You don’t have to be a tea nut to see that green tea is the best possible beverage out there. Not only is it perfect to chase away the glooms of winter, it is also extremely good for you. Unlike black tea, green tea avoids the fermentation process, which helps it retain all the good stuff like antioxidants and polyphenols. The end result? Tons and tons of health benefits. Let’s look at a few.
- Weight Loss. Yup, now we know we have your attention. Green tea speeds up your metabolism. The polyphenol works to boost levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories.
- Diabetes. Green tea helps regulate glucose levels , which slows your blood sugar levels from rise after you eat. Thus high insulin spikes don’t happen as often and your food doesn’t directly become fat. Yay!
- Heart Disease. Scientists think, green tea works on the lining of blood vessels. it helps keep them relaxed and better able to take on changes in blood pressure. It may also protect against blood clots, which are the main cause of heart attacks.
- Esophageal Cancer. It can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, but it’s also widely thought to kill cancer cells in general without damaging the healthy tissue around them.
- Cholesterol. Green tea reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.
- Tooth Decay. Studies suggests that the chemical antioxidant “catechin” in tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, dental caries and other dental conditions
- Blood Pressure. Having green tea regularly is thought to reduce risk of high blood pressure.
- Depression. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It apparently has a relaxing and tranquilizing effect on people. Happy feels all around.
- Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial. Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from influenza to cancer. Studies even show that green tea helps stop the spread of many diseases.
- Skincare. Ladies, look alive. Green tea can also help with wrinkles and the signs of ageing, This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in the tea. Plus, if you shmear green tea on your face after going out in the sun, it can help reduce sun damage. Maybe wait for it to cool down though.
All that being said, one cup won’t do you much good. If you want the tea to help you in any way, you have to drink at least 3-4 cups a day. So the next time you come to Boom Breakfast, the best restaurant in Toronto to enjoy morning tea, we know you’ll be there a while if you order green tea.
