Green tea is beneficial in a variety of ways, not just the obvious ones. Did you know, for example, that some data suggests it can help with bad breath? We're guessing you didn't. Or perhaps you did. We don't know who you are.
Then there are the more well-known (claimed) advantages of green tea, which have helped to propel this beverage to new heights of popularity. Cancer prevention is important. Lower your cholesterol. Heart disease risk is reduced. The list goes on and on.
You might be wondering at this point if green tea is actually as healthful as it claims to be. Let's have a look!
What is Green Tea?
The Camellia sinensis plant is the source of almost all tea, including healthy green tea. Green tea leaves, unlike oolong or black teas, haven't gone through the same withering and oxidation process.
Sun-drying, pan-firing, charcoal-firing, steaming, oven-drying, and tumbling are some of the processes used to process the leaves once they've been harvested. Green tea, like most teas, comes in a variety of varietals, mixes, and qualities.
Health Benefits of Green Tea
The good news is that most of the health advantages of green tea are backed up by scientific evidence. The bad news is that much more research is needed before we can make certain claims about green tea's health advantages.
Green tea, on the other hand, has been used for medical and health purposes in China and India for ages. That's not to mention its longstanding link with good health in general.
There's also no denying that green tea is high in beneficial chemicals and antioxidants. You might reap some benefits if you exercise consistently, eat sensibly, and drink healthy green tea on a regular basis.
The following is a list of green tea's seven health benefits.
Improved Brain Function
Green tea contains less caffeine than black tea and coffee, yet it is still potent enough to elicit a response. Caffeine consumption has been related to improved mood, energy levels, memory, and reaction times in numerous studies.
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Green tea also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which helps lower anxiety, elevate dopamine levels, and increase the number of alpha waves in the brain via increasing GABA neurotransmitter activity.
According to certain research, the combination of L-theanine and caffeine can have a profound effect on the brain, increasing function.
Green tea may also help to protect the brain against aging and dementia, according to some data. Its bioactive components may be useful in preventing disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. To support up any of these statements, however, considerably more research is required.
Healthier Skin
Green tea is high in vitamins B2 and E, both of which have been associated to good skin. Furthermore, according to a 2007 study, green tea can potentially reduce skin cell overproduction, reducing inflammation, irritation, and skin illnesses like psoriasis.
Increased Fat Burning
According to research, drinking nutritious green tea might increase fat burning and boost your metabolic rate. Other research, on the other hand, has shown no association between green tea and metabolism, suggesting that the correlation (if it exists at all) could be due to individual differences.
If we were to live vicariously through the benefits of green tea, we could refer to the caffeine content. Caffeine increases energy levels, which improves physical performance. The increased activity would have a good impact on fat burning and metabolism in the scenario.
Antioxidants
Green tea contains polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants, the majority of which are strong catechins like EGCG. Polyphenols have been shown to lower inflammation, protect cells, and even combat cancer.
Polyphenols, according to the National Cancer Institute, may have a direct effect on tumor formation. Green tea has been shown in some trials to help combat cancers of the breast, bladder, ovarian, colorectal (bowel), esophageal (throat), lung, prostate, skin, and stomach.
It all sounds too good to be true, and it should be handled as such for the time being. To put it another way, considerably more investigation is required. While places with higher numbers of green tea users have lower cancer rates, this could be attributable to other factors such as lifestyle choices.
Avoid adding milk to green tea if you want to get the antioxidants. Milk has been shown in research to limit antioxidants and their advantages.
May Reduce Bad Breath
The catechins in green tea have been shown in test tubes to inhibit germs from developing in the mouth. Plaque build-up and tooth decay would also be avoided as a result of this. As a result, you may be able to avoid foul breath.
To be clear, the catechins in green tea were isolated in these trials. Green tea consumption did not appear to lower mouth microorganisms, according to the study. They, too, we're unable to determine it. Do you understand?
May Reduce Blood Sugar Levels
Green tea consumption has also been linked to improved insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels. This might possibly reduce one's chances of developing type 2 diabetes, which is linked to insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels.
Participants who drank the greenest tea had a 42 percent decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a Japanese study. Then there's a study that looked at over 286,000 people and discovered that those who drank tea had an 18% decreased risk of developing diabetes.
Before drawing any firm conclusions, it's important to examine other people's lifestyle choices. In general, studies demonstrating a link between green tea and diabetes have been inconclusive.
May Improve Cardiovascular Health
Green tea was the subject of an 11-year study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2006, which followed 40,000 Japanese volunteers.
According to the study, people who drank at least 5 cups of green tea per day had a decreased risk of dying from stroke or heart disease than those who drank less than one cup.
Green tea consumption has also been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels and boost the antioxidant capacity of the blood in other studies (which affects LDL particles). Both of these elements have the ability to lower one's cardiovascular disease risk.
