Top 5 Reasons to Drink Green Tea
As if you needed a reason to enjoy a delicious cup of green tea, here are our top five:
- Drinking green tea may reduce the risk of early death for people with diabetes.
A recent study of nearly 5,000 Japanese people with type 2 diabetes showed that those who drank green tea had a reduced risk of early death, and the more tea they drank, the greater the benefit. Participants who drank four or more cups of green tea per day lowered their risk of dying early by 40%, and even those who drank less still saw some reduced risk. The study also showed that participants who drank four or more cups of green tea along with two or more cups of coffee saw a 63% lower risk of early death.
- Green tea may provide protection against some types of cancer.
In animal studies, green tea extract has been shown to protect against carcinogens that could lead to intestinal, lung, liver, prostate, and breast cancer. In human studies, evidence of the anticancer effects of green tea has been inconsistent, though in one study, postmenopausal women who drank two or more cups of green tea per day had a lower incidence of digestive and urinary tract cancers than those who drank less green tea. Green tea benefits for women also may extend to lower risk of gynecological cancers. Some studies have found an association between drinking green tea and a reduced risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers.
- The catechins in green tea may help protect against cardiovascular disease.
The flavanols found in green tea are commonly called catechins, which have been shown to provide protection against heart disease. In animal studies, catechins have been shown to provide a boost in antioxidant activity as well as modify lipid metabolism, which means catechins interfere with the way the body absorbs lipids, including cholesterol.
- Green tea benefits for skin include anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.
The polyphenols and antioxidants in green tea have benefits to help fight against aging and skin damage. Inflammation, photodamage and oxidative stress all contribute to factors that make skin appear older. But green tea polyphenols and antioxidants have been shown to prevent carcinogenic activity of ultraviolet light radiation as well as photoaging, which refers to those wrinkles and spots that appear as we age.
- Green tea may help boost your mood and improve mental function.
Not only can green tea influence your mood, it may also have benefits for mental function, including improved memory, increased alertness, and reduced anxiety. Scientists think the caffeine in green tea plays a role in these positive effects.