Six Benefits of Green Tea

Eastern cultures have used green tea for over 4.000 years; however it has only recently been recognized for its medicinal properties in western culture. There are many health benefits that green tea can provide!

Six Benefits of Green Tea

Benefit #1. Protect Your Smile

Bacteria fighting agents that kill and help stop plaque production are found in green tea. Cleaner, healthier gums and teeth result from having less plaque. It also kills the bacteria that causes bad breath.

Benefit #2. Prevent Cancer

EGCG is a powerful antioxidant that is found in many teas; however green tea contains a much larger concentration. Chemicals that are naturally produced in the body and can cause cancer and other health problems are combated by antioxidants. Studies have shown one substance in green tea can actually slow the growth of cancer cells. Green tea has shown that it may reduce the risk of cancer up to 60 percent, although research has not yet been done on every type of cancer. The reoccurrence of certain cancers may also be reduced by green tea.

Benefit #3. Have a Healthier Heart

The EGCG in green tea has also been shown to lower total cholesterol levels. More specifically, it lowered “bad” cholesterol more than “good” cholesterol. EGCG also prevents heart attacks and strokes by inhibiting the production of blood clots. Green tea also lowers the levels of stress hormones which makes you more relaxed. Being stressed out can cause damage to your entire body, especially your heart. Drinking green tea can keep your heart beating stronger for a lot longer!

Benefit #4. Boost Your Immune System

Green tea fights diseases in your body, not just bacteria in your mouth. It contains an amino acid that helps fight bacteria which improves the immune response in your body. If you drink green tea regularly, you may find yourself getting sick more infrequently.

Benefit #5. Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis

Not only will you reap the benefits of easing the symptoms of this painful disease, however drinking green tea has been shown to prevent you from ever getting it. In China, where green tea is regularly consumed by many people, there is a much lower incidence of rheumatoid arthritis.

Benefit #6. Lose Weight

Consuming a lot of carbohydrates causes your body to produce a lot of insulin, which leaves you tired and craving more food. Green tea has been shown to keep blood sugar lower which causes the body to not produce as much insulin. This in turn, can help you eat less which can cause you to lose weight. Studies have also shown that green tea can speed up how fast your body metabolizes certain foods. The faster your metabolism, the faster you slim down.

Even with all of these great benefits, you should realize that drinking green tea every once in a while is most likely not going to make a big difference in your weight. Many studies which produced these results had participants drinking up to 10 glasses of green tea per day. While the best option is the real thing, some people just can’t drink enough green tea. If this is you, keep in mind there are supplements available that are green tea based.

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