A cup a day keeps the doctor away!
The benefits of green tea have recently become the topic of many weight loss and nutritional debates. Many people believe that green tea contains all of the ingredients necessary to fight infection and disease as well as help the body burn calories and lose weight. Although this may sound too good to be true, it is actually completely accurate. The studies done on green tea have been vast and ongoing, and many scientists feel that they are merely scraping the surface of what this wonder-tea may have to offer. The following are some of the benefits of green tea and why you may want to consider pouring yourself a few glasses a day:
- Cancer fighting properties: One of the greatest benefits of green tea is its ability to prevent numerous cancers. A few cups a day can actually decrease your chances of developing lung, breast or prostate cancers and can also slow the production of cancer cells in patients who have already been fighting the disease. The reason behind green tea’s incredible curing power is an essential ingredient called epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, which is a type of antioxidant.
- Increases Metabolic Rate: This is why so many people believe that green tea is the secret to weight loss. The combination of the caffeine and catechin polyphenols that are found in the tea will actually increase the body’s insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. A few cups a day can also result in a faster rate of fat oxidation and can raise thermo genesis which helps to burn calories faster.
- Strengthens the Immune system: One notable study compared the anti-bacterial proteins found in the immune system of coffee drinkers to those of people who enjoyed two cups of green tea daily. The result, the tea drinkers had three times the immune system response and there were five times more anti-bacterial proteins present. In short, green tea helped their body prepare for any potential illnesses or diseases.
- Improves brain health and alertness: The benefits of green tea do not all relate to weight loss and disease prevention. This wonder drink can also produce a calmer, more alert state of mind when enjoyed regularly. It is believed that the theanine contained in the tea is able to cross over the blood-brain barrier and can keep us mentally healthy even into old age!
- Improves the appearance of hair and skin: For those who are looking to improve their outer appearance as well as their inner health, green tea is the perfect choice. The countless anti-oxidants included in the tea do not only improve your health but can also improve the appearance of your hair, skin and even improve your eye sight!
So now you know that the benefits of drinking green tea are many and that they are far reaching. With cold weather there is nothing more satisfying then hot tea and in the warm weather nothing greater than iced tea. You can really drink this all year round with ease. It is something that is also easy to incorporate into your diet.
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