Health Benefits of Green Tea

In the far east, Green tea has been used for centuries for treating many ailments from increasing brain function to digestive health. It is alleged to boost weight loss, reduce cholesterol, combat cardiovascular disease, and prevent cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

It is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants that help cleanse our bodies. It is also rich in B vitamins, folate (naturally occurring folic acid), manganese, potassium, magnesium, caffeine and other antioxidants, notably catechin.

All types of tea – green, black and oolong – are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant. Fresh leaves from the plant are steamed to produce green tea, while the leaves of black tea and oolong involve fermentation.  The leaves of green tea are supposedly richer in antioxidants than other types of tea because the fermentation process used is more gentle.

Weight loss

There are properties in green tea that increase your metabolic rate and burn fat in the short term.  With a healthy diet and an active lifestyle, green tea can help you try and lose weight. If you swap a can of fizzy drink for 1 or 2 cups of green tea per day, you could save over 50,000 calories in a year!

Lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure

Thanks to the catechins it contains, research suggests that green tea been shown to improve blood flow and could also help lower cholesterol and blood pressure which is a main cause of heart disease and stroke. A 2013 review of many studies found green tea helped prevent a range of heart-related issues.

Relaxation

Theanine, an amino acid found in green tea can help reduce anxiety and have a calming effect on your mind helping you unwind and relax and reduce stress. One of green tea's many uses in Chinese medicine is to balance emotions and increase energy, clear the mind, increase alertness and improve memory.

Potential cancer prevention

Studies on green tea’s impact on cancer have not been conclusive. But green tea is known to aid healthy cells in all stages of growth.

There have been studies to examine whether green tea gives protection from some types of cancer and one study found that when combined with Herceptin there were promising results, and further studies are being planned. There are some clues that green tea may help destroy cancer cells, but that research is still in its early stages.

Oral care

Green tea has been shown to be an effective mouthwash, helping to kill bacteria and help prevent tooth decay and gum disease, it also freshens your breath. In studies, it was shown to be equally effective as other mouthwashes and has the added advantages of being a natural remedy and much more cost effective.

Green Tea at High Teas

We offer a wide range of green teas, from China, Japan, Africa, Thailand and Vietnam, and even offer Imperial Russian blends. If you have any questions or comments on green teas, we’d love to hear them! Please do get in touch.