Green tea is a type of tea made from Camellia Sinensis leaves that have not been processed like black tea. Green tea is the most popular type of tea in the world, and it has many potential health benefits. There are also risks to taking green tea for some people. Drinking green tea is something everyone should try at some point in their lives to see if they like it. The following are the potential benefits and risks of drinking green tea:
Benefits of Green Tea
Drinking green tea has several benefits, including:
Cancer Prevention
Green tea contains a chemical called EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), an antioxidant that can reduce cancer risk. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in developed countries, and scientists believe that green tea can reduce the risk of many types of cancer. You can order bulk organic green tea, and it may help prevent various types of cancer.
Healthy Heart
Drinking green tea regularly can also help protect the heart. Green tea reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol, reducing the risk of having a stroke or cardiac arrest by around 50%. If you drink green tea every day with regular exercise, you will significantly reduce your risk of heart disease.
Weight Loss
People who drink green tea regularly have reported that it has helped them lose weight. They lose weight because green tea contains caffeine which speeds up metabolism and makes the body burn fat quickly. Drinking green tea may also make people feel full, so they eat less and, therefore, lose weight.
Brain Function
EGCG can also improve brain function and protect it from age-related decline. Brain function starts to decline around the age of 40, but drinking green tea regularly can delay this process.
Risks of Green Tea
There are also risks associated with drinking green tea, which include:
Anxiety and Restlessness
EGCG can also cause anxiety and restlessness in some people. If you start feeling anxious or restless after drinking green tea, you should stop drinking it until you know if it is causing these side effects.
Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
Pregnant women should avoid green tea because EGCG can cross the placenta and reach the fetus, which may cause abnormal fetal development in some cases. Green tea also contains caffeine which can be harmful to developing fetuses. Pregnant women should avoid green tea during their pregnancies, and breastfeeding women should also avoid it because caffeine can pass into breast milk.
People with Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency is when the body does not have enough iron to function properly. Green tea may prevent the body from absorbing iron, so people deficient in iron should avoid green tea.
People Who Are Taking Certain Medications
Green tea can interact with certain medications, so it should be avoided if you are taking any of these types of medications:
- Hormonal birth control pills
- Blood pressure medication
- Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication
The list above is not complete, so if you are taking any other medication, it is best to speak to your doctor before drinking green tea.
Liver Damage
People who drink green tea regularly have reported that it has made their skin, eyes, and urine yellow, known as jaundice, and it occurs when the liver can not remove toxins from the blood properly. Drinking too much green tea can damage the liver in some cases, so people with hepatitis should avoid this type of tea entirely.
Overall, green tea has many potential health benefits and few risks. It is something that everyone should try at some point in their lives to see if they like it. If you experience any side effects after drinking green tea, you should stop drinking it until you speak with a doctor. Green tea is known to have many positive health effects, but drinkers may experience some minor side effects from time to time.
