG. Polyphenols help shut down the production and spread of tumor cells and discourage the growth of blood vessels that feed tumors, by acting on molecular pathways. Studies have shown that EGCG acts as an antiangiogenic and an antitumor agent, and is also able to modulate tumor cell response to chemotherapy. Green tea has shown protective effects on skin, stomach, bladder, ovarian, breast, esophageal, colorectal, pancreatic, prostate and lung cancer.
- It helps maintain healthy cognitive function The EGCG in green tea has been shown to decrease the production of beta-amyloid in the brain, preventing it from over-accumulating, which can lead to nerve damage and memory loss. Studies suggest green tea offers protection against Alzheimer’s disease.
- It helps fight acne The powerful antioxidants in green tea help fight inflammation and bacteria — two factors that cause acne. Green tea may also help reduce sebum production and reduce your risk of breakouts. For home acne relief, steep a cup of green tea for 15 minutes, then let it cool. Mix in one-third [CO1] cup of apple cider vinegar and one-third cup of water, then soak a cotton ball with the solution and apply it to your problem areas.
- It can help relieve arthritis pain A few cups of green tea each day can help relieve pain from arthritis, thanks to quercetin, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound the tea contains. Studies show the polyphenols in green tea can also help improve immune responses in the body related to arthritis.
- It helps relieve allergies The flavonoids in green tea help fight inflammation, which is a main component of pesky allergies. Studies suggest that drinking a few cups of green tea each day can help reduce sinus inflammation and improve allergy symptoms.
From Mercola
