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15 Reasons Why You Should Go Green With Your Tea

By Dr. Michael Richardson
Updated September 20, 2016

Soothing when served warm and refreshing when poured over ice, green tea has long been a popular drink. Nevertheless, few green tea sippers realize the true benefits of choosing this beverage over other options.

Whether you’re already a dedicated green tea devotee or you’re considering adding this drink to your refreshment rotation, keeping the health benefits in mind is a wise choice.

1. Maintain Ideal Nutrient Levels

If you’re continually striving to maintain your health by consuming a balanced diet, drinking green tea could help. Green tea is naturally high in an assortment of nutrients, many of which are hard to come by in other foods. The flavonoids, catechins and antioxidants in green tea can prove particularly beneficial, especially when you pair your green tea consumption with the maintenance of a healthy, balanced diet rich in lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

2. Prevent Tooth Decay

While it won’t take the place of brushing and the oh-so-dreaded flossing, drinking green tea could help keep your choppers looking and feeling great. Scientists believe that the catechins in green tea offers this effect, as this component helps kill bacteria that would lead to tooth decay if left unchecked.

3. Increase Metabolism

Whether you’re trying to shed a few pounds or just looking to maintain an already healthy physique, green tea could be a sippable solution to your struggles. It is believed that the polyphenol found in green tea improves metabolism by increasing the rates of fat oxidation. Along with boosting your metabolism, drinking green tea instead of sugary beverages can help you shed the pounds as it is naturally low in calories, offering a hydration option that won’t expand your waistline.

4. Prevent Onset Of Illness

If you’re constantly waging war against the flu or continually coming down with yet another round of the common cold, green tea could offer you at least some relief. The catechins in green tea have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Because of this, that green tea you enjoy could work in conjunction with your immune system to fight off that next illness that threatens to make you call in sick. Because green tea, especially when served warm, is naturally soothing, enjoying a mug when you’re already ill could soothe your burning throat, prompt nasal drainage and help you get back on your feet more rapidly.

5. Decelerate Alzheimer’s Progression

Research on mice suggests that including green tea in your diet could protect brain cells and help restore those that are damaged. These findings indicate that drinking green tea could offer particular benefits to individuals who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. While research stops short of suggesting that green tea will cure this condition, it could decrease the rate of symptom onset.

6. Prevent Diabetes Onset

With type 2 diabetes impacting an increasing number of people worldwide, preventing the development of this disease is something many people actively strive to do. For those working to avoid diabetes, green tea could prove helpful. Studies suggest that green tea consumption can improve insulin sensitivity, which can help keep blood sugar levels in check. A meta-analysis of seven independent studies suggested that those who drank green tea regularly had an 18 percent lower risk of developing diabetes.

7. Avoid Esophageal Cancer

Every time you take a gulp, green tea comes into direct contact with your esophagus. When it does, studies suggest its effects are almost magical. In a review of data, researchers found that those who drink green tea regularly experienced reduced rates of esophageal cancer.

8. Decrease Breast Cancer Risks

Adding green tea to your daily fluid intake plan could play a role in reducing breast cancer risks. A meta-analysis of previously performed studies found that green tea consumption reduced risk of breast cancer development by 22 percent. Because this is the most common cancer in women, this benefit is a substantial one worthy of consideration.

9. Prevent Prostate Cancer

Yet another form of cancer that green tea consumption could potentially help you avoid is prostate cancer. One study found that men who drank green tea experienced a 48 percent lower risk of developing prostate cancer when compared to those who didn’t drink tea.

10. Reduce Depression Symptoms

People who battle with depression might find green tea to be an easy ally. Green tea is naturally rich in theanine, an amino acid. This amino acid is believed to have natural relaxant properties. These findings suggest that while green tea alone won’t be enough to cure depression symptoms, enjoying a glass or two regularly could offer some noticeable benefits.

11. Prevent Heart Disease

Everyone knows that your heart is a critical organ. Fewer people know, however, that green tea can help keep this organ functioning at its peak. Research suggests that components in green tea help strengthen the lining of blood vessels. This allows these vessels to more effectively withstand increases in blood pressure, which can often lead to heart disease and other heart malfunctions.

12. Lower Bad Cholesterol

Maintaining high levels of good cholesterol and lower levels of the bad variety is the key to maintaining overall cardiovascular health, and drinking green tea could help you do just that. Studies indicate that regular green tea drinkers had lower bad cholesterol rates, suggesting that green tea consumption helps keep bad cholesterol at bay.

13. Reduce Aneurysm Risks

Although it may be hard to believe that simple green tea is powerful enough to prevent potentially deadly aneurysms, research suggests this just might be the case. In an August 2016 study, researchers at Kyoto University found that green tea consumption appeared to reduce the prevalence of aortic aneurysms in lab rats. While there is no guarantee that humans will experience this benefit as well, there are no risks associated with green tea consumption, making the use of this potential prevention technique a no-brainer.

14. Retain A Youthful Appearance

While most people would agree that staying healthy is more important than looking young, green tea also offers appearance-related benefits to drinkers. This benefit is due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of green tea, which work together to prevent the development of wrinkles. If you’ve been a long-time sun-lover, green tea could offer an even greater benefit. When applied topically, it’s been shown to reduce and help heal sun damage.

15. Increase Longevity Pin It

Looking healthy is great, but being healthy is even better. If your ultimate goal is to stay as healthy as you can for as long as possible, green tea should become your go-to drink. Due to all the combined benefits associated with drinking green tea, regular drinkers experience longer lives than those who don’t drink green tea, statistics suggest.

Women who drink large amounts of green tea – at least five cups a day – were 23 percent less likely to die of any cause within the next 11 years. For men, the benefit was less pronounced, though still significant as they were 12 percent less likely to die in the same period of time.

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Katherine Hurst
By Dr. Michael Richardson
Passionate about sharing the latest scientifically sound health, fitness and nutrition advice and information, Dr Richardson received his Master of Science in Nutrition from New York University, and a Bachelor Degree from New Jersey University. He has since gone on to specialize in sports nutrition, weight management and helping his patients to heal physical ailments by making changes to their eating habits and lifestyles.

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