The Benefits of Green Tea: Why It’s Good for You
For thousands of years, the Chinese have been drinking green tea, which has long been attributed for its medicinal properties, which the Chinese believe to be responsible for treating different kinds of illness, and it is also linked to longevity where the Chinese have the highest rate for people over the age of a hundred. However, although the Chinese have been drinking this kind of tea for centuries, it was only recently that green tea was introduced and became popular throughout the planet.
Scientists and nutritionists have found that this excellent brew has medicinal properties that can help prevent several types of illnesses, including cancer. Some doctors recommend green tea and even endorse that this tea plays a significant role in maintaining good health.
Health professionals worldwide recommend that people drink 3 to 4 cups of green tea a day to help protect the body against various ailments.
So, just what are the benefits of this so-called miracle brew that even baffled health professionals from all over the world?
First of all, this tea contains high levels of antioxidants, which are called polyphenols or flavonoids.
What are antioxidants, you may ask?
First, you need to understand that the body does millions of processes at all times. Even when asleep, the brain is active and requires oxygen to function correctly. However, the oxygen we breathe in can create harmful side effects, or what most people know as oxidants. These oxidants, commonly known as free radicals, are introduced to our system through external sources, such as pollution, stress, smoking, diet, and even exposure to the sun.
And these free radicals are known to be one of the main contributors to the growth of cancer cells.
So, to counteract the effect of oxidants or free radicals, we will need to introduce antioxidants into our bodies. And green tea has a lot of them. Although some foods do have antioxidants, you will see that green tea has a lot more.
The antioxidants in green tea are much higher than those in grape juice and red wine. This explains why many scientists are studying the benefits of green tea.
Besides antioxidants, this brew also contains vitamins such as B6, which plays a vital role in the body’s metabolism, and vitamins B1 and B2, essential for releasing energy from food.
Another great thing about this tea is that it has vital minerals and contains magnesium, essential for bone growth and body development, as well as potassium, which helps keep the heart pumping normally and maintain the body’s fluid levels.
All in all, green tea can provide significant benefits to the body. It can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, discourage diabetes from developing, and it also is a perfect treatment for bad breath.
And that’s not all; some studies found that green tea can also fight acne, Alzheimer’s disease, and fights of bad cholesterol, which are the sole contributors to heart diseases and stroke.
Today, some scientists claim to find that green tea may contain the key ingredient for finding a cure for HIV as it helps boost the body’s immune system.
These are just some of the great benefits of green tea. So, go for green tea the next time you feel like drinking tea or coffee. With this brew, you can be sure that you will be able to enjoy a refreshing drink as well as a healthier body.