Why is Green Tea Good For You Really? (Worth the hype?)

Research Links:
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Loose Leaf: • Intro to Loose Leaf | ...
Green tea is the 2nd most popular beverage in the world by consumption and is touted to be one of the most healthy substances in existence. If you look on the internet there are no shortage of claims of the almost mythical health benefits associated with it. The only problem is that there is very little mention in detail why it is so good for you scientifically speaking. So without further adieu here is why green tea is good for you, really.
In my research, it seemed that there are two different types of claims made about green tea, preventative and energetic.
Let’s start with the preventative. Tea, in general, is rich in a group of compounds known as Polyphenols. They are a group of bio-active substances that are behind many of the effects associated with tea and are most noted for reducing inflammation. Polyphenols make up about 30% of green tea by weight. Green tea is especially rich in a specific Polyphenol called Epigallocatechin Gallate or EGCG for short. EGCG is a particularly strong natural antioxidant. Antioxidants are instrumental in eliminating free-radicals and protecting from cell damage, which are key parts of many diseases and the aging process. Many of the preventative health benefits are based on EGCG.
Now on to the energetic. Green tea contains a fair amount of caffeine, about 35mg per 8oz but this can vary based on a variety of factors including freshness, and brewing technique. On its own, the caffeine isn’t enough to have the same effect as something stronger like black tea or coffee, but thanks to another compound called L-theanine things to get better. L-theanine is an amino acid that aids in the transmission and binding of neurotransmitters in the brain. When consumed with caffeine, the L-theanine causes the caffeine to bind more effectively with the neurotransmitters, Resulting both in a longer lasting and more potent effect while reducing the crash at the end to a gentle taper. This is where the claim about increased energy and brain function comes from. Surprisingly, this is also where many of the weight loss claims come from. Caffeine increases your heart rate which causes increases calorie consumption often leading to modest weight loss.
There are many different studies and claim surrounding green tea, but the majority of them lead back to one of the two we covered. Anyway, I hope that you found this deep dive into the science of green tea interesting and informative. I’ll leave some links in the description as a starting place if you are interested in doing your own research. One final note that is worth mentioning, several studies have shown that there is a dramatic impact on the effectiveness of green tea based on the quality and freshness of the tea leaves. A great way to ensure high-quality tea is to use loose leaf. I’ll leave a link on the screen and in the description to a great video about getting into loose leaf tea.
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[@keeks129]

i love that you leave links to further explore your tea topics

[@daviniseven]

I quite like your informative content, hope you continue doing them! Learning more about my favorite drink (its effects as well as different ways to enjoy it) is such an interesting experience.

[@BeyondtheBag]

I am so glad you enjoy it!

[@sujaljethwani6084]

Thank you!