Tea is one of the most common drinks in India. Cost wise it works out to be quite cheap, but activity wise it’s one of the richest source of powerful antioxidants due to the presence of different groups of Polyphenols. In contrast, in Western society the most popular beverage is coffee, but coffee does not present the versatile and potent health benefits at have been associated with green tea consumption.

While it has been around for long, green tea has, in recent times, gained prominence as a tea which provides several health benefits.

Green tea is one of the oldest health remedies known to man and its beneficial effects were documented thousands of years ago in traditional Chinese medicine. In fact, population studies indicate that green tea consumption in eastern Asia has been responsible for multiple health benefits, including anti-cancer effects, weight, control and the promotion of cardiovascular health, but such claims are not allowed in the United States. In some Oriental nations, green tea is a staple in the diet. For example, Japanese and Chinese people may consume more than 10 cups of green tea per day as a refreshing drink.

Catechins, a group of polyphenols, present in green tea are the primary active components that play a role in disease prevention.

In a way, the is not much difference between green tea & black tea as far as preparation is concerned. Only fermentation step distinguishes the green tea from black tea. The freshly plucked tea leaf is only dried to obtain green tea. However, when allowed to ferment/ oxidise , it results in the formation of black leaves which are ground and available as regular black tea.

Drinking at least 2 cups of green tea daily can have long term effects upon every aspect of health including weight management, control of blood sugars, enhancing immunity, improving cognitive function and prevention against cancers.

Here are some of the benefits of drinking green tea.

Better skin: Green tea catechins can prevent skin cancers induced by chronic Ultra-Violet exposure. It has Potential benefits for skin conditions as diverse as ulcers, psoriasis, rosascea, wrinkles and wounds. Improved lipid profile: Regular consumption of green tea has been reported to reduce bad cholesterol levels in the body thereby lowering risk of heart diseases. Increased metabolism: Green tea exerts anti-obesity effects by increasing energy expenditure, increasing fat oxidation and decreasing appetite Anti-inflammatory properties: Folic acid and caffeine present in green tea may have an added advantage of lowering inflammatory markers of cardiovascular disease risk such as homocysteine level and CRP levels. Enhanced memory: Higher consumption of green tea is associated with lower cognitive impairment. Tea polyphenols (which include catechins and their derivatives), particularly those from green tea, possess potent neuroprotective activity that can help to reduce incidence of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson disease (PD)

If you are a regular tea drinker, you should consider replacing some regular tea with green tea. If not, you must try to include couple of cups of green tea in your daily routine as it provides several health benefits!

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