Green tea
Green tea contains health-promoting compounds.
What is green tea?
The tea plant, Camellia sinensis, is packed with health-promoting polyphenol compounds known as catechins. One of the most abundant and widely studied catechins in green tea is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is a powerful anti-aging phytonutrient.
Whole tea consumption, extracts of green tea, and individual isolated catechins, have all demonstrated health benefits.
Green tea benefits
Green tea polyphenols have been associated with many diverse health benefits:
- Brain health: Green tea offers neuroprotective effects, helping to protect nerve cells and function. It can boost the creation of new brain cells and neural connections.
- Oxidation protection: Green tea polyphenols are capable of directly neutralizing destructive free radicals. They've also been shown to inhibit oxidative stress.
- Cellular health: Green tea can support healthy cellular proliferation.
- Cholesterol management: Green tea, green tea extracts and EGCG can help maintain already-healthy blood cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride levels.
- Metabolic health: Green tea and its polyphenols, including EGCG have been shown to help preserve metabolic health, and help maintain already-healthy glucose levels.
- Weight loss, detox & immunity: Due to fluid-stabilising properties, green tea is shown to promote weight loss, boosting the effectiveness of enzymatic phase II detoxification, and enhancing immune function.
- Anti-aging: Scientists have identified scores of mechanisms by which green tea wards off disease and the ravages of aging. There have been many human studies demonstrating that green tea intake is significantly associated with reduced risk for age-related cognitive decline.
