Green Tea is a type of tea made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea contains antioxidants called polyphenols. The most active polyphenol in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Benefits
The polyphenols in green tea help the body to repair the damage done to it by age, time, and the environment. These repairs can lead to many health benefits, including:
- Prevent atherosclerosis - Green tea's antioxidants may help you prevent atherosclerosis.
- Decreasing LDL - Green tea's antioxidant may help to lower the amount of bad cholesterol circulating in your blood.
- Increasing HDL - Green tea's antioxidants may help to raise the amount of good cholesterol circulating in your blood.
- Decreasing the risk of heart disease and stroke - Green tea may reduce your risk of getting heart disease, having a heart attack or having a stroke by preventing atherosclerosis, decreasing LDL and increasing HDL.
- Reducing the risk of cancer -Green tea's antioxidants may reduce your risk of getting multiple types of cancers.
- Boosting metabolism - Green tea's polyphenols along with the caffeine in the leaves may help to increase your metabolism. This would allow you to burn more calories 24 hours a day, eventually leading to weight loss.
How to get it
To get the full benefits of green tea, I would suggest you either drink 4 cups of brewed green tea a day or take 500mg of green tea extract (standardized for EGCG) once daily.
**Please consult your physician, registered dietitian, or certified fitness professional before starting or changing your diet or exercise program.**
Sources:
Mayo Clinic
University of Maryland
VitaGuide
Laugh and lose weight at the Laugh Out Loud Weight Loss Blog.
Return to Dr. Kal's Weight Loss Blog Main Page
**Please consult your physician, registered dietitian, or certified fitness professional before starting or changing your diet or exercise program.**
