11 Unprecedented Health Benefits Of Green Tea (and How To Drink It)

Green tea is super healthy. Many positive effects are attributed to this hot drink: it would help with weight loss and reduce the risk of many diseases. The list of health benefits is actually endless... enough reasons to drink green tea more often!

But what are the benefits already, and how do you best drink your cup of tea to enjoy the effects to the maximum? That's what I'm telling you today in this blog.

Table of contents

1. Why is green tea so healthy?
2. 11 health benefits: from known to slightly less known
3. How do you get the maximum benefit from green tea?
4. Conclusion

Why is green tea so healthy?

Did you know that green tea is one of the least processed teas? The tea leaves only undergo a few steps: the drying (accelerated wilting) and then steaming or baking. Because the leaves are steamed directly, they cannot oxidize and more good substances are preserved.

This tea therefore contains a high dose of natural polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that are important in the fight against free radicals. Free radicals are dangerous particles that wreak havoc in your body. They are responsible for numerous diseases, so it is important that you get enough antioxidants and protect your body in this way.

11 health benefits: from known to slightly less known

Green tea has so many different proven benefits, and there are some surprising effects that you may not have known about. I'll list 11 for you.

1. It has an antibacterial effect

The polyphenols in tea (EGCG) have been shown to have antibacterial properties. Several studies show this. (1) It not only fights bacteria, but it also works against fungi and could even relieve the symptoms of bacterial infections.

2. It lowers the effects of bad cholesterol LDL

Green tea has an influence on our bad cholesterol LDL, which has been shown by many studies. (2) It lowers bad cholesterol while enhancing the effects of good cholesterol (HDL). We need good cholesterol because it transports excess cholesterol to the liver.

3. It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Research shows that green tea drinkers have a whopping 31% lower risk of heart disease. (3) This is mainly due to the antioxidants in tea, the important substances that protect your body.

4. Green tea strengthens your immune system

A study shows that green tea strengthens your immune system. (4) During a certain study, the subjects had to drink 5 cups of tea every day for 4 weeks. After this period, their blood was exposed to E-coli bacteria.

This research shows that the tea drinkers had five times as much interferon, this is a natural immune substance. The immune system of the tea drinkers was therefore much stronger and better able to protect against external and internal harmful factors.

5. It's good for your liver

Your liver breaks down harmful substances, but if your liver is not working properly, those harmful substances can still accumulate. A healthy liver = a healthy body!

With green tea you support the proper functioning of your liver, partly thanks to the antioxidants that protect your liver. (5)

6. Green tea stimulates fat burning

It is often said that green tea helps with weight loss. Indeed, it has been found in several studies to combat obesity. It ensures that you burn extra calories.

In one study, researchers found that a group of obese patients burned as much as 180 kCal more per day than the other group after drinking tea daily for three months. (6, 7 & 8)

7. It boosts your digestion

Do you regularly suffer from bloating or constipation? Then green tea can certainly provide relief. By the way, green tea has an anti-inflammatory effect and helps very well with flatulence. (9)

8. Antioxidants in green tea protect against skin aging

Green tea not only has positive effects for the inside of your body, your skin also benefits from it. The polyphenols naturally present in the tea leaves counteract premature aging and also reduce existing skin damage. (10)

9. It helps with good oral hygiene

At point 1 I already told you that green tea inhibits bacteria. That is why it is also good for infections of your oral cavity. It also works well for cavities and it prevents bad breath (because this is also caused by bacteria!)

10. Green tea is good for joint pain

Many studies have been done on the influence of green tea on joints. And guess what? The tea variety has pain-relieving properties, due to its anti-inflammatory effect it can be used for joint disorders such as arthritis. So says the Arthritis Foundation. (11 & 12)

The University of Michigan also discovered that EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) in green tea can have many benefits for patients with arthritis. This substance ensures that the production of certain molecules remains limited, so that no inflammation or joint pain can arise.

11. The tea variety helps with leaky gut syndrome

I already told you about the leaky gut syndrome, also known as leaky gut. Yes, green tea is also good for that: it ensures that the good intestinal bacteria increase, while the bad ones decrease. Healthy intestines are very important for a well-functioning body.

How do you get the maximum benefit from green tea?

Green tea is packed with good substances, but of course you have to drink it the right way to experience maximum benefits. The following tips are critical:

1. The more the better. If you drink about 3 to 4 cups a day, you will enjoy the benefits to the fullest. Do not drink more than 10 a day, because tea contains theine (caffeine) and therefore the effect even deteriorates. With just 1 cup a day, you will experience much less of the benefits.
   
   
2. Choose the right green tea. Do NOT choose the soft drink variants. Lipton green tea or drinks with green tea flavor are not healthy at all. It is best to choose loose leaves or matcha powder , because 1 cup of matcha tea equals the benefits of 10 cups of regular green tea.
   
   
3. Make sure you prepare green tea properly. Do not boil the water, as this will make the taste more bitter. The ideal water temperature is 80-85°C. If you don't have a kettle with a temperature setting, bring water to the boil, but then let it cool down. Pour it over the tea leaves and let it steep for 3 to 4 minutes. Never pour boiling water over green tea as this will make the taste bitter.

Conclusion

Green tea can help against numerous diseases and it can only provide benefits for your health. But it is important that you put it in the right way and drink enough cups a day.

Remember the following:

1. The perfect water temperature is 80-85°C.
2. Don't let your tea steep for more than 4 minutes.
3. Drink about 3 to 4 cups a day to really experience the benefits.

Do you find it difficult to drink a lot of green tea? Then make a full teapot, then it is easier to get the right amount.

Greetings,

Ronny

Sources:

1. Wanda C. Reygaert. (2014) The antimicrobial possibilities of green tea. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4138486/
2. 2.Zheng XX1, Xu YL, Li SH. (2011) Green tea intake lowers fasting serum total and LDL cholesterol in adults: a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21715508
3. Kuriyama, S. The Journal of the American Medical Association, Sept. 13, 2006; vol 296: pp 1255-1265.
4. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2003
5. Xueru Yin, Jiqiao Yang, Tony Li. (2015)The effect of green tea intake on risk of liver disease: a meta analysis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4538013/
6. Dulloo AG, Duret C, Rohrer D, Girardier L, Mensi N, Fathi M, Chantre P, Vandermander J. (1999) Efficacy of a green tea extract rich in catechin polyphenols and caffeine in increasing 24-h energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10584049
7. Bérubé-Parent S, Pelletier C, Doré J, Tremblay A. (2005) Effects of encapsulated green tea and Guarana extracts containing a mixture of epigallocatechin-3-gallate and caffeine on 24 h energy expenditure and fat oxidation in men. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16176615
8. Rudelle S, Ferruzzi MG, Cristiani I, Moulin J, Macé K, Acheson KJ, Tappy L.(2007)Effect of a thermogenic beverage on 24-hour energy metabolism in humans. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17299107
9. Koo MW, Cho CH.(2007) Pharmacological effects of green tea on the gastrointestinal system. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17299107
10. Katiyar SK. (2003) Skin photoprotection by green tea: antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12871030
11. Ahmed, S. (2010). Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin 3-gallate in arthritis: Progress and promise. Arthritis Research and Therapy, 12(2), 208-217 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2888220/
12. Best beverages for arthritis. (Zd). arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/best-foods-for-arthritis/best-beverages-for-arthritis.php
13. Green tea compound may be a therapy for people with rheumatoid arthritis, University of Michigan study finds. (2007). uofmhealth.org/news/563green-tea-and-rheumatoid-arthritis