Have you heard or read something about the health benefits associated with drinking green tea? Green tea has become gradually more popular in western society since scientific research provided concrete proof that it’s a great beverage for maintaining good health. Thus contemporary nutritionists advise drinking green tea on a regular basis. Yet using green tea for its beneficial effects is nothing new. The Chinese have been enjoying the myriad medicinal benefits linked to drinking green tea for several thousand years. So how exactly does drinking green tea on a regular basis improve your overall health?
1. Reduced Cancer Risk
There is solid evidence to suggest that consuming green tea on a consistent basis can reduce a person’s risk of developing certain types of cancer. A study which took place during the nineties showed that people who drink green tea are sixty percent less likely to develop esophageal cancer. Another study showed that green tea also shuts down the action of a molecule that reacts to tobacco and causes cancer. Other research indicates that green tea may contain a compound that stops cancer cells from growing. Thus it is definitely a good idea to drink green tea if you smoke or use tobacco products. You might also want to consider drinking green tea if there is a history of cancer in your family.
2. Improving Your Cholesterol Ratio
Is your cholesterol ratio unbalanced? If so, perhaps you should start drinking at least one cup of green tea every day. There is evidence to suggest that consuming green tea lowers overall cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Green tea also helps to increase your level of good HDL cholesterol. Because green tea balances out cholesterol levels, drinking at least three cups per day can help to protect you from atherosclerosis and other types of heart disease.
3. Antioxidant Benefits
Green tea is good for your health because it contains a catechin polyphenol called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a very powerful antioxidant, and it doesn’t just lower your risk for cancer and heart disease. Including EGCG in your diet also boosts your general immunity, stops blood clots from forming, limits the damage that free radicals do to your DNA, slows down the aging process, and delays the onset of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Studies also indicate that the EGCG in green tea boosts overall energy levels, and suppresses your appetite so that you won’t feel the need to eat as much, thus reducing your risk of developing hypertension and other obesity-related health conditions.
4. Diabetes
The Chinese traditionally used green tea as a means of controlling blood sugar. Animal research findings imply that green tea could play a role in preventing diabetes. It may also help to stop the disease from worsening by regulating glucose levels in the body.
5. Liver Disease
Studies have proven that drinking at least ten cups of green tea on a daily basis can help to prevent liver disorders. What’s more, drinking a lot of green tea appears to limit liver damage caused by alcohol or other toxins. There is even evidence to suggest that green tea may help to stop malignant liver tumors from developing.