What are the benefits of green tea for women?

Dear readers, today I want to talk to you about green tea. Today it has become very popular, even coffee and black tea lovers are paying more and more attention to this drink. And it is fully justified, because in addition to taste and aroma, it gives us health, increases vitality, improves mood. In addition, green tea works very gently, harmlessly, improving the general condition of our body.

Mongols, Buryats, Tibetans, Uyghurs knew from ancient times how useful green tea is, they have been drinking it for centuries and are still drinking it. He helped them survive the cold winters, save themselves from the heat in the summer. Today, this invigorating drink is drunk all over the world. In Russia, it has become popular relatively recently. If we associate black tea with a samovar, home comfort, pies, many people do not consider green tea as tea at all, at the first dose it seems bitter and tasteless.

Many years ago I was brought this wonderful tea of ​​different varieties from China, since then I start my day with a cup of this invigorating drink, I find it unusually delicious and even the taste of ordinary tea has faded before it is ready. green counterpart. To appreciate the taste of the drink, you need to buy a good quality product from a reliable manufacturer, and most importantly, you need to be able to prepare it correctly. Today we will discuss the benefits and harms of green tea and all the subtleties of its preparation.

Composition and calorie content of green tea

Many may have a question – how many calories are in green tea? Calorie-free green tea without sugar is so low that it can be considered zero, it does not contain fats, proteins and carbohydrates. What is green tea and how is it different from black tea? We’ll find out.

Green and black tea. What are the differences?

Green and black tea are different fermented leaves of the same plant. Fermentation is a complex and labor-intensive process of processing tea leaves, which results in one or another color, smell and taste. To obtain the necessary properties, the fermentation process of the tea leaves is stopped after a certain time, which allows to preserve the green color and fresh aroma. Such a drink retains the maximum amount of useful substances, for which it is appreciated all over the world.

Compound

The composition of green tea contains the most important amino acids for our body, catechins and other flavonoids, plant glycosides, tannin, chlorophyll and other useful substances. Green tea saturates us with vitamins C, E, A, F, U, K, P, as well as the most important vitamins B. The drink also contains a lot of mineral salts, including potassium, fluorine, zinc, etc. In total, more than a hundred different substances and compounds were found in these green leaves.

About caffeine

Reasonable question – does green tea contain caffeine? It contains several alkaloids, including caffeine. Although, for the sake of clarity, it must be said that the caffeine in tea differs in its effect from the caffeine in coffee. The tea contains one of the types of caffeine – thein, which has a much milder effect, but its effect is longer. Therefore, green tea invigorates us more than coffee and has far fewer negative side effects. The caffeine content in green tea depends on the place where the tea bush grows, the weather conditions, the time of collection, so it is always different for different varieties and varies from 60 to 85 mg per cup of tea.

Features of green tea

Green tea has many useful and healing properties, but for us, the most important thing about this drink is its ability to slow down the aging of the body and resist the development of oncological processes in it. How useful is green tea? Let’s take a look at its other features:

• It is a great tonic;
• Balances the negative impact of computer and TV on our body;
• Strengthens the immune system;
• Accelerates metabolic processes in the body;
• Promotes the removal of toxins and toxins from our body;
• Eliminates excess calories, promotes weight loss;
• Beneficial effect on sexual function;
• Prevents liver obesity;
• Beneficial effect on the work of the heart;
• Improves blood supply;
• Relieves cerebral vascular spasms;
• Strengthens the nervous system;
• Reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke;
• Reduces the level of “bad” cholesterol;
• Improves the state of stress and depression;
• It has a mild diuretic effect;
• Has a skin rejuvenating effect;
• Stops the development of caries;
• It has antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects;
• Improves body thermoregulation.

Green tea is not just a tonic drink, as many of us believe, it is a healing tool that helps to improve our well-being and prevent many health problems, green tea is good for both women and men, and there are very few restrictions on its use. admission.

Green tea – benefits and harm to the body

As you can see, the benefits of green tea are obvious if you drink it regularly, but within reasonable limits, there should be no harm. Green tea can harm the human body only in case of excessive passion for this drink, but we will talk about this at the end of the article.

For the heart and blood vessels

The tea drink is good for the heart and blood vessels because it contains potassium, ascorbic acid, rutin and other flavonoids that affect the work of the blood vessel wall and heart muscle. It is a good prevention of atherosclerosis. Especially beneficial for capillaries and other small blood vessels, it improves peripheral circulation. But under no circumstances should it be abused, 1-2 cups of tea per day is enough. If you drink it in unlimited quantities, you can provoke arrhythmia and a drop in blood pressure.

