Tea has been a popular beverage around the world for some time. Green tea is a healthier cousin of the conventional black tea. Made from the same leaves (Camellia sinensis), green tea is minimally oxidized during the processing stages. According to the place and process of cultivation and processing, green tea is available in a variety of types, tastes and labels. Owing to minimal oxidation (the tea leaves are steamed and not fermented), the green tea leaves are able to retain a more concentrated form of ECGC (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) which gives green tea its miraculous health benefits. These health benefits are many, ten of which have been elaborated on here.

10. Say no to Alzheimer’s Disease

Recent research has proved that drinking green tea can greatly lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in humans and a leading cause of dementia. Green tea contains catechins that are capable of restricting brain enzymes associated with the disease and needless to say, boosts a healthy lifestyle.
Green tea also helps lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease (which causes the death of dopamine producing neurons).

9. Prevention and Reduction of Acne

Green tea has antibacterial properties that can fight off acne naturally. Moreover its anti inflammatory properties greatly reduce inflammation and swelling of skin.

8. Say no to bad breath

You will be surprised to know that green tea can get rid of bad breath. Multiple studies have shown that the catechins present in green tea can greatly improve your dental health by killing off harmful bacteria called streptococcus mutans. An awesome reason to start drinking green tea, right?

7. Get rid of those extra inches

Research by leading medical teams around the world has discovered that green tea extract increases the rate of human metabolism and hence enhances the rate of calorie burnt by the body. It also helps lower blood fat levels, cholesterol content and bloatedness. Green tea helps in detoxifying the body and suppresses untimely food cravings. Enabled with diuretic properties, it also eliminates excess water and thereby reduces excess weight.
However, just sipping on green tea will not be enough to help you trim your tummy, though it will definitely help you take strides down that road.

6. Lower the risk of Type II diabetes

About 300 million people worldwide suffer from the effects of type II diabetes today. The disease is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels and an inability of the body to produce insulin. Studies have conclusively proved that drinking green tea can reduce blood sugar levels and also promote insulin sensitivity in the body.
A Japanese study came up with a startling statistic. Individuals who drank green tea had a 42 percent lower chance of developing Type II diabetes than those who did not.

5. Protect your heart

You will perhaps not be surprised when we tell you that Cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are the predominant reason behind maximum deaths in today’s world. Studies show that green tea can significantly alleviate some of the main risk factors for these diseases. This includes total cholesterol level in blood, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides content.
Green tea also dramatically increases the antioxidant capability of the blood, which protects the LDL cholesterol particles from oxidation. LDL cholesterol are the main factor for increasing the risk of heart diseases.
Talking numbers, drinkers of green tea run a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular diseases than non-drinkers.
4. Get Smarter

You might not believe me but green tea can actually make you smarter. The caffeine content of green tea is lesser than that of coffee; just the appropriate amount to optimally ‘stimulate’ your brain cells without causing jittery effects, hyperactivity or sleep deprivation. Caffeine blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter called Adenosine in the brain. Thus there is an increase in the firing of neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. Subsequently there is a positive effect on your mood, vigilance, memory and spontaneity.
Green tea also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which together with light amounts of caffeine increases your brain productivity and improves your outlook.

3. Improve your immune system

The unique nutrients and proteins present in green tea boosts the state of your immunity system and helps in improving your body’s resistance against a multitude of diseases.
2. Improve overall health

Unsweetened brewed green tea is a zero calorie beverage. Just to emphasise on what we have already stated above, drinking green tea can go a long way in keeping you healthy, (hopefully wealthy) and wise!
It is interesting to note that green tea has been historically used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine to control bleeding and heal wounds, aid digestion, improve heart and mental health and also to regulate body temperature.

1. Fight the risk of cancer

The antioxidants that are present in tea help reduce the risk of many cancers. Green tea contains anti-carcinogens that can fight breast, colon, colorectal, skin, lung, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, liver, ovarian, prostate and oral cancers. Green tea inhibits carcinogenic cell growth by curbing the growth of new blood vessels that feed them.