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The Benefits of Drinking Black and Green Tea

Updated: Aug 3, 2022


The herbal tea market is gaining popularity and continues to grow every year, but black and green teas are still the top choices when it comes to what's good for you. Both teas contain numerous health benefits such as boosting the immune system, preventing cancer and fighting off inflammation.


The main difference between black tea and green tea is that black tea is oxidized and green tea is not!


Black tea leaves are rolled and exposed to the air in order to trigger the oxidation process. It also includes an ingredient called the camellia sinensis plant, which is rich in bioactive compounds such as L-theanine, catechins and caffeine - all of which are linked to various health benefits.


Green tea extract appears lighter in color, since it is processed to prevent oxidation. Green tea contains theine and caffeine also. Its polyphenol properties make it a great antioxidant, which removes free radicals from your body.


There’s no rule as to how many cups of tea you should drink in a day. However, The New England Journal mentioned that drinking too much black tea could harm your kidneys and give you kidney stones. So, it’s best to drink tea in moderation.



5 Health Benefits of Drinking Black and Green Tea


1. Lowers your blood pressure

Short-term research has shown that drinking tea, whether it's black or green tea, can lower your blood pressure, can improve your vascular reactivity, which measures how well your blood vessels respond to emotional and physical stress and reduce damaging LDL cholesterol levels.


According to Dr. Howard Sesso (an associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and associate medicine professor at Harvard Medical School) tea consists of epicatechins and catechins, a group of plant elements that help calm down inflammation and may reduce the build up inside the arteries. Green tea has slightly larger amounts of these elements than black tea.


A study found that regularly drinking black tea, including orange pekoe varieties can boost heart health and reverse blood pressure. So if you’re searching for a way to prevent getting cardiovascular disease, you might want to start drinking black tea.


2. Protects you against cancer

We all know that cancer is not preventable and over a hundred types of cancer exist. Consuming black tea can help counteract cancer cell survival, thanks to its polyphenols, which remove free radicals from the body and make it a great antioxidant.


This study found that the polyphenols effect in black tea on breast cancer can help overcome the scope of hormone-dependent breast tumors. One test-tube research also analyzed the effects of the polyphenols on cancer cells. According to the results, black tea and green tea both play a role in regulating the growth of cancer cells and reducing the development of new cancer cells. Black tea may not be deemed as an option for cancer treatment, but some studies have confirmed that black tea can help reduce cancer cells.


3. Reduces stress

If you’re looking for a stress-reliever, drinking black teas and green teas is the way to go. Drinking decaffeinated green tea can help with situations that provoke your anxiety and encourage you to sleep soundly at night. A study by Nutrients (2017) showed that individuals who consumed decaffeinated green tea for a week have fallen asleep easily and felt less stressed. Another study showed that drinking five cups of green tea each day can reduce psychological distress by up to 20 percent. Aside from green tea and black tea, oolong tea, white tea, and even purple tea can also help with relieving stress.


Researchers from the University College London (2010) have discovered that drinking black tea can also decrease stress levels after six weeks with cortisol levels declining significantly.


4. Helps you lose weight

If you’re looking for an alternative to help you lose weight, green tea extract can assist you in boosting your metabolism. Studies show that green tea leaves may lessen body fat, especially in the abdominal part. Green tea is considered one of the healthiest beverages you can find.


Many claim that green tea can increase fat burning and lose weight with regular consumption. So, if you’re looking for a healthier way to achieve your fitness goals, you might want to start drinking green tea from now on, but don’t forget to combine it with a well-balanced diet and regular exercise.


5. Improve your brain function

Aside from keeping you alert, tea can also boost your brain function. Green and black tea includes caffeine, which is a stimulant that can also be found in coffee. Green tea doesn’t contain as much caffeine, but can still produce a response without giving you palpitations. Caffeine can enhance aspects of brain function, such as reaction, memory, vigilance and mood, as it blocks adenosine - an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.


Green tea contains another compound that contributes to brain function, which is the amino acid L-theanine. This ingredient crosses the blood-brain barrier and balances the effects of caffeine. According to one study, these two components may be synergistic and have better attention compared to when being used alone.


Other components that you can find in herbal teas that contribute to brain function include polyphenols, catechins, antioxidants and other phytochemicals. These ingredients do not only fight cancer cells and boost metabolism but are also beneficial for your brain and psychological health.


Conclusion

When it comes to drinking the right type of tea for benefiting your health, green and black tea are the top choices. They can prevent you from getting cancer, reduce your stress levels, improve your brain function, protect you from cardiovascular diseases and even help you to lose weight.


Repost: https://expertfitness.org/health-benefits-of-drinking-black-and-green-tea/

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