On Your Break Swap to the Benefits of Green Tea

by Spectrum Health

Green Tea has been a popular choice of drink for many years now. We often hear people talk about how it is a healthier alternative to other teas or coffee, but what exactly are the supposed benefits? A number of studies have been conducted on this topic over the years, and what has been found is that green tea has benefits in a number of different areas. In this blog, we’ll give a quick run-through some of the main areas in which green tea can be beneficial.

Weight Loss
While there is still no miracle food or drink that will help us drop a few pounds at will, drinking green tea may help. While there are conflicting beliefs in the scientific community as to green tea’s effects on our weight, there are studies that show it can lead to weight loss. Theories as to why this is range from increasing our metabolism, increasing fat oxidation, making us more energetic and therefore active, or drinking fewer soft drinks as a result of switching to green tea.

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Blood
Green tea has been shown to benefit our blood in a number of ways. Firstly, it helps to regulate glucose and insulin, thereby reducing our risk of Type II diabetes. It has also been shown to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. But the benefits of green tea to the blood do not just benefit the blood. There are also indirect benefits to other parts of the body also that result from being supplied with healthier blood.

Heart Disease
Unsurprisingly, having healthier blood will result in a healthier heart. In addition to the benefits mentioned above, green tea also increases the blood’s antioxidant abilities, greatly reducing the likelihood of developing heart disease. It has also been observed that green tea can prevent the formation of blood clots, the leading cause of heart attacks. Studies have shown that those who drink green tea can be up to 42% less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases than those who do not.

The Brain
Not only is green tea good for our physical health, it is also good for our mental health. Green tea is often viewed as a relaxing drink, and one of the reasons behind this is L-theanine. L-theanine is an amino acid that increases the level of dopamine in our system, and improves brain activity & rhythm. The small amount of caffeine that is in green tea (usually less than half of what is in a coffee) provides an extra kick for the brain at the same time.
There have also been numerous studies conducted on the long-term effects of drinking green tea of neurological disorders. Many of these have found that green tea could reduce the prevalence of a number of serious conditions, ranging from Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s.

Cancer
It may seem that there is always a new report coming out on what foods are good or bad for cancer growth. Part of this is attributable to the fact that cancer is one of the main health issues we face, so there is a lot of different research being conducted on it at any given time. Another reason is antioxidants, which are substances that protect cells and prevent them from becoming cancerous. Green tea is high in antioxidants, and has been linked with reduced cancer risk in a number of different areas, which is why it is so often brought up in conversations on this subject. While this does not mean it may or may not benefit those who have been diagnosed with cancer already, it is another reason that green tea is a good choice of drink.

Oral Hygiene
Seeing as what we drink has to pass through our mouth, it should come as no surprise that green tea will affect our oral hygiene. Fortunately, the news is good. Green tea reduces the build up of plaque in the mouth, which decreases the effects of tooth decay. Secondly, it also kills bacteria, making the mouth cleaner and reducing the chances of infection. Finally, it is also said that drinking green tea helps bad breath.
There are many more reasons why green tea is loved by so many people, but far too many to go through here. What is important is that the general consensus among the scientific community is that green tea is amazingly beneficial to our health in both the short and long term, and it is one of the healthiest drink choices out there.

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