Green tea is an immensely popular beverage in the world. It is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone negligible oxidation during processing. Some individuals drink tea for social reasons. Others drink because of the many health benefits.
Here are the 7 health benefits of green tea.
# Green tea may help boost your memory.Researchers from the University Hospital of Basel in Switzerland claim suggest that green tea could help treat cognitive impairments linked to psychiatric disorders like dementia. The researchers found that the participants who consumed a soft drink with 27.5 grams of green tea extract showed increased connectivity in areas associated with working memory.
# Green tea may upset cancer cell metabolism.
A study, published in the journal Metabolomics, suggests that an active ingredient in green tea disrupts the metabolism of cancer cells in pancreatic cancer, seeking to explain the green tea’s potential effect on reducing the risk of cancer and slowing its progression.
# Green tea may hinder tumor growth.
According to the National Cancer Institute, polyphenols in tea are shown to reduce tumor growth in the laboratory and animal studies and may protect against damage caused by ultraviolet UVB radiation.
# Green tea may help lower your stroke risk.
Research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, shows a link between a high consumption of green tea and a lower stroke risk.
# Green tea may lower bad cholesterol.Research, published in the Journal of American Dietetic Association, investigated the association between green tea catechins and cholesterol levels. The results showed that green tea catechin consumption led to significant reductions in the total and bad cholesterol levels.
# Green tea may help improve your heart's strength.
A 2006 study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, investigated the associations between green tea consumption and all-cause and cause-specific deaths. The results suggested that a regular green tea drinker has a 25 percent less chance of dying from cardiovascular diseases possibly due to the polyphenols.
Another study, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, investigated whether a molecule found in green tea, called EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate, may influence cardiovascular and metabolic health. The study found that regular consumption of 5-6 or more cups of green tea per day or drinking green tea containing 200-300 mg of EGCG is useful for maintaining cardiovascular and metabolic health.
# Green tea may help individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
A study that was published in the journal of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggested EGCG may prevent the misfolding of a protein in the brain called amyloid-beta. This can help people who are at risk for Alzheimer's disease.