Tea: 10 Scientifically Proven Non-Hype Health Benefit of Green Tea

source:https://wallpapersafari.com/green-tea-wallpaper/

“The discovery of green tea health benefit is the best thing since sliced bread”

Can this be true?

Can green tea be truly good for you?

Can it be the magic tea with a magic touch?

Is the usefulness of grain tea over hyped?

This were some of the question I asked myself in my true search for knowledge.

To achieve a non-hype guide to green tea health benefit, I decided to verify every single claim using published scientific research and I must tell you my finding was mind blowing.

So here you have my finding on the scientific proven benefit of Green Tea

1. De-radicalizes Your Body

Claim: Green Tea removes free radicals

Proof

As you eat regular food –your body generates lots of free radicals. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Source:http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/antiox.html

The danger inherent in free radical lies in the ability to react with your body cellular component –this reaction can cause your body cells to die off. And this is where antioxidants come in.

Antioxidant as the name implies help to prevent these Reactive oxygen species from damaging your cell. It does this by interfering with the process. And this is why Green tea is amazing. Scientific research has shown that green tea has a chockfull of antioxidant that can help you DE radicalize your body –making you live a healthy life.

2. Cancer Preventive

The main constituent of green tea Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) has been proven to inhibit cancer. In week 25 of a two stage carcinogenesis experiment on mouse skin, tumours were found in 53% of the mice treated with DMBA plus teleocidin, but only 13% of those treated with DMBA , teleocidin and EGCG. Source http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.2650010110/full

Also a study in Japan showed that people especially females who consumed an average of 10 cups of green tea in a day reduced their breast cancer risk 1997 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9388788

Another study carried out by (Severson et al., 1989; Allen et al., 2004; Jian et al., 2004; Sonoda et al., 2004; Kikuchi et al., 2006; Kurahashi et al., 2008also showed that green tea had the ability to reduce prostrate cancer risk in men. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2789276/

Benefits of flavonoids include, but are not limited to:

Fighting Viruses

Helping Prevent Cancer

Preventing Inflammation

Helping with Allergies

3. Brain Health

Claim: Green tea increases brain health

Proof

Lower risk of dementia was found in people who took green tea regularly according to a Japanese study. The study showed that people who drank green tea 1 to 6 days a week had less brain function decline compared to other participant.

Participant who took green tea scored higher in memory test compared to other participants http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20150403/green-tea-dementia

In 2014, Borgwadt's and his team gave green tea extracts to 12 healthy volunteers and imaged their brains to see changes in connectivity inside certain brain regions. The volunteers were given beverages containing extracts equivalent to one or two cups of green tea. They consumed them nasally to ensure their tongues couldn't taste whether the drink contained the extracts.

The research showed increased connectivity in the area of the brain linked to working memory. Borgwadt had this to say about his findings.

"Drinking green tea improved memory in healthy people" he said. "It could be helpful for diseases."
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/16/health/green-tea-health-brain-down-syndrome/

4. Taking Down Down Syndrome

Claim : Green Tea Can Improve Symptoms of Down Syndrome

Proof

In a recent study, Dierssen's team analysed the potential of EGCG in treating Down Syndrome symptoms.
87 people with the condition were co-opted into the study. Half of the participants were given a placebo and the other half were given 12 months of pills contain the active ingredient EGCG.

The treatment was combined with cognitive training. At the end of the the treatment, participants who were given EGCG performed better in visual memory test compared to those who took placebos.

Brain scan showed improvement in inter connectivity between nerve cells and region of the brain associated with language. Source:http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(16)30034-5/abstract

5.Healthy Heart

Claim: Green tea Makes your heart healthier

Proof

In a study involving 40,530 Japanese adults, Kuriyama’s team found that participants who drank more than five cups of green tea a day had a 26% lower risk of death from heart attack or stroke and a 16% lower risk of death from all causes than people who drank less than one cup of green tea a day. source http://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/green-tea-may-lower-heart-disease-risk

The study also found a stronger inverse association in women. This means that Green tea was more effective in reducing the risk of death from heart disease in women compared to men https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16968850

A meta-analysis study conducted in 13 green tea drinker and 5 black tea drinkers also found out that there was a 28% reduction in the risk of coronary artery disease in the participant who drank the most green tea compared to those who drank the list green tea.

