The tea plant is ancient. The insatiable need for humans to consume tea has precipitated war declarations, enabled empires, and shaped human culture for thousands of years.
Tea has probably been cultivated and consumed by human beings for over 5,000 years, and it probably originated in China.
Ancient people probably chewed tea leaves to consume their benefits. Later, tea became an integral part of Asian culture before it became wildly popular in the rest of the world.
Legend says that sometime in 2737 B.C.E., Chinese Emperor Nong Shen was boiling water in his garden. Some tea leaves fell in the hot water; he drank it and started the tea-drinking craze that continues to this day.
Whether you believe that legend or not, it is undeniable that tea is so popular that over two-thirds of the world's population drinks it.
About 75% of the most commonly produced tea in the world is black tea.
About 5% of the world's tea comprises oolong, yellow, white, and others.
But 20% of the tea in the tea available globally is green tea, which has become the most popular kind in recent decades.
Green tea is highly touted in marketing campaigns because it has a lot of natural antioxidants, which are natural compounds that prevent the onset of numerous diseases and even delay the aging process.
The green tea hype has exploded so much that people are now taking green tea extract to get its benefits without drinking it all of the time.
A green tea extract is a hyper-concentrated form of green tea. For people who don't like drinking tea or who don't drink green tea often, a green tea extract pill or powder packet contains the same nutritional and health benefits as one cup.
So, what are the inherent benefits of green tea extract? Here are eight you should know about now.
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8 Benefits You Should Know
Green tea extract is a health supplement that is chemically derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. All tea is made by processing the Camellia sinensis species, but only green tea is made by steaming, drying, and then pan-frying the tea leaves.
Green tea extract contains concentrated amounts of natural green tea compounds featuring vitamins, flavonoids, polyphenols, and antioxidants.
You can consume green tea extract in pill form or a powder or liquid extract that you mix with water. And each green extract supplement serving is the equivalent of drinking one cup of green tea.
Here are eight benefits of consuming green tea extract.
Abundant in Antioxidants
Green tea, and green tea extract, are full of highly concentrated amounts of antioxidants.
Antioxidants are natural molecules that keep free radicals in check. Free radicals are biological molecules that have some health benefits. For example, free radicals can stave off infections in the human body.
However, when free radicals outnumber the number of antioxidants in your body, a process called oxidative stress occurs.
As free radicals travel throughout the human body, they damage and sometimes destroy every cell they come in contact with. Free radical proliferation can cause the development of numerous diseases, cancer, and heart problems.
Although science has not proven it yet 100%, many experts believe that free radicals are responsible for the aging process.
Green tea extract is full of polyphenol antioxidants, which are also known as catechins. A kind of catechin called epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, is believed to be the most beneficial kind.
The more catechins you have in your body, the more antioxidants will be generated. Catechins signal the human body to increase its antioxidant levels.
Supports Heart Health
Taking a 379-milligram dose of green tea extract every day has been scientifically proven to incrementally improve heart health.
Green tea extract supplements reduce inflammation in tissue and blood vessels. And when inflammation is reduced in blood vessels, high blood pressure becomes normalized.
But most importantly, reduced inflammation also means that blood circulation to and from the heart is also improved.
Green tea extract also reduces the buildup of bad cholesterol, which causes heart disease.
Some medical studies suggest that drinking one cup of green tea every day, along with living a healthy lifestyle and exercising, will cumulatively reduce the odds of developing heart disease in a lifetime.
Improves Cognitive Function
Multiple scientific studies have shown that drinking green tea regularly, or taking a daily green tea extract supplement, will substantially and continually improve cognitive function over a lifetime.
The catechin EGCG, a powerful antioxidant, has been medically proven to effectively protect the brain from the oxidative stress caused by free radicals.
Further, green tea extract slows the onset of cognition, disrupting brain diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia. Taking a daily green tea extract enhances cognition and memory and promotes neuroplasticity.
Some scientific studies suggest that consuming green tea extract regularly can protect the brain in the event of heavy metal poisoning.
You may be able to improve your cognitive function incrementally every day by consuming 27.5 grams of green tea extract daily.
May Help With Weight Loss
The natural caffeine and catechins found in green tea extract have been scientifically proven to enhance metabolism and promote weight loss.
Catechins and caffeine have been shown to regulate the hormones responsible for thermogenesis. Thermogenesis is when the human body burns calories to produce body heat and aid digestion.
In other words, green tea extract makes the human body more efficient when burning calories.
The catechin EGCG has been shown to augment the metabolism process and even slow down or inhibit the development of fat cells.
May Help Prevent Cancer
Cancer is an incurable medical condition that is caused by abnormal cells and bodily tissues growing and proliferating in the body.
Green tea extract supplements could replace cancerous cells with healthy ones.
Some medical research suggests that taking a green tea extract daily could reduce your chance of developing cancer to 3%.
Improves Skin
Taking green tea extract promotes the generation of antioxidants in the body, which staves off free radicals. Taking green tea extract daily could slow down the cell destruction caused by free radicals and slow the aging process.
Green tea extract can also improve any skin problems caused by acne, wart, rosacea, dermatitis, and more.
Improves Your Liver Function
Consuming green tea extract could reduce inflammation in the liver, liver fat deposits, and oxidative stress in the liver.
Great After Workout Drink
After working out, muscles experience tears, strain, and inflammation. Taking green tea extract after a workout could repair damaged muscles at the cellular level.
Some Side Effects To Be Aware Of
Green tea extracts have some side effects you should know about.
Consuming too much green tea extract can cause:
- Upset stomach
- Headache
- Inability to absorb iron
- Anemia
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Osteoporosis
- Irregular heartbeat
Consume green tea extract in moderation or as per your doctor's direction.
How Much Should You Drink?
You should take 250 milligrams to 500 milligrams of green tea extract daily.
Take any more than that in a day, and the supplement will act as a toxic substance in your body. Or it will cause some of the previously mentioned side effects.
Consult with a doctor to determine how much green tea extract you should consume daily. Otherwise, never exceed the recommended daily dosage on the label.
Use in Moderation
If you want the benefits of green tea without drinking it, green tea extract is the way to go.
Just use them in moderation. And exercise daily and adapt to a healthier eating lifestyle. Taking green tea extract for its own sake while living an unhealthy eating and exercise lifestyle will not make you healthier.
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