There’s nothing better than a nice warm cuppa after a long day. Stressed? Tired? All you need to do is put the kettle on, right? Well not only can green tea do the same thing, but it also has many health benefits too.
Here are just a few of the many health benefits to drinking green tea.
1. May Improve Brain Function
Did you know that drinking green tea can actually improve your brain function and wellbeing? It sounds crazy but it’s true! While green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, it has enough to produce the same response healthily. By drinking green tea you’ll be keeping more alert without having any of the shaky effects coffee can sometimes give.
And it doesn’t stop there! Green tea also contains amino acid L-theanine which works with caffeine to improve your brain function.
2. Help With Weight Loss
While some studies suggest that green tea can boost your metabolic rate in the short term, research also shows that green tea can help you lose weight too. Green tea contains caffeine and a type of flavonoid called catechin which is antioxidant, and catechin has been proven to help break down excess fat.
Try drinking green tea right after your meals.
Note: Avoid drinking green tea on an empty stomach! While green tea has many health benefits for the body, it contains tannins that can increase stomach acid sometimes causing stomach pains, nausea or constipation if drank on an empty stomach.
3. Strengthens Your Immune System
That’s not the only thing catechin does in green tea. It also helps to strengthen your immune system. This powerful antioxidant Epigallocatechin helps to protect cells from damage, protecting the body against oxidants and radicals.
4. May Support Your Blood Sugar Control
If you struggle with controlling your blood sugar levels, try adding drinking a green tea to your daily routine.
Green tea has even been suggested to improve insulin sensitivity which can have a beneficial effect on blood sugar control.
The list of benefits of green tea goes on and on!
5. May Reduce Your Risk Of Heart Disease
Since drinking green tea can help manage your blood sugar levels, research shows that green tea might also help to reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes too. This is due to its beneficial effects on cholesterol management.
6. Helps Clear Your Skin
If you suffer with acne or bad skin then green tea is for you. Green tea is packed with polyphenols which damage bacterial membranes and fight against infection. This means that it’s great for treating the bacterial growth that causes acne by killing the systemic bacterial inflammation and making your skin clearer and calmer.
So if you’re looking to try something new and want to switch up your usual coffee for a healthy hot drink then give green tea a go and watch your skin start to glow.