8 Little-Known Green Tea Benefits

Most people already know that green tea offers many health benefits. In fact, it’s one of the healthiest drinks you’ll find out there. Packed with essential nutrients and antioxidants, it provides many advantages, including cancer prevention and the ability to help lower your blood pressure.

Originating in China, the Chinese have used it medicinally for centuries. In fact, it’s still used medicinally today.

Green Tea vs. Black Tea
You’ve probably heard that black tea has a variety of health benefits to offer as well, but green tea is more beneficial than black tea. Why? It’s all about the way green tea is processed. When the black tea is processed, fermentation occurs.

However, no fermentation is used when green tea is processed, ensuring that the tea includes the maximum amount of polyphenols and antioxidants.

Green tea is known for the potent compound known as Epigallocatechin Gallate or EGCG. In fact, many researchers have studied the compound and found that it actually treats many medical conditions.

This substance and other substances in green tea help to fight free radicals offer protection for molecules and cells.

Here is a list of 8 amazing benefits you may not have heard of.
Although you already know some of the benefits green tea has to offer, you may not be familiar with some of the other benefits. Here’s a look at some of the little-known green tea benefits.

① Weight Loss
Drinking green tea can help with weight loss, since green tea boosts metabolism. Green tea includes polyphenols that help to increase the level of fat oxidation. Multiple studies show that green tea helps with fat loss, particularly within the stomach area.

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② Diabetes Control and Prevention
Green tea also helps with the regulation of blood sugar levels and helps to avoid blood sugar spikes after meals. Amylase is an enzyme that helps to break starches into simple sugars, but green tea actually keeps amylase from being produced, reducing glucose levels.

This helps to reduce spikes in insulin that can cause fat storage. Some studies even show that drinking green tea regularly contributes to preventing type 2 diabetes.

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③ Reduced Risk of Heart Disease
Researches believe that green tea helps blood vessels relax, which allows them to more easily deal with blood pressure changes. Green tea may also help prevent clot formation, which often causes heart attacks.

Drinking green tea contributes to lower levels of bad cholesterol. Overall, studies indicate that individuals who drink green tea regularly have a reduced risk of developing heart disease.

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④ Lowers Blood Pressure
Drinking green tea regularly helps to lower blood pressure and may reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure in the future.

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⑤ Lower Risk of Tooth Decay
The catechins found in green teas help to eliminate viruses and bacteria that can cause infections, cavities and other dental problems. The most harmful type of bacteria within the mouth is usually streptococcus mutans, which can cause plaque to form.

This bacteria often results in tooth decay and cavities. Some studies show that regularly drinking green tea improves overall dental health since the catechins help to prevent Streptococcus mutants from growing.

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⑥ Reduces the Risk of Cancer
The high concentration of antioxidants in green tea helps to reduce the risk of cancer in regular green tea drinkers. One study even found that women who drank green tea regularly had a significantly reduced chance of developing breast cancer, which is the most common cancer found in women.

Studies have also been done on green tea and prostate cancer. A study showed that men who consumed green tea reduced their risk of developing this type of cancer by a whopping 48 percent. Other studies also show that individuals who regularly drink green tea have a reduced risk of certain types of cancer.

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⑦ Lower Risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease
Green tea is known to improve your brain function, but it may help keep the brain protected as you age. Parkinson’s disease occurs due to the death of brain neurons that produce dopamine. Alzheimer’s disease often causes dementia in older individuals.

Multiple studies show that green tea’s catechins help to protect brain neurons, which may help lessen the risk of developing Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.

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⑧ Depression
Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is believed to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect.

Green tea offers so many health benefits, so it’s easy to see why so many people consume it regularly. Of course, if you want to use this tea medicinally, always be sure to talk to your doctor to ensure it’s a safe choice for your particular circumstances.