There aren’t many people who dispute the healthiness of green tea. The antioxidant-rich hot drink has been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, but only in recent years has its usage become associated with fitness fanatics. Here are just seven reasons why adding green tea to your health regimen could make all the difference.
Increases energy
One of the most common claims made by green tea drinkers is that they enjoy a more steady supply of energy than their coffee-guzzling peers. Both drinks contain caffeine of course, but sipping green tea doesn’t lead to the dreaded crash (as with coffee), meaning energy levels remain stable.
Boosts metabolism
Green tea’s status as a metabolism-booster is at least 80% of the reason why fitness buffs love it so much. The green stuff has been shown to prolong norepinephrine, the fat-burning accelerating hormone. The catechins and caffeine also help the body burn more calories than normal. In one oft-cited study green tea increased fat oxidation by 17%, suggesting the drink may selectively promote the burning of adipose tissue. If you’re trying to decrease abdominal body fat, try incorporating green tea into your day-to-day: some even drink it pre-workout!
Improves cholesterol
Green tea’s ability to lower cholesterol and blood pressure is well-documented. In one 2013 review of 11 studies involving over 800 people, daily consumption of green tea was shown to do just that. The results supported the findings of an earlier 2011 study, which proved that drinking catchein-enriched green tea led to a reduction in cholesterol. Win!
Enhances brain function
The bioactive compounds in green tea are rightly heralded for their protective effects on neurons. They may even help you avoid age-related cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s in your twilight years.
Sharpens concentration
Sometimes the gym can be a dull place: even super-motivated minds can wander now and then. Thankfully a side effect of the L-Theanine in green tea is an increase in the production of serotonin and dopamine. This duo of chemicals are known to boost mood, improve memory and sharpen focus – just what you need on the gym floor.
Protects the heart
A wide-ranging study of Japanese citizens published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed green tea to be effective in lowering all-cause mortality – including cardiovascular disease. Participants who drank at least five cups a day showed a significantly lower risk of dying (particularly from CVD) than those who drank less than one cup. While getting five cups down you every day might seem like a stretch, the benefits of sipping a couple are obvious.
Has a detox effect
The active ingredients in green tea mean the drink is a natural detoxifier. The polyphenols it contains help to neutralise free radicals, a key component of toxin elimination and overall liver health. Green tea also increases enzyme activity which drives the first important phases of detoxification.
There you have it: seven serious benefits of green tea. Take that, coffee! Incidentally, our love of green tea is such that we’ve incorporated 150mg into our all-natural weight management supplement Thermoblaze. Keen to start targeting those stubborn areas of fat? Try Thermoblaze today.