For the skeletal system

Vitamin K in the tea drink is involved in the proper absorption of calcium in the body and its interaction with vitamin D, without which, as you know, calcium is practically not absorbed. By drinking the drink regularly, we strengthen our bones, teeth, and nails.

For the liver and pancreas

Green tea contains biologically active substances in its composition, which help to clean the liver, participate in the removal of toxins from the body, prevent the formation of stones and improve the enzymatic function of the pancreas. It can be drunk for pancreatitis, liver and gall bladder diseases, but not more than 1-2 cups.

For the nervous system and mental activity

In addition to the invigorating effect, the tea drink has a positive effect on brain activity, it is very useful for people with mental work. Reduces the impact of stressful situations, prevents depression. But in large amounts it can cause overexcitement and sleep disturbances.
I recommend watching the video about the benefits of green tea.

Green tea. Benefits and harms for women

The benefits of green tea for women are the presence of substances necessary for a woman’s body in its composition. These are vitamins A and E, catechins and other flavonoids, thanks to which the drink has a preventive effect against breast cancer. Green tea is useful for women during menopause, it improves the general condition, affects the health of the urogenital area.

Green tea during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Can pregnant women drink green tea? The usefulness of this drink for women during pregnancy is often questioned, and for good reason. Although you can drink green tea during pregnancy, you should not go too far with it. Tea contains caffeine and can overstimulate the nervous system. You should also know that the substances contained in tea reduce the absorption of folic acid and iron, which are necessary for the health of the unborn child. For this reason, you cannot drink tea with food.

All this applies to nursing mothers. Green tea is not prohibited during breastfeeding, but one cup of strongly brewed tea in the morning is enough to only benefit from the drink. The drink becomes even more useful if you add milk or a little honey to it, if you are not allergic to it.

For youth and beauty

The large amount of antioxidants contained in green tea is useful in maintaining the youthfulness of the skin and the whole body. It contains several substances indispensable for our health, which constantly fight against free radicals that cause aging.

Green tea for weight loss

Green tea promotes the oxidation of fats and prevents their absorption in the body, reduces appetite, which is why it is recommended for everyone who is trying to achieve their ideal weight. Various weight loss diets are now very popular, including the green tea diet. I am against all kinds of diets, I think that all foods are good for the body, but within reason.

You don’t have to drink liters of tea and replace water with it to lose weight, it may not be safe for your health. It is enough to drink two to three cups of green tea a day, but without sugar and provided that moderation in food is a priority.

The benefits and harm of green tea for men

What are the benefits of green tea for men? The drink is very useful for the strong side of humanity, as it maintains the level of male hormones. Tea is one of the strong natural antioxidants, which makes it possible to talk about its undeniable benefits in the prevention of adenoma and prostate cancer. The drink contributes to the recruitment and maintenance of muscle mass at the right level, improves physical fitness, endurance and gives muscle strength.

Is green tea good for children?

Green tea can be given to children only from the age of three, the brewing is not strong and only in the morning. Children do not like the taste of tea, so many parents give their babies green tea with honey, but here you also need to consider the age of the child, his reaction to the mind.

Do not let your child drink green tea at night, as it has a stimulating effect and can cause sleep disturbances and anxiety.

It is best to brew for babies, it calms the stomach and helps the baby to sleep peacefully.

How to drink green tea

Dear readers, there are articles on the blog about brewing and drinking green tea, where you can find detailed information on these issues.

In short, there are a few simple rules to follow when making green tea to get the most out of the drink.

• The teapot must be heated before brewing.
• Do not use boiling water for cooking, the water temperature should be around 90 degrees.
• Take a teaspoon of tea leaves in a cup of water.
• Pour a small amount of hot water on the tea leaves and drain the water after a few seconds. After that, finally boil the tea. This is what tea connoisseurs do in China, Morocco and Japan. By doing this, we reduce the amount of caffeine in the drink and disinfect the tea leaf.
• Do not boil the drink for too long, 1-2 minutes is enough, after which you can draw the leaves two more times, increasing the drawing time by a minute each time.
• Store tea in a glass or ceramic container with a ground lid, as it is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture, which impairs its quality.

Very often, questions arise about green tea, as conflicting opinions can be found both in the press and on the Internet. Here are the main ones:

Is green tea invigorating or calming?

Very weak, repeatedly brewed tea is practically caffeine-free, so a calming effect is also possible. However, a full-bodied, properly prepared drink is invigorating because it contains caffeine.

Green tea weakens or strengthens?

People often ask this question as well. But the fact is that green tea does not work so monotonously, it does not have a laxative or astringent effect, but it is useful for both diarrhea and constipation, since the substances that make it up regulate digestion.

Can you drink green tea every day?

