Green tea is considered to be the healthiest drink on the planet. The eminent Kannada journalist Vishweshwar Bhat recently mentioned the hidden benefits of this healthy beverage in his Sunday column of Vishwavani. Some of them are as follows:
- Serving green tea to your guests makes you look more affluent and generous than usual, people serve coffee or tea.
- It can help you in saving a lot of milk.
- Guests do not ask for more after drinking green tea.
- Guests (especially unwanted guests) think twice before entering your house.
- The fear of this bitter tea makes them admit that they do not drink coffee or tea.
- Nobody regrets the spilling of green tea.
- There is no fear of staining clothes if the green tea spills on them.
- There is no possibility of getting addicted to green tea.
- Guests comment when the tea or coffee is not up to the mark.
- There are no side effects.
- You can save sugar by serving it sugarless.
On a serious note, green tea has numerous health benefits.
Benefits of Green Tea
Some of them are as follows:
- High quantities of polyphenols (approximately 30% by weight) help in the reduction of any sort of inflammation.
- A type of polyphenol- EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) is a natural antioxidant. It impedes the ageing of cells by preventing wear and tear or any sort of cell damage. It also helps in treating several diseases as it has potent medicinal properties
- Antioxidants hinder the production of free radicals in the body and thereby help in detoxification.
- The high antioxidant content also helps in reducing the possibility of the occurrence of certain cancers such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer.
- Its constituents such as L-theanine and caffeine synergistically work to produce positive effects on the brain and reduce anxiety.
- It improves physical performance and the process of metabolizing and fat oxidation. This helps in reducing excess body weight. Thus, it reduces the risk of obesity.
- Regular consumption protects the brain from the adverse effects of aging and thereby reduces the susceptibility to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
- It limits the growth of certain bacteria and viruses and thereby renders protection from a number of infections. Several studies have proved that green tea reduces the possibility of dental infections.
- Several studies have revealed that this herbal tea lowers blood sugar levels and improves insulin sensitivity. This helps in the prevention of type II diabetes.
- It helps in regulating the cholesterol levels in the blood and prevents the body from the harmful effects of LDL (low-density lipoproteins) cholesterol. This helps in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases to a large extent.
- It is the source of some minerals essential for the body.
It is essential to keep certain things in mind while purchasing green tea. This way you can reap the maximum benefits from your drink. Poor quality of this beverage has a high level of fluorides that might not be good for you.
