(HealthyResearch.com) – What’s your go-to morning cuppa look like? Are you a coffee drinker, or is tea more your style? You might feel more motivated to lean toward the latter once you’ve learned about all of green tea’s incredible health benefits. Here are nine reasons you should be drinking this miracle brew every day.
1. Fights Obesity
Looking to add another weapon to your fat-busting arsenal? Green tea can help reduce obesity by increasing the amount of fat you burn. It’s rich in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), catechin, which is a type of powerful antioxidant. EGCG changes the way you metabolize fats and carbs, counteracting some of the effects of a less-than-perfect diet.
2. Combats Diabetes
EGCG binds with insulin receptors, providing an insulin-like effect — meaning it may help people with type 2 diabetes better metabolize sugars. This may help reduce symptoms like neuropathy and damage to the kidneys and eyes. Combined with green tea’s other antioxidants, EGCG can help reduce insulin resistance, and it may even have a protective effect on the pancreas.
3. Lowers Cardiovascular Risks
Concerned about your heart health? Green tea has properties that appear to protect against coronary heart disease. It can also lower bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels, reducing the risk of ischemic heart attacks.
4. Reduces Inflammation
Chronic inflammatory diseases are a growing issue in the U.S. and many other countries. The numerous polyphenols in green tea might be able to help sufferers reduce their inflammation levels and combat some of their symptoms. Green tea may be particularly beneficial when it comes to inflammatory diseases of the colon and liver.
5. Improves Oral Health
Green tea can help preserve your smile. Its polyphenols have antibacterial properties that can help protect against bad breath and reduce the risk of cavities. Green tea polyphenols also appear to reduce gum inflammation related to nicotine use and might even protect the mouth against oral cancer.
6. Lowers Numerous Cancer Risks
The anti-cancer properties appear to span well beyond the mouth. Studies have shown that the catechins in green tea can protect against cancers affecting the stomach and colon, and they may reduce the risks of esophageal, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancers. Green tea polyphenols can also reduce the damaging effects of the sun, helping to shield against skin cancer.
7. Small Caffeine Boost
The average cup of coffee contains up to 165 mg of caffeine. A cup of green tea contains about 30 mg. This makes tea a nice choice for an afternoon pick-me-up that won’t keep you up all night long.
8. Strengthens the Immune System
Polyphenols could be a key to good immune function, modifying immune response to better protect you against disease. Those powerful antioxidants may also have the ability to protect against autoimmune diseases. Allergies a problem? Drinking green tea might help with that too. It’s also a good source of vitamin C, another antioxidant that’s great for the immune system.
9. Protects the Brain
Green tea has neuroprotective properties. In one study, the catechin EGCG reduced brain inflammation and neuron damage in mice with autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Green tea is also being studied for its potential to prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.
There’s a lot more to that morning cup than a mild caffeine boost, with benefits that can improve nearly any person’s health. Why not try switching out your morning coffee every once in a while or having a cup for a midday lift? Your body will thank you for it.
~Here’s to Your Health & Safety!
Copyright 2021, HealthyResearch.com