What are the Health Benefits And Nutritional Facts Of Green Tea?
January 6, 2022 | by Sravani Pathakamuri | Posted in Nutrition Facts
Green tea is made from leaves of Camellia sinensis. Green tea originated in China but it is spread to other countries also. The region where green tea originated is in East Asia. No, its manufacturing is extended all over the world.
Green tea is consumed by almost everyone in their daily life. People who are familiar with normal teas also replaced their daily habit with green tea. Many people start their day with this green tea only. Green tea contains many health benefits. Green tea became a beverage that supply dietary recommendations which can reduce many diseases and helps in digestive problems, weight loss, headaches etc.
What’s In Green Tea?
Green tea is the plant based beverage using in large quantities since few years. Mainly, green tea is fond of beneficial polyphenols and antioxidants, this is due to presence some compounds like catechins. Moreover, green tea doesn’t contain any calories, fat, carbohydrates, or protein in unsweetened tea. Due to the presence of healthy compounds like catechins, specifically epicatechin, green tea is loaded with many health benefits. These catechins give green tea its potential cancer-fighting, antioxidant, probiotic, and boosting metabolism.
The four main catechins found in green tea are:
- 1. Epicatechin (EC)- ~6%
- 2. Epigallocatechin (EGC)- ~20%
- 3. Epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG)- ~14% and
- 4. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) – 60%
Green tea also contains minerals like potassium in trace amounts and green tea also contains moderate levels of caffeine but less compared to other teas. But the exact amount of caffeine depends upon the type of green tea you pick. On average, 100 ml of green tea has about 12 mg of caffeine( USDA). But there is a standard cup which about 230 ml (8oZ). If you pick that standard mug, then 30 mg of caffeine is present.
What Are The Possible Health Benefits Of Green Tea ?
There are many possible health benefits by green tea, as it is rich in all nutrients and especially rich in polyphenols and antioxidants.
1. Helps In Weight Loss
Green Tea is one of the top option that people choose to weight loss. It is also included in fat burning supplements. This is because, many researches proved that green tea helps in burning fat by increasing metabolic rate.
Mostly in studies, people who are consuming green tea has increased metabolic rate than who doesn’t have it. But increased rate of metabolism is not same for everyone as it depends on individual’s capacity and daily activities.
Why green tea is said to be helpful in weight loss ? It is because, green tea extract can increase the oxidation of fat. Thus, fat in the body get decreased and aid in weight loss.
Moreover, green tea also contains caffeine which may also improve physical performance by moving fatty acids from fat tissue and making them available when ever we want energy. Some studies also said that caffeine may also increase physical performance by approximately 11–12%.
2. May Decrease Cancer Risk:
Cancer is caused by abnormal cell growth which is effecting many people worldwide and leading disease.
As, cancer is caused by oxidative damage, antioxidants which can remove free radicals can helps to reduce oxidative damage.
So. as green tea is rich in anti antioxidants, it is helpful in preventing different types of cancers like prostate cancer, breast cancer etc.
3. May Improve Brain Functions
Mainly, caffeine play an important role in improving brain functions. But it doesn’t contain as much as coffee.
Generally, caffeine affects the brain by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine. Thus, it increases the neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters (dopamine and norepinephrine). The bioactive compounds present in green tea may reduce the risk of dementia.
Nutritional Facts
Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages in the world. It has abundant amounts of nutrients, antioxidants and alkaloids. So that green tea show many positive health benefits.
Green tea contains many vitamins like vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C and Vitamin D. It also contains some minerals such as zinc, manganese. Green tea can have positive effects on weight loss, liver disorders, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
The most important nutrient is water which is used to hydrate our body. Water is available in abundant quantity in green tea. So that green tea is also used for hydrating purpose next to water.
Green tea is also said to be detox tea as it performs detoxification by removing toxic substances from the body. Green tea is also said to be relaxing agent as it play a role in brain functions to keep to mentally healthy.
Health Benefits
- Helps in weight Loss
- Reduce the risk of cancers
- Decrease type-2 diabetes
- Helps in detoxification
- Lowers cholesterol
- Promotes heart health
- Improve liver disorders
- Aid in digestion
- Helps to maintain mental health
- Anti Aging properties
Key Points
As green tea is rich in polyphenols, it can also act as anti-inflammatory agent. Presence of antioxidants prevent the damage from free radicals. Catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage.
Like coffee, green tea also contains little amount of caffeine but it is not harmful as in coffee. Caffeine improves the brain function by increasing the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.
Drinking green tea about 3 to 5 times per day is beneficial but when taken in excess it may harm your health. It doesn’t contain any fat, carbohydrates, or protein, and there aren’t any calories if sugar is not added in it.
Summary:
Green tea also contains L-theanine a amino acid, which can work actively with caffeine to improve brain function. Green tea helps to reduce abdominal fat. As catechins are present in green tea, it may inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth, reducing the risk of bad breath. It may also lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.