Why is green tea good for you?

Just in case you weren’t aware, tea happens to be one of the most consumed drinks around the world. Tea is inexpensive, tastes great and typically contains no calories whatsoever. In fact, the only calories a cup of tea will hold is the additional ingredients we add to it. Tea is known to contain many natural chemicals that are good for our health. This post will introduce you to the 5 greatest health benefits of drinking green tea.

Oral Health

Green tea contains fluoride and a number of other natural ingredients that can help to kill the bacteria commonly associated with gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath. There have been studies conducted that prove you can reduce the risk of losing teeth by consuming at least one cup of green tea on a daily basis. However, it is important to remember that if you add sugar or honey, you will dramatically reduce these health benefits.

Bones

It is said that if you have regularly consumed green tea for an extended period, say over 10 years, you will dramatically reduce the chance of osteoporotic fractures. It is believed this is due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of green tea. The natural ingredients of tea will also help the specific cells which build up bones as well as decrease the breakdown of bones.

Heart Health

There have been numerous studies over the years that all show that drinking green tea significantly reduces the risk of a heart attack or stroke. In fact, by drinking at least one cup of green tea a day, you may even be able to reduce this risk by almost 50%. There is also evidence that suggests consuming tea can help to lower you cholesterol, although the cholesterol studies were completed on animals.

Cancer Prevention

There is research which proves that regularly drinking green tea can help to prevent a vast array of cancers, including breast, stomach, lung and many others. There are certain ingredients found in tea which can actually decrease the rate of growth of tumors and may even stop them forming altogether. With that being said, to gain any “cancer attacking” benefits from green tea you will need to consume at least 4 cups a day.

Weight Loss

Weight loss is probably what most people associate drinking green tea with. Green tea contains catechins (which is the exact ingredient which fights cancer), which will help to produce heat inside the body. This production of heat will actually help to burn calories and therefore can help you lose weight. Catechins also have the ability to stop certain chemicals travelling to the brain, which in turn will ensure that the heat production carries on for a longer period of time. Once again, there has been a study of the weight loss benefits of drinking green tea and it found that participants who drank at least 4 cups a day saw a significant increase in fat oxidation, which equated to burning an additional 70 calories a day. We are also aware that drinking green tea can help to increase the body’s metabolism, which is vital for those looking to lose weight.

This post has been contributed by Karen Fernandes, a freelance blogger who often shares her personal and work experiences online. She writes for Pinchajii, an online tea store selling Oolong tea. She enjoys spending time with her family when she isn’t busy working. You can follow her on Twitter for more information.