This goes to show that taking green tea will definitely give you an healthier heart

6. Reduces Anxiety

Claim: Green Tea can Reduce Anxiety

Proof:

A study by Hozawa et al on healthy Japanese adults showed that a high consumption of green tea (>5 cups daily) was related to lower psychological distress.http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/98/6/1700S.full#ref-74

The reduction of anxiety effect has been linked to the presence of L-Theanine which can be found in green tea.

L- Theanine is an amino acid contained in green tea leaves which is known to block the binding of L-glutamic acid to glutamate receptors in the brain. By blocking this receptors in the brain a reduction in heart rate ensued hence decreasing anxiety in individuals source http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301051106001451

Green tea which contains theanine stimulate production of brain waves known as alpha waves, these are seen when a person is in a relaxed state. It also alters levels of neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine that can affect moods. source http://springarborliving.com/senior-assisted-living-blog/green_tea_can_help_reduce_anxiety_stress_and_depression_in_elderly

This shows that green tea tea is effective in reducing psychological distress or anxiety.

This means that Tea has been associated with improved mood and performance.
Source http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/98/6/1700S.

A study published in the Journal of Trends in Food Science & Technology by Dr. Juneja and team states that theanine acts as a neurotransmitter that increases alpha waves in the brain. Alpha waves are considered to be an indicator of relaxation. Human volunteers were given 50-200 mg of l-theanine and were shown to have increased alpha waves without drowsiness.

So it appears you can drink green tea to help mellow you out, without falling asleep. I better gift some to my buddy.

7. Fat Burner

Claim: Green Tea Burns Fat

Proof

“Green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by its caffeine content per se”. That’s what Dr. Abdul G. Dulloo, author of a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition said to WebMD.

While caffeine has been shown to help burn fat and increase metabolism, it’s good to know the effect of green tea on metabolism is much more than that, because simply ramping up caffeine intake will definitely give you the jitters.

Green tea is full of antioxidants, It is good for both the heart and brain, and can help fight cancer, so why shouldn’t we drink it?

8. Anti-Bacterial

Claim:Green Tea Has Anti Bacteria Function

Proof

Get sick, and the doctor gives you antibiotics. We’ve all been there, but are prescribed antibiotics the way to go? I think not! What about a natural remedy? Now I’m not saying green tea will cure you once you’re already infected (probably not), but it certainly can’t hurt.

Green tea contains other antioxidants called catechins. According to a study published in the Food Science Technology Bulletin, these catechins, specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), can hinder development of many bacterial species. These catechins can stick themselves into the films that cover the bacteria. By lodging into the outside layers of bacteria, EGCG and ECG may upset the bacteria from doing what it is supposed to, which is make you ill.

9. Cholesterol Control

Claim:Green Tea Reduces Cholesterol

Proof

High cholesterol is pretty common, 73.5 million adults have high LDL cholesterol, which I mentioned in my article on coconut oil. So odds may be that many of us are looking for ways to lower ‘bad’ cholesterol. Not only is green tea basically amazing so far, but it can also help us with cholesterol levels.

According to healthaliciousness.com (sweet name), research shows that drinking up to 10 cups of green tea a day has a large effect on cholesterol.

Granted, 10 cups is a whole lot, but no worries, each cup you drink may reduce your cholesterol! So coupled with eating healthy and exercising, you’ll be in the lower cholesterol range in no time.

10. Nectar of Youth

Claim:It Makes You Young

Proof

As I mentioned earlier, green tea is packed with antioxidants, and one major cause of aging is oxidation by free radicals.

According to the San Francisco Gate, a study from the University of Campbell found that Japanese practitioners of a green tea ceremony showed longer life spans.

Not only this, but the anti-inflammatory and fat burning aspects mentioned above, and resultant better health, would likely improve life span as well.

Free radicals also affect our skin, and the antioxidants in green tea may help inhibit free radicals from breaking down collagen, the protein in our skin that keeps us looking young.

One thing I’ve noticed about green tea, is that when I drink it in the morning without eating anything, it gives me a little upset stomach. So what I do now is I put a little creamer or milk into it after it has steeped.

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