Linked to many health benefits, green tea has soaring hype and is arguably one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide. Whether you enjoy your tea cold, hot or even in a capsule powdered form, it’s known to have vast health benefits. Green tea is packed full of antioxidants and plant compounds. One of the more known antioxidants that green tea possesses is called catechin, which can aid in protecting us against cancers such as prostate and breast cancer. Drinking green tea also lowers your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and assists in helping with weight loss. Catechins and caffeine in green tea boosts your metabolism. By consuming 1-5 cup per day it can burn you an additional 70-100 calories daily.
What is green tea? Originated from China, green tea has been commonly used as a form of medicine for thousands of years. Brewed from dried camellia sinensis leaves and buds, it can be broken down into four types depending on oxidation (White, Green, Oolong and Black). All types of tea contain forms of antioxidants. Black and green tea contain the highest amounts.
Green tea benefits: Regulates glucose levels, increases metabolism, reduction of bad cholesterol in the blood, enhances the ratio of bad/good cholesterol, blood pressure reduction, antibacterial and antiviral with catechin, antiaging and anti-inflammatory.
Green tea is loaded with health promoting compounds and is great for our health system. The optimal number of cups we should aim to consume ranges from three to five cups per day to receive the optimal health benefits.