Benefits of Green Tea

In the 7 Nutrition Tips to Build Muscle and Lose Fat article, I list the two best sources of non-calorie containing beverages: water and green tea.  Although I mainly consume water throughout the day, I still try to drink at least two cups of green tea per day.  There are many proven health benefits to drinking green tea.  Here are a few of the most significant:

1. Weight loss.  Green tea can boast your metabolism and hence can help you burn fat.
2. Prevent Cancer.  The antioxidants in green tea can help protect your cells from damage that is believed to be linked to cancer.
3. Lower Cholesterol.  Green tea has been shown to lower cholesterol, which can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.  Furthermore, green tea increases the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol by decreasing the bad cholesterol.
4. Anti-Aging.  The antioxidants in green tea can protect your body against free radicals.  This promotes longevity.
5. Strong Bones.  The fluoride in green tea keeps your bones strong by preserving bone density.
6. Prevent High Blood Pressure.  Green tea can prevent angiotensin, which can lead to high blood pressure.
7. Control Blood Sugar.  The polyphenols and polysaccharides in green tea can help control blood and sugar levels.
8. Boast Your Immune System.  The polyphenols and flavenoids in green tea can boast your immune system and help prevent infection.
9. Prevent Cold and Flu.  Green tea contains Vitamin C, which can help treat colds and flu.
10. Relieve Stress.  Green tea contain and amino acid, L-theanine, which can help reduce stress and relieve anxiety.

Recommendations. I recommend drinking at least one cup of green tea per day.  A simple approach is to have a cup each day with breakfast.  You can also try making some in the morning and taking it with you to work in a thermos.  This way you can drink green tea throughout the day.

Decaffeinated Green Tea.  If you use decaffeinated green tea, purchase a branch that is “naturally decaffeinated.”  The natural decaffeination process will preserve most of the antioxidants and benefits of drinking green tea.