Benefits of Green Tea for Skin
- Green tea helps to prevent skin cancer by encouraging DNA repair. It includes EGCG, a strong antioxidant that protects DNA from UV radiation and helps to prevent skin cancer. That means it's a powerful anti-aging substance that may be consumed or administered topically to fight the indications of premature aging.
- Green tea has a significant amount of polyphenols called catechins, which have powerful anti-inflammatory actions. Green tea catechins minimize irritation, redness, and edema. Apply a Green Tea Water Bomb Mask to your face for a relaxing method to reap the benefits of green tea for your skin. This very hydrating face mask can help to soothe the skin and minimize redness.
- Green tea has antimicrobial properties that help to cure acne and unclog pores. Green tea polyphenols damage bacterial membranes while also fighting infection, making it an effective treatment for acne-causing bacterial development. For calm, clear skin, aids in the killing of systemic bacterial inflammation.
- Green tea is high in vitamin B2 and vitamin E, both of which are important for skin health. B2 is necessary for preserving collagen levels in the skin's youthful structure and suppleness. Vitamin E promotes the formation of new skin cells while also acting as a powerful hydrator for dry or unbalanced skin.
- Green tea's caffeine and tannins help to constrict blood vessels around the eyes, making it a wonder for puffy eyes and dark circles. Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream contains green tea and coffee, which help to depuff and brighten the skin.
- Green tea's skin advantages extend to your hair as well! Catechins and polyphenols in green tea leaf fibers have been shown to stimulate hair development by increasing cell turnover in hair follicles. Green tea fiber is featured in our wildly popular Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder, which admirers jokingly refer to as "hair extensions for your brows."
How to Use Green Tea for Skin
Antioxidants are an important part of the anti-aging puzzle since they work to minimize inflammation and free radicals, which speed up the aging process of the skin. When it comes to antioxidants, green tea is especially beneficial because it contains EGCG, a molecule that protects against pollution, sun damage, and toxins.
Stick to a targeted skincare program to get the benefits of green tea for the skin, which will powerfully reverse cellular damage and boost your skin's natural ability to defend itself. To get you started, we've created a green tea routine.
Step 1: Cleanse
When it comes to green tea cleansing, you have a lot of options. The fundamental benefit of them all is a combination of redness management, toning power, and impurity removal. Check out these green tea cleansing options:
Matcha Cleansing Balm | Ideal for removing heavy makeup, sunscreen, or debris. This concentrated formula is made with matcha green tea, meaning it will help with redness while the added benefit of being extra gentle for dry, sunburned, or sensitive skin.
Green Tea Cloud Foam Cleanser | Ideal for light to medium cleansing, this richly foaming cleanser is one of your more hydrating options. Aloe vera juice and floral hydrosols replenish thirsty skin, while green tea and white tea tone the complexion for a renewed glow.
Matcha Oat Face Scrub | Ideal for deep cleansing or double-cleansing. Scrubby texture removes deep-set debris, buffs away dry patches, and maintains a toned complexion without redness.
Step 2: Tone
Our Fermented Rice Water Toner, which complements the many benefits of green tea, is a great way to round up your skincare routine. A nutrient-dense mix blends hyaluronic acid's skin-plumping capabilities with antioxidants from sake.
This toner was created with the goal of deeply softening, nourishing, and brightening your skin. Natural components are concentrated in this product, which helps to reduce dark spots and give you a healthy glow.
Step 3: Mask
It's vital to cycle in a green tea face mask once in a while to double down on redness reduction or antioxidant defense! Our Matcha Oat Milk Nourishing Mask goes a step farther than our Green Tea Water Bomb Mask in terms of hydration and green tea benefits.
At its core, this super-concentrated mask is essentially pure Matcha Green Tea Powder. Its brilliant green color signifies its power, as only the purest Japanese matcha has this color. Polyphenols protect the skin from free radicals and UV damage, while colloidal oatmeal and hyaluronic acid keep it hydrated. After each use, your skin will be smoother and plumper.
Step 4: Enrich
With the use of a concentrated serum treatment, we can now achieve deep penetration of our flagship component green tea! Green Tea EGCG Concentrate Serum is a nutrient-dense serum that softens skin while protecting it from environmental damage. This natural face serum works round the clock to target and neutralizes free radicals and pollutants that can cause long-term damage to the skin.
Tip- Why do you use the serum first, then moisturizer? Because the molecules in serums are smaller than those in moisturizers, they can easily permeate deeper layers of the skin, hydrating and protecting it more efficiently.
Step 5: Moisturize
With a kiss of moisture, complete your green tea skincare routine. Green tea oil, yerba mate, olive squalane, and rooibos tea are combined in the best-selling Green Tea EGCG Concentrate Cream to combat UV damage and pollutants. Its medium-weight texture is suitable for most skin types, and the gentle herbal aroma refreshes the skin and senses.