The Dragon Well: 4 Evidence-Based Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea is one of the healthiest and most recognized tea beverages out there. Longjing, a pan-fired Chinese green tea, is literally "Dragon Well" in its English translation. Matcha, a popular Japanese green tea powder made from finely powdered dried tea leave, can be found in all sorts of snacks.
On its own, green tea is made from unoxidized leaves and is one of the least processed types of tea that also packs the most antioxidants and beneficial polyphenols. Here are 4 of those benefits with evidence to back them up:
Healthy bioactive compounds
Aside from being a thirst-quenching beverage, the green tea plant contains a range of healthy compounds that make it into a consumable drink. Tea is naturally rich in polyphenols, compounds that have health benefits, such as reducing inflammation and helping to fight cancer.
Green tea has catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). These are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provide other benefits. These substances can reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage.
Research has tested EGCC's ability to help treat various diseases and it appears to be one of the main compounds that give green tea its medicinal properties.
Improve brain function
Green tea can keep you alert as well as help boost your brain function. It also contains caffeine, a well-known stimulant in coffee. Although it doesn't contain as much as the brewed beverage, it's enough to produce a waking response without causing the restless effects associated with taking in too much caffeine.
Research has consistently shown that caffeine can improve various aspects of brain function, including mood, vigilance, reaction time, and memory.
Additionally, green tea contains another brain-boosting compound called amino acid L-theanine, which can cross the blood-brain barrier. It increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety effects. Studies show that caffeine and L-theanine can have synergistic effects. The blending of the two can produce a powerful joint effect in improving brain function.
Increases fat burn
Many fat-burning supplements list green tea in their ingredients. According to research, green tea can increase fat burning and boost metabolic rate. In a study involving 10 healthy men, taking green tea extract increased the number of calories burned by 4%. While another research involving 12 healthy men, green tea extract increased fat oxidation by 17%, compared with those taking a placebo.
The presence of caffeine may also improve physical performance by mobilizing fatty acids from fat tissue and making them available for use as energy. Two separate review studies reported that caffeine may increase physical performance by approximately 11-12%.
Reduce bad breath
Catechins in green tea also have oral health benefits. Test-tube studies suggest that catechins can suppress the growth of bacteria, potentially lowering the risk of infections. Streptococcus mutans, a common mouth bacterium, causes plaque formation and is a leading contributor to cavities and tooth decay.
Several studies indicate that the catechins in green tea can inhibit the growth of oral bacteria in the lab, but no evidence shows that drinking green tea has similar effects. Yet, there is some available evidence that green tea may reduce bad breath.
Green tea has a wide of potential health benefits and goes well with many different formal or casual occasions. KPTown offers several packs of Red Ginseng Tea with 3G X 50 Red Ginseng Tea Gold and 400G of the same product. It is a type of green tea made of red ginseng extract that's good for combating fatigue with its added vitamin C and licorice root.
