HEALTH BENEFITS OF GREEN TEA AND ITS SIDE EFFECTS

The reason green tea has more health benefits than black tea is due to the lack of fermentation processing. Green Tea originates from China.

Green tea originates from China and has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. It spread across Asia and has been part of many Asian cultures for centuries.Here is one of the very few ingredients that are healthier due to lack of fermentation; not something I would have ever thought possible given my obsession with everything fermented; but yet very true.

The reason green tea has more health benefits than black tea is due to the lack of fermentation processing. Black tea has a crucial processing stage of fermentation giving it its distinct sensory characteristics, while green tea has a heat application to avoid any fermentation from taking place.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF GREEN TEA

As green tea is made from un-oxidized leaves and is one of the less processed types of tea, it contains the maximum amount of antioxidants and poly-phenols elements as compared to other teas, providing its many advantages. The poly-phenols produce anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects. Green tea is approximately 20-45 percent polyphenols by weight, of which 60-80 percent are catechins such as EGCG. Catechins are antioxidants that are said to help prevent cell damage.

WEIGHT LOSS:

 One of the biggest advantages of green tea is that it aids in weight loss. Unsweetened brewed green tea is a zero-calorie beverage. However, no drink or food melts the weight off. While some evidence suggests that the active ingredient in green tea, EGCG, may help with weight reduction, other studies show no effect. But green tea is a healthy swap for other hot or cold beverages. If you substitute 1-2 cups of green tea for one can of chai or coffee, over the course of a year you would reduce a significant amount of caloric intake. 

MAY REDUCE CANCER CELL GROWTH:

 According to medical research journals, the high level of polyphenols in tea helps kill cancerous cells and prevent them from growing. However, the exact interaction of green tea polyphenols with cancerous cells is unknown. The amount of tea required for cancer-preventive effects also varies widely in studies depending on age and condition type.

Some of the specific cancer conditions linked to green tea's preventative attributes are Breast cancer, Prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.

MAY LOWER CHOLESTEROL:

A number of studies have looked at possible links between green tea and cardiovascular disease. The catechins, which are a type of antioxidant found in green tea, are responsible for its cholesterol-lowering effect. There are multiple studies that have found green tea to help prevent heart-related issues such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure all eventually leading to improved blood flow and lower cholesterol, another benefit of drinking green tea.

MAY REDUCE INFLAMMATORY SKIN INFECTIONS:

 Another health benefit of green tea is its anti-inflammatory property. Again, the catechins found in green tea being of the extreme bioactive constituency generate a cellular interaction in the skin as well as the skin microbiome. The antioxidants from green tea can lower lipid levels balancing oily skin, reduces acne, rosacea, and also aging by the improvement of skin elasticity. 

MAY IMPROVE MEMORY:

 According to research green tea can enhance our brain’s cognitive functions, particularly working memory. Green tea could be promising in the treatment of cognitive impairments associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as dementia and Alzheimer's.

GREEN TEA SIDE EFFECTS

Like Sheldon Cooper says, 'With all those antioxidants, what if I run out of oxidants?'. He was not entirely wrong to ask this burning question. Too much of a good thing can indeed be a bad thing.

CAFFEINE SENSITIVITY:

The caffeine contained in a cup of tea is a relatively small amount (approximately 20-45 milligrams per cup) compared with black tea and coffee. The caffeine content can vary according to the length of infusing time and the amount of tea-infused. However, people with severe caffeine sensitivities could experience insomnia, anxiety, irritability, nausea, or upset stomach.

CONTAINS HEAVY METALS:

Green tea contains heavy metals such as aluminum. So drinking too much green tea exposes you to a risk of accumulating this metal, which can increase your risk of neurological diseases.

MAY DECREASE IRON ABSORPTION:

Another effect of green tea is that the natural antioxidants of green tea can decrease iron absorption in your body leading to iron deficiency and anemia when consumed in large quantities.

HOW MUCH GREEN TEA SHOULD YOU DRINK?

You can decide how much green tea will be safe for you on the basis of your age, life stage, and health conditions. A general intake of 320 mg of polyphenols in a day makes up for your daily requirement of antioxidants. This comes to three cups of green tea. So if one has to average, for most people, three cups of green tea should suffice.Overall, sipping a hot cup of tea helps us slow down and relax. A natural chemical called theanine found in both green and black tea can deliver this calming effect. But perhaps the biggest benefit from having green tea as part of your lifestyle is simply taking a tea break.