Green tea is often touted as one of the healthiest types of teas, and it’s not hard to see why. While drinking the tea without making any other changes won’t help you to lose weight, it has a number of benefits that could make it easier. Weight loss isn’t the only benefit of the tea, either. Express.co.uk reveals the eight health benefits of green tea, according to tea expert with more than 30 years of experience and Chief Educator at VAHDAM India, Ketan Desai.
Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet, according to tea expert Ketan Desai.
Although we’re fond of the traditional breakfast tea in the UK, green tea has a number of health benefits that breakfast tea doesn’t – including weight loss.
Mr Desai explained: “Green tea is made from unoxidized leaves and is one of the least processed types of tea.
“For this reason, it contains the most antioxidants and beneficial polyphenols.
“Green tea has one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants of any tea, it is naturally low in calories and contains less caffeine than black tea and coffee.”
Himalayan green tea in particular is extremely good for your health and delicious, as it is grown on the slopes of the Himalayas where there is a special combination of soil, temperature, rainfall and elevation.
The expert pointed out: “The leaves are vibrant and full, the cup is smooth and crisp, and the flavour is divine – difficult to describe, but amazing to experience.
“The close proximity to the flora and fauna give these Himalayan Green Teas hints of citrusy sweetness that dances on your tongue.
“Swirl it a bit, and layers of complex flavours tingle the sides of your mouth, before melting and lingering into velvety vegetal notes that stay with you long after the cup is over.”
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How does green tea help you lose weight?
As stated, green tea can act as a ‘weight loss’ drink, but it isn’t going to work if your diet and exercise routine aren’t supporting weight loss.
Green tea contains caffeine and a type of flavonoid called catechin, which is an antioxidant.
The most important of these is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a substance that can boost metabolism.
Mr Desai said: “Research suggests that both of these compounds can speed up metabolism.
“Catechin can help to break down excess fat, while caffeine is a well-known stimulant that has been found to aid fat burning and improve exercise performance in numerous studies.
“Both catechin and caffeine which are found naturally in green tea — may have a synergistic effect and can increase the amount of energy the body uses.”
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To see any benefits, you can’t just drink green tea every now and then.
The amount of tea required for health benefits varies greatly among studies, but Mr Desai recommends drinking three to five cups of green tea per day.
On the other hand, he warned: “The optimal amount may vary from one person to the next.
“Very high doses may be problematic for some, but generally, green tea’s benefits far outweigh its risks.
“In fact, drinking green tea consistently may greatly improve your health.”
However, it’s worth noting that if consumed in excess amounts, green tea can have unpleasant side effects including:
- Feeling jittery
- Problems sleeping
- Dehydration
- Headaches
- Stomach irritation (when brewed too strongly or consumed on an empty stomach)
- Stained teeth
The expert also warned: “Iron deficient people should drink green tea one hour after meals or in between meals because it may affect iron absorption.”