The Chinese people have written many treatises on the benefits of green tea. It is believed that this drink allows you to cope with many diseases, burns fat, and is simply delicious and tonic.
There is a legend that even 3 thousand years ago, a hero from Asia traveled the world and green tea leaves accidentally fell into his cauldron. He immediately noted its invigorating properties and the drink began to be used as a medicinal decoction. Later, green tea became the most common drink consumed daily.
Tea appeared in Russia in the 17th century. Now its popularity in our country is very big. We are the 4th consumer of this drink after Turkey, India and China. An interesting fact is that in some countries, green tea leaves are used as food, adding to salads and other dishes.
| Calories per 100 g, (kcal): | 0 |
| Protein in 100 g, (g): | 0.0 |
| Fats in 100 g, (g): | 0.0 |
| Carbohydrates in 100 g, (g): | 0.0 |
| Glycemic index: | 0 |
The composition and calorie content of green tea, vitamins and minerals
Green tea is able to fill the body with almost the entire list of vitamins. Especially a lot of vitamin C and R. There are minerals: manganese, selenium, chromium and zinc, a large amount of organic acids.
The high content of carbohydrates in tea is 67%, proteins 25%. There are only 56 kcal in 100 ml of the drink. Tea is valued for the harmonious content of flavonoids and alkaloids. Caffeine is especially valued in tea, more precisely, theine, which has a much milder effect on the body in comparison with caffeine. Catechin acts as an antioxidant, which is very useful in many chronic pathologies.
Features of different types and varieties of green tea
The peculiarity of green tea is that it is produced from tea leaves, which are subject to immediate drying after harvest. Depending on the processing method, there are:
- tea, which is roasted after picking and after drying;
- additionally dried in an oven;
- after collection, the leaves are poured over with boiling water and only after that they are dried, in a twisted state;
- dried leaves outdoors.
The best varieties include: ” Bilochun “, ” Gunpowder “, ” Xihu Longjing “. The last variety has an orchid aroma.
The world’s leading producers are: India, China, Georgia and Japan.
Benefits of green tea
This tasty and fragrant drink prevents the development of atherosclerosis, helps to cope with the harmful ultraviolet effects of the sun and stimulates the process of losing weight. The drink even helps to lower the level of glucose in the blood, stops the growth of cancer cells.
Tea removes excess water from the body, due to its mild diuretic effect. Helps to quickly cope with colds and removes toxins from the body.
The drink allows you to cope with physical fatigue and get rid of depression.
Benefits of green tea for women
For the body of women, tea is useful for its rich content of phytohormones, they help stop cell aging and perfectly tone the skin. Tea is an effective prophylactic against the development of breast cancer, blocks the growth of hepatocytes , which, in fact, are the cause of neoplasms.
Tea helps to cope with the symptoms of menopause and improves the condition during hormonal changes in the body. Promotes recovery in the presence of diseases of the urogenital area and reduces pain in the presence of problems with the musculoskeletal system.
Just one cup of the drink will slow down the aging process and make the skin much younger and more beautiful. The drink helps to lose weight and cleanse the body of toxins. It helps to speed up metabolic processes and even allows you to get rid of the feeling of hunger.
Tea is widely used for cosmetic purposes. They can wash and rinse their hair.
Benefits of green tea for men
First of all, tea improves potency and has a positive effect on the reproductive system as a whole. The drink strengthens the immune forces and increases sexual desire.
If problems with the prostate have begun, then a cup of tea helps prevent the further development of the disease, as it has a diuretic effect. Tea also stimulates the production of testosterone. Tea will help increase stamina and make it easier to endure physical labor.
Green tea is an effective hangover cure. On an empty stomach, you need to drink a cup of the drink with a little honey.
Green tea during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Tea allows you to get rid of drowsiness during pregnancy and prevent stomach problems. Eliminates excessive sweating and helps to lose weight. Green tea, due to diuretic properties, relieves puffiness.
Increases milk production during lactation. Although not all doctors recommend drinking this drink. Much of this is due to the presence of caffeine. This substance speeds up the heartbeat and can cause high blood pressure.
For this reason, the use of green tea before and after childbirth must be agreed with your doctor.
Can children have green tea?
WHO advises introducing green tea into the baby’s diet no earlier than 1-1.5 years. However, the drink should not contain flavors and other chemical impurities. It is unacceptable to give tea before bedtime, as it acts as a stimulant. Tea is best given warm and not strong.
If the baby loves sweets, then it is better to add a little honey to tea, but not sugar. Cups of tea should be half that for an adult.
Is green tea good for weight loss
Green tea is often included in diets, in particular, in Japanese. The drink can be drunk throughout the day. It reduces appetite and removes excess fluid from the body.
Thanks to polyphenols, tea enhances heat transfer, which contributes to the fastest burning of body fat. For these purposes, you will have to drink 3 to 5 cups a day.
Tea, moreover, calms the nervous system and stabilizes the work of the heart muscle.
Green tea for diabetes
In the presence of diabetes, green tea is recommended for use. It allows you to control spikes in blood sugar. This has been proven by many months of research by specialists from the University of Pennsylvania (USA).
How to take green tea for medicinal purposes
Green tea is recommended for burns. The tannins present in the drink have a hemostatic effect and stimulate the acceleration of wound healing. Tea can also be used to clean wounds.
Thanks to fluoride, tea strengthens tooth enamel. Polyphenols strengthen muscles and activate the work of the spleen and liver.
The use of green tea in cosmetology
For cosmetic purposes, tea extract is widely used. It is added to products for skin, hair and nails. The extract helps prevent early aging and strengthen nails.
At home, you can rinse your hair and treat your skin with tea. A cotton swab is moistened with tea and wiped over the face.
Green tea raises or lowers blood pressure
Indeed, green tea stimulates an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, the drink is not recommended to drink with hypertension. To fall asleep quickly, do not drink tea in the evening.
Green tea harm and contraindications
Despite the high content of antioxidants in green tea, their benefits are still in doubt. It is believed that their excessive use brings only harm to the body. In light of this, it is not recommended to abuse tea. Drinking more than 6 small cups per day is not recommended.
Strongly brewed green tea in large quantities can cause tachycardia and arrhythmia, increase blood pressure and provoke insomnia.
It is not recommended to drink tea on an empty stomach, as it stimulates the production of gastric juice, which without food can provoke the appearance of erosions and ulcers on the mucous membrane.
How to choose and store green tea
A quality product has a light jasmine scent and a greenish-yellow tint. Good grades of tea have sweetish smack. If there is a smell of hay or fish, this is poor-quality tea.
It is better to give preference to loose tea, not tea bags. Tea is recommended to be purchased in foil packaging. It is unacceptable to store tea in a transparent container.