Green tea is such an excellent addition to a healthy diet. Whether it’s a few cups of tea a day or a natural green tea supplement, it has many benefits, beyond just waking you up in the morning! (Yes, it does have caffeine!) From heart health to brain health, green tea has certainly earned its place as a superfood. Read on to find out some of the benefits of this amazing tea!

Nutrients in green tea

Green tea is rich in many types of nutrients including antioxidants. In fact, green tea has more antioxidants than certain fruits and veggies! Antioxidants are nutrients that protect the body from cellular stress and damage. Green tea has many including polyphenols and catechins, including epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Green tea is also a source of minerals.

The research on tea is evolving but studies have linked consumption of green tea with a reduced risk of heart disease, lower cholesterol, better brain health and even has been associated with reduced risk of certain cancers.

Cholesterol

A 2003 12-week trial was done by Vanderbilt University Medical Center that found that green tea supplements resulted in a 16% reduction in cholesterol. Green tea contains catechins which can lower cholesterol. It helps lower LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol”) and boosts HDL (“good cholesterol”). Lowered cholesterol is associated with reduced risk of heart disease.

Benefits for brain health

The antioxidants in green tea have been shown to protect brain cells and promote healthy memory. In fact, green tea is associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline as in Alzeimers disease. It is also believed to protect against other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. And the protective effects of catechins may also help lower the risk of developing dementia with age. 

Metabolic Health

In a study performed in Japan, people who consumed six or more cups of green tea daily had a 33% risk reduction of developing type 2 diabetes as compared to those consuming less than 1 cup per week. In another study, Taiwanese subjects who had routinely consumed tea for more than 10 years showed lower body fat composition and smaller waist circumference. And yet another study showed that the addition of catechin decreased A1c level and increased serum insulin level compared to the placebo group in a subgroup of patients who have been treated with insulin therapy.

So whether you take it in supplement form (green tea tablets) or drink a daily cup of green tea, try to make green tea a part of your diet today for its many health benefits!