In Houston, Tx, we focus on both healthy eating and exercise. We also pay attention on what you drink, because it affects your body as much as what you eat. Of course, I highly recommend water and preach constantly to avoid sugary drinks like soft drinks. One other drink I often promote is green tea. There are benefits of green tea for both weight loss and health benefits that everyone should consider when checking for the best beverage with their meals. Some studies show that drinking green tea helps decrease body fat. It can significantly reduce not only body fat percentage and body weight, but also belly fat and waist circumference.
If heart health is a top priority, switch to green tea.
While everyone wants to look better and trimmer, there are other reasons to make green tea a drink of choice. It can help lower risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. It boosts antioxidants that help to prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in the blood and then causing arterial disease. It lowers cholesterol, too. Several studies show that people who drink green tea live longer and have a lower risk of heart disease, as much as 31 percent lower.
What’s a great body without a great smile and good breath?
One little broadcast fact about green tea is the catechins in the tea not only help your body, but also help dental hygiene. It can kill bacteria and even slow viruses in their tracks. Not only does it have the potential for lowering the risk of infections, it may give you a better smile by fighting plaque and tooth decay. The biggest threat to your smile is Streptococcus mutons, a bacteria that promotes the formation of plaque and leads to tooth decay. The catechins in green tea can prevent their growth. It may be why studies show that people who drink green tea have better dental health and improved breath.
Your brain may improve your brain power.
Green tea contains caffeine, but not nearly as much as coffee that can cause side effects if you drink too much. Caffeine blocks adenosine in the brain, increasing the amount of dopamine and nor-epinephrine and the firing of neurons. That keeps you alert and can lead to improved mood, reaction time and memory. Green tea also contains L-theanine, which is one of the few substances can enter the brain from the blood stream it works in combination with caffeine to boost brain power.
- Green tea is a real health booster. It has polyphenols, which reduce inflammation and the natural antioxidant catechins. Those two both protect the cells and boost the immune system.
- If you want brain protection from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, boost your intake of green tea. The catechins have shown to be effective in early testing to protect the neurons.
- Green tea can lower your risk of cancer. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of green tea show promise in protecting against cancer. Data gathered showed green tea drinkers are less prone to cancer.
- Green tea can help insulin sensitivity, the precursor for Type 2 diabetes.