If you’ve been reading here for a while now you’ve probably heard me talking about my love for green tea. We were inseperable from the start. My fiance is a coffee drinker, so we are pretty much bitter enemies. But I always win out, because green tea is so much better for you than coffee. That’s right coffee lovers, Green Tea wins, you lose! Seriously though, there have been numerous cases where the evidence points in favor of drinking green tea on a regular basis. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. Azhar bin Ismail at The Learning Student recently compiled a great article on the benefits of green tea. I’ll share some of my favorite ones. Here is the link, check it out!
(I should be studying for my physiology and microbiology finals today, but I just love writing for ZCL!!!!)
Health Benefits of Green Tea
- reduce histamine production. This is great for people who have alergies. Less histamine means less inflamation, less sinuses etc.
- help improve circulation by strengthening capillary walls. This is especially important for people with compromised circulatory systems, such as stroke victims, diabetics, arthritics, smokers, oral contraceptive users and people with general cardiovascular insufficiencies.
- inhibit enzymes that break down collagen. Proanthocyanidins help collagen repair. The breakdown of collagen is what causes our skin to lose its elasticity which in turn causes wrinkles.
- limits the growth of colorectal tumors in rats treated with a substance that causes the cancer. While this has yet to be proven to prevent cancer in humans, it definitely doesn’t hurt!
- Green tea consumption is associated with reduced mortality due to all causes, as stated by the Journal of the American Medical Association. Reduced mortality due to ALL causes? Can’t argue with results like that!
Ok, so you get it now, green tea will make you live longer. That’s why Asians live to like 300 and Americans die at the ripe age of what, 36 or so? But how about some reasons that I have actually experienced? You got it pal!
- Green tea contains small amounts of caffeine, about 1/3 the amount of a cup of coffee. That means that if you aren’t addicted to caffeine already, it will give you the boost you want without the jitters or crash afterwards. I drink a cup every morning, it’s a great way to start the day without developing an addiction problem, like most coffee drinkers have.
- It’s more fun to sip on than water. I don’t drink sodas, so for me its green tea, water, or juice. I keep tea bags at work and loose leaf tea at home, so while most people are studying with a bottle of water, I have delicious tea.
- Green tea is sophisticated. That’s right, drinking green tea makes you way cooler. I don’t mean Arizona green tea, or some other sugar filled, manufactured tea. I’m talking about hot water with leaves in it.
- it has powerful antioxidant and antibiotic factors. Antioxidants are great for keeping up a strong immune system. I drink green tea and take 1000 mg of Vitamin C daily, and I haven’t gotten sick in at least 3 years. Can’t argue with results like that.
- it assists in weight loss. Green tea is thermogenic, which means it raises your core temperature a bit and causes you to burn more calories, even if you are just sitting on your butt. This doesn’t mean you will drop 20 lbs drinking tea while playing xbox, but if you are already working towards a fitter you, green tea can definitely assist you in the process.
- Antibacterial effects. Green tea contains natural chemicals which are known to kill bacteria. Drinking green tea is actually good for your teeth, unlike pretty much anything else people drink these days.
- You’ll be sticking it to the man. Remember the boston tea party? What better way to stick it to the man than to drink tea, instead of coffee. That will teach them to have a tea party without inviting you.
