“Hey man, you can easily lose weight and burn fat” my gym neighbor said. I was at the treadmill and desperately running everyday for weight loss and to trim my 48 inch tummy.
“How” I asked?
“Well, start drinking Green Tea, it has many benefits” was the reply.
“How many cups to get health benefits of green tea” I asked?
“Start with 3-4 cups initially, then gradually increase” and my friend grinned. “I lost a few inches in just 2 months, but since you are slim overall, you may lose more” he quipped.
Hmmm not bad I thought. Anyway I was sweating at the treadmill for the past 1 month and had hardly seen any difference. If he could do it in 2 months, I sure will achieve in a fortnight less.
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2 Months Later
My tummy size is around 1.8 inches less and I drank 6 cups of Green Tea everyday at different intervals. I even lost 3 kilos (7 pounds) and I feel more energetic.
I know readers would not agree as a big achievement but I do. I still use the treadmill regularly and have decided to reduce at least 10 pounds so I will weigh 198 – 17 = 181 pounds.
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To me, this is the start of a new beginning. My old trousers fit me and my colleagues at office view me with renewed interest.
There are many advantages of green tea many don’t know about. In fact, even I was oblivious of the amazing benefits that I share with you all. I am just delighted to put them here.
What is Green Tea?
Unknown to many, green tea actually arrives from the same plant where normal tea is obtained. Scientifically, it is better known as Camellia Sinensis. It is the same tea we drink, but it is processed differently. The normal black tea we usually drink, is obtained by fermenting the tea leaves. This fermentation changes its color and flavor, while raising the level of caffeine and tannin in it.
In the case of Green Tea, the tea leaves are dried or slightly steamed but not fermented. This is what makes it look green when it’s brewed.
What are the benefits of green tea?
Here are 8 health benefits of green tea that will actually make your life better.
1. Burn Fat, Lose Weight and Increase Physical Performance
Coffee, as you all know increases energy and Green Tea has the same Caffeine. I myself saw running a bit more aggressively at the treadmill. Though later I read that, it does by mobilizing fatty acids from the fat tissues and makes use as energy.
So, fat is utilized for some good purpose and extra energy for running. Great going!
It increases metabolism triggering the weight loss. Well, I did experience this and conclude Green Tea helped me reduce weight and slightly trim my tummy fat.
Point Rating: 7 out of 10.
2. It makes your brain work faster and smarter
We all know about Caffeine which stimulates our brain.
There are other complex compounds, plus an amino acid L-theanine which crosses the blood-brain barrier. Studies show that Caffeine and L-theanine combination is particularly potent at improving brain function.
I found that I had more stable energy and much more productive when I sipped green tea, compared to coffee. Now, I am more satisfied that I took the right decision because I don’t long to sip coffee any more.
3. Antioxidants in Green Tea lower the risk of various types of Cancer
BTW, I read that adding milk to tea reduced its antioxidant value.
Cancer is usually caused by uncontrolled growth of cells. Oxidative damage mainly contributes to the development of cancer and that antioxidants can have a protective effect. Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants, so it makes perfect sense that potentially it could reduce risk of cancer, and this definitely is good news! Further, I read that:
Breast cancer risk lowered: Studies found that women who drank the most green tea had a 22% lower risk of developing breast cancer. Wow!
Prostate cancer incidence lowered: One study found that men drinking green tea had a 48% lower risk of developing prostate cancer. This means less problem in old age.
Colorectal cancer reduced: A big study group of Chinese women found that green tea drinkers had a 57% lower risk of colorectal cancer.
As our age advances, it is good news that Green Tea will keep us healthy, when we get weak. IMO, you should also think about it, seriously!
4. Reduce risks of Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease
Wow! Simply wow! Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s are the most common neurodegenerative diseases in humans and a leading cause of dementia.
Studies show that the Catechin compounds in green tea have various protective effects on neurons in test tubes and animal models, and we humans certainly benefit from this superb quality.
5. Catechins in Green Tea kills Bacteria thus improving Dental Health and lower Infection Risks
This is turning out to be a Super Drink.
Research also shows that Catechins kills bacteria and inhibits viruses like the influenza virus, potentially lowering your risk of infections. What’s more as Streptococcus mutans is the primary harmful bacteria in our mouth. It causes plaque formation and is a leading contributor to cavities and tooth decay and also stops bad breath.
One drink and so many therapeutic benefits too. Hmmm but this is not all.
6. Green Tea Lowers risk of Diabetes Type II also
Do you know Delhi is the Diabetes Capital of India? Diabetes has already reached epidemic proportions and now afflicts about 300 million people worldwide.
Studies show that green tea can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels (42).
7. Green Tea reduces risk of Cardiovascular Disease by up to 31%
Deep research shows that green tea improves some of the main risk factors for these diseases like total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. It also increases the antioxidant capability of the blood, which protects the LDL cholesterol particles from oxidation, which is one main reason for heart disease.
8. Green Tea’s Bioactive Compounds do all the hard work for you!
Remember, Green Tea is more than just green liquid.
It is loaded with all-important polyphenols like Flavonoids and Catechins, which function as powerful antioxidants benefiting us with all the goodies we discussed above.
One of the most powerful compounds in green tea is the antioxidant Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), which treats various diseases and is one of the main reasons why green tea has such powerful medicinal properties.
Best Green Tea Brand
Go for a higher quality brand of green tea, because the lower quality brands usually contain excessive levels of fluoride. But nevertheless, all provide substantial benefits.
Recommended: Best green tea brands available in the market
A request for you all!
Why not discuss this among your friends and help cultivate a healthy habit of drinking Green Tea? After all, after some years we will all grow old then we can only thank Green Tea for all the benefits, making our life much easier! I contributed my experience. Now it is your turn to try this wonderful super drink, and pass on the knowledge you gained. Will you do that please?
