What Happens to Your Body if You Drink Green Tea Every Day?
Have you ever wondered what happens to your body if you drink green tea every day? This natural drink has become popular around the world due to its medicinal properties. While it’s not a first-line treatment for disease, recent research does support its health properties.
Unlike other types of tea, green tea doesn’t go through fermentation processes. As a result, it’s able to retain all of its antioxidants and polyphenols. For that reason, the consumption of this beverage apparently promotes well-being and helps prevent chronic diseases. Let’s look at it in more detail.
The health benefits of drinking green tea every day
According to information published in Chinese Medicine, this drink can prevent various diseases. Specifically, many of its medicinal properties are attributed to its catechin content, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate.
In addition, this same journal highlights that this substance is a source of:
- Proteins: 15-20 percent in dry weight
- Amino acids: One to four percent in dry weight
- Carbohydrates: Five to seven percent in dry weight
- Minerals and trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, chromium, manganese, iron, copper, and zinc, among others: Five percent in dry weight
- Trace amounts of lipids: Linoleic and α-linolenic acids
- Sterols: Stigmasterol
- Vitamins B, C, and E
As you can see, it’s not surprising for it to be thought of as a good supplement for improving the quality of your diet. However, it’s essential to clarify that it isn’t a substitute for medical treatments and doesn’t have “miraculous” properties. You should add it to your well-balanced diet as a complement.
Consult a doctor if you have a health problem; only they can diagnose you and prescribe treatment. Let them know if you drink this tea daily as it can interact with some kinds of medications. Now that we’ve made that clear, let’s go over the health benefits of this substance in more detail.
It can help with weight loss
The high concentration of polyphenols in green tea is connected to its ability to improve metabolism and reduce weight. These antioxidant substances increase energy expenditure and keep the body from storing calories as fat. However, you also need to follow a healthy diet and do physical activity.
You should also read 3 Green Tea Beverages to Melt Belly Fat
Promotes the prevention of diabetes
According to a publication in Integrative Medicine Research, the antioxidants in this natural drink may help control blood glucose and prevent type 2 diabetes. In addition, drinking it every day after eating prevents insulin peaks and the storage of sugars in fat.
Green tea every day promotes the health of your heart
A small cup of this beverage every day can lower the risk of various kinds of cardiovascular disease, such as the accumulation of cholesterol and circulatory disorders.
According to research published in Current Medicinal Chemistry, its antioxidant substances, specifically catechins, can lower the risk of blood clots, reduce clogging of the arteries, and help prevent the build-up of lipids in the blood.
As a result, its consumption is also associated with a lower risk of conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, thrombosis, and angina pectoris, among others.
Prevents cell degeneration
The antioxidants in green tea create a protective barrier against the harmful effects of cell degeneration. They also stimulate the activity of neurons. According to research published in the journal Molecules, green tea may help to prevent and treat neurodegenerative diseases, including cognitive dysfunction and memory loss.
Prevents kidney stones
A little green tea every day can help prevent renal calcification and kidney stones. In addition, according to a study published in the Journal of Urology, its extracts reduce the production and size of calcium oxalate sediments. (These turn into kidney stones after they settle in the kidneys.)
Like this article? We think you may also enjoy reading: 7 Warning Signs of Kidney Disease
Prevents cavities
Catechins, a type of chemical antioxidant found in green tea, help fight the viruses and bacteria that cause throat infections, cavities, and other mouth conditions.
According to the conclusions of a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, green tea mouthwash proved to be equally effective as chlorhexidine in controlling bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans.
Drinking green tea every day is good for the joints
Gallic acid, present in foods such as walnuts, pomegranate, or green tea, combined with stretching routines, reverses joint inflammation and promotes the generation of proteins such as collagen in healthy cartilage.
Another documented benefit of gallic acid and green tea is they can inhibit inflammatory allergic reactions. The in vivo and in vitro anti-allergic effect of gallic acid suggests its application as an agent in inflammatory allergic diseases.
Sports performance
Green tea and ginger tea have been linked to improved athletic performance, which is valuable for soccer players seeking to improve their performance on the field. However, research determined that while ginger tea had a negative impact on the endurance of the participants, green tea did have positive results (p= 0.006) on the speed and agility of said soccer players.
It has chemopreventive properties
The consumption of green tea could prevent types of cancer such as prostate, gastrointestinal, breast, lung, ovarian, and bladder cancer. This is because antioxidants prevent cell damage caused by free radicals, and act as a chemopreventive.
Thus, this feature could be a great contribution to the treatment of kidney transplant patients prone to skin cancer. Furthermore, topical preparations with polyphenols in this substance also prevent the harmful effects of UV light.
On the same note, oral mucositis is one of the most frequent side effects of cancer treatment. In turn, green tea as a mouthwash (in the topical treatment of oral conditions) prevents and acts against mucositis in cancer patients under chemotherapy treatment.
It has anti-flu properties
Catechins, such as EGCG, the most abundant in green tea, minimize the effects of influenza A and B viruses. This has been described in scientific works: Thanks to the high natural content of catechins in Green tea, Camellia sinensis, could be the therapeutic answer to the prevention and treatment of influenza A.”
Do you drink green tea every day? Be aware of its contraindications
The beneficial properties of this substance are backed by research. However, it’s not without its contraindications and side effects. Its consumption shouldn’t exceed two cups a day, since it may have negative consequences such as:
- Headaches
- Nervousness
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty sleeping
- Irritability
- Increased heart rate
- Dizziness
You should also avoid green tea if you’re on medication or drinking alcoholic beverages. This is due to its caffeine content. When you combine caffeine with other substances, it can cause undesired effects.
Experts recommend that pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding avoid drinking green tea. This is because it can cause adverse effects for the baby. Patients with high blood pressure, anemia, and digestive issues should also avoid drinking green tea or do so under medical supervision.
Responsible consumption of green tea is what determines whether or not it becomes beneficial for your health. Make sure you don’t exceed two cups of it per day and discover what it can do for your health.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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