Green tea: properties and health benefits

Green tea is already an essential part of our life. Since it had its boom in the West several years ago, we all know that it is good for us and there is no kitchen that does not have a box of green tea in it.

For both tea addicts and those who have not yet discovered all its benefits, we will tell you all the properties and benefits of green tea, so you don't miss out on this delicious and very complete drink. Well, as the popular Chinese proverb would say, "it is better to go three days without food than one without tea."

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What is green tea

Green tea is a variety of tea, the traditional drink that is made from the leaves of the tea tree, which is actually a shrub named Camellia sinensis. Tea in general has been present in our history for thousands of years and comes from Southeast Asia. Today, it is the second most drunk drink in the world after water.

The tea leaves, with which we make green tea, and in general where any type of tea comes from,

they provide us with both stimulants such as theine and caffeine, as antioxidants such as isoflavones, these being some of the properties of green tea that we will tell you about.

The truth is that all types of tea come from the same tea tree and the same leaves. What differentiates green tea from other types of tea is the production process, since what varies is its time of collection, oxidation and drying in terms of the duration of each phase. In this sense, black tea goes through a long period of oxidation, while green tea is achieved by giving the leaves minimal oxidation time and for this reason its color and aroma are much softer.

Green tea is a light, yellowish-green tea, and its aroma and flavor are both mild and subtle. Within the variety of green tea, you can get it alone, in varieties that depend on the form in which the leaves are rolled and withered, or with mixtures with jasmine flowers, fruits or other flowers. Green tea is the most popular on the Asian continent And to drink it, you must heat the water but without letting it boil, so that the green tea better conserves its properties and its delicious flavor.

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Green tea benefits

In addition to being a natural antioxidant, the properties and benefits of green tea include the loss weight, fluid drainage and many other things that will make green tea your new drink favorite. We could even consider green tea a superfood, since the investigations do not stop finding more and more benefits to this drink.

1. It helps you lose weight

It is more than proven that green tea helps us in weight loss processesNot because it works magic (as no food does), but because it helps us process fat better due to its thermogenic activity, which helps burn fat and prevents its accumulation.

Another benefit of green tea in this sense is that it activates metabolism and energy expenditure, at the same time that it acts as a cardioprotector.

2. The best natural diuretic

One of the most well-known properties of green tea is its diuretic action in our body. Its antioxidants and polyphenols help us get rid of excess water retained in the body and improve kidney function.

3. It decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases

Green tea has a high in vitamin E, vitamin C, lutein and zeaxanthin, a set of antioxidants that acts phenomenally in our body.

Several studies have shown that drinking several cups of green tea a day greatly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. For example, the Medical School of Athens demonstrated that 30 minutes after having a cup of green tea, our arteries dilate, and this reduces circulation problems.

4. Prevents eye diseases

The antioxidants in green tea can be easily absorbed by the tissues we have in our eyes, including the retina; this prevents eye diseases such as glaucoma if we drink green tea constantly.

5. Strengthens bones

Another of the latest scientific findings on the properties of green tea is that strengthens bones, as it increases their mineralization and prevents osteoporosis. All this thanks to epigallocatechin, one of the properties of green tea that promotes up to 79% the growth of bone cells known as osteoblasts.

6. Prevents brain diseases

Green tea prevents Parkinson's disease when we consume it on a daily basis, as polyphenols, one of the properties of green tea, are capable of protecting the protective cells from dopamine, thus preventing Parkinson's.

7. Stimulates the mind

But in addition to preventing diseases, drink green tea too helps us speed up thinking and memory, combat stress and improve our mood. Theine is the property of green tea that is responsible for stimulating our brain function.

8. Improves dental health

Green tea also works as a tooth protector, preventing oral diseases such as bacteria in gums for example. It can also be your great ally to combat bad breath.

9. Digestive processes

Another benefit of green tea is that can help us improve digestive and intestinal function, as it has a very light laxative effect that helps us keep our intestinal transit regulated, preventing constipation and reducing gas and abdominal bloating.

10. Liver ally

The properties of green tea are the allies of our liver when it comes to purifying excess toxins in our body and maintaining its proper functioning. Drinking green tea regularly helps the liver in its task of eliminating these toxins, but it also reduces the damage we do to our liver when we ingest substances toxic to it, such as alcoholic beverages.

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