There can be only one answer here – if there are no contraindications, you can drink the drink every day, but not more than 2 cups.

Harm and contraindications of green tea

All of the above applies only to the moderate consumption of good green tea, only in this case we can talk about its benefits. If you drink it too often and a lot, you can do harm instead of benefit.

Green tea is recommended for all people, it is recommended to use it without sugar and buy the best varieties of large leaf green tea. It is useful for both athletes and people who want to improve their mental performance, for example to show better results at work.

Content of the article:

Useful properties of green tea

Tea strengthens the immune system, restores the function of cerebral blood vessels, improves heart activity, relieves fears and nervous tension, increases the amount of sexual energy and creates balance in all body systems. You can also lose weight if you drink strong green tea every day because it has a diuretic effect. But until now, only one property of green tea has not been fully studied – the fight against malignant tumors, of course, tea even helps with cancer, but research still cannot understand how this happens.

This is probably due to cleaning the blood of bacteria and strengthening the immune system. Green tea reduces the level of radiation in the blood, this was proven after a study conducted with the residents of Hiroshima. Their health was normal, precisely because they consumed green tea regularly. It is also associated with the removal of strontium-90 from the body, but if it is deposited in the bones, there can be no question of any purification. People should use green tea, just because they spend a lot of time in front of the computer and TV, tea reduces the effect of radiation on the body.

Green tea is used to increase the sense of spirituality, as evidenced by the fact that green tea is consumed in Japanese and Chinese tea ceremonies. Thanks to tea, people can fully concentrate and relax, it helps improve mental focus and the emergence of new ideas and goals. Many note that after drinking tea, new thoughts come to mind, a solution to a specific problem is found, etc. I am very satisfied with the fact that the tea does not contain substances harmful to the psyche, so it can be used as a stimulant for the psyche without the slightest fear. Nervous system conduction, reaction, vision, memory and concentration on creative activities are improved when a person drinks green tea daily. Many people say that depression disappears quickly after drinking green tea, perhaps due to the cleansing of the body from toxic substances, although others believe that the tea is charged with a special positive energy that cleanses the energy channels.

Also, do not forget that over a cup of green tea you can have a good time and talk heart to heart. You can learn something new about your friends, but you need to drink high-quality and always fresh tea. Of course, the shelf life is indicated on the package, approximately one to three years. But fresh tea is much tastier than one that has been standing for 3 years. Before buying, read the date of manufacture, you should also familiarize yourself with the composition of the tea, often artificial ingredients are added to improve the taste of the tea. It is possible that these substances were added in order to keep the tea longer, but these are preservatives that are harmful to health and deteriorate the quality of the tea. However, the manufacturer may deliberately add fruit pieces, jasmine, lemon, chrysanthemum and hibiscus to the tea to confuse customers and divert attention from preservatives to additional ingredients. Supplements can be artificial substitutes for fruit, so you need to buy pure green tea.

Green tea was more popular here than in Europe because it was produced before the 19th century. In addition, all residents of Russia began to drink black tea, which is also very tasty, but not nearly as useful. This is due to the fact that black tea undergoes additional processing. Because of the black tea habit, people brew green tea incorrectly. You cannot boil it in a large teapot with boiling water and then add sugar – this will reduce the beneficial properties of green tea. You need to use warm enough water, but not boiling water, and let the tea steep for at least half an hour to feel its natural flavor. Only properly brewed green tea has useful properties, but if you don’t want to waste time on brewing, buy green tea capsules at the pharmacy, they also have all the useful properties, but you can’t enjoy the real taste. of green tea.

Harmful properties of green tea

The green road has many advantages, but there are also disadvantages. For example, it can cause impaired thinking, impaired concentration, increased blood pressure, etc. You can give up black tea and coffee because you don’t want your blood pressure to rise, but remember that green tea also contains stimulants and in the same amount. It also contains caffeine, which activates the central nervous system.

Elderly people and pregnant women should not drink strong green tea. The tea can affect the development of the fetus due to the general excitability of the organism. Elderly people are at risk of tremors – shaking hands, as well as reduced immunity and insomnia. The tea is not recommended for patients with gastric ulcers and hypertensive patients.

To reduce the intensity of the side effects of green tea, you must consider that you cannot boil it too hard. The tea should have a mild and delicate taste that will not irritate you in any way. Do not drink hot green tea as it negatively affects the digestive system. Drink fresh green tea half an hour before a meal, then you can drink a mug after 40 minutes to speed up digestion. Do not steep the tea for too long, as the microbes in it multiply quickly and then poison your body.

Green tea is an ambiguous drink. It is made from tea tree leaves that have not been fermented. Known for the rich chemical composition of green tea. What a person eats and drinks affects their health. Drinks sold in the store contain chemicals that are not very good for the body.

What drink for a long time, there is no doubt – it is green tea. However, it is worth knowing all its properties, because green tea can bring as much benefit and harm to health.

Compound

Since the processing of fresh products consists mainly of evaporating the moisture of the tea leaves, the color and composition of the finished tea leaves are as close as possible to the natural original product. Only the concentration of useful substances becomes many times higher.

The chemical composition contains so many elements that green tea is considered one of the most valuable products for the human body. It contains vitamins, microelements and macroelements.

Tea composition:

1. Vitamins – such as vitamin P, which contributes to the health and elasticity of blood vessels and supports the cardiovascular system as a whole; vitamin C, which is more in green tea than in lemons and oranges; vitamin K, which ensures normal blood clotting; Vitamin B, which has a beneficial effect on the nervous system; vitamins A, PP, D and E.
2. Minerals and trace elements – for example, zinc, which is necessary for the growth and strengthening of hair, teeth and nails; as well as iodine, which supports the endocrine system; fluoride, which strengthens gums and teeth; potassium is a friend of the heart muscle; copper, which promotes women’s health, and manganese. The minerals contained in the leaf contribute to the proper functioning of the internal organs, strengthen the immune system, maintain the balance of all body systems and normalize the metabolism, which, among other things, contributes to weight loss.
3. Caffeine – well, everyone knows caffeine, its invigorating and tonic properties are familiar to coffee lovers, but with green tea, everything is not so simple. The fact is that it contains “second caffeine” – theine, the effect of which is much softer and at the same time longer. In addition, it is completely excreted from the body without causing side effects. When I, a seasoned coffee addict, suddenly started to have high blood pressure, my doctor recommended replacing my morning coffee with green tea, and the positive experience inspired me so much that I completely switched to it. Surprisingly, the pressure returned to normal.
4. Antioxidants – flavonoids (catechins), which not only slow down the aging process, but even protect against cancer. Rich in catechins like no other, green tea is believed to slow and even stop the growth of tumors. Catechins also regulate blood sugar, making this drink incredibly beneficial for diabetics.

Green tea contains four main catechin components. Just one of these components has 100 times the antioxidant effect of vitamin C. Studies have shown that a cup of green tea contains up to 40 mg of polyphenols, which is many times more than the antioxidant effect of the same apples, spinach or broccoli.

Greenway damage

The composition of green tea contains substances that have both positive and negative effects on the human body. In addition, green tea contains theophylline and theobromine, which have a stimulating effect on the human nervous system. Therefore, the infusion of tea leaves is not recommended for people with increased excitability and insomnia.

Remember that the recommended temperature for drinking water is around 80-90 degrees. Determining the correct temperature is quite easy without a thermometer. It is necessary to open the lid of the kettle and when the steam begins to rise, bring your hand to it. The steam must not burn the hand. This is the optimal temperature. Learn once and for all – boiling water destroys most of the beneficial substances in tea, rendering the drink useless!

Strong drink is definitely harmful in such situations:

1. During pregnancy. This interferes with the natural breakdown of folic acid, which is so important for the development of the unborn child’s brain. All this is due to the fact that it contains a large dose of a chemical drug with the unpronounceable name “gallatepigallocatechin”. Again, we mention caffeine, which is contraindicated for pregnant women. Whether black tea prevents the breakdown of folic acid has not been proven, but it does contain caffeine. Just a few cups of tea a day can cause a baby to be born underweight, stimulate premature labor with possible fetal death.
2. With unstable nervous system and cardiovascular diseases. Of course theine is bad for them. But tea is rich in more than just thein, it contains substances that actively affect these systems, which leads to its harmful effects, for example, due to theobromine.
3. With a stomach ulcer. Rather, tea is contraindicated rather than truly harmful. Strong tea, and especially green tea, increases the acidity of gastric juice and this in turn interferes with the natural healing process of wounds. As a result, the patient’s condition may deteriorate significantly.
4. At the temperature. The tea contains theophylline, which can raise a person’s temperature. Therefore, a patient with fever who drinks green tea worsens his condition even more.
5. With an unhealthy liver. This is where green tea comes into play. Some of the compounds found in tea are extremely taxing on the liver, especially when the drink is consumed in large quantities. But black tea has very few of these compounds.
6. For the skeleton and bones. The researchers’ analyzes of the animals revealed unexpected results. It turns out that tea has a negative effect on the skeleton and, in particular, on the density of bone tissue. To be fair, we note that such studies have not been conducted on humans.
7. Washing out useful trace elements. Tea removes metals from the body. Again for this.
8. For teeth. Although the opposite effect was mentioned here, there is evidence that tea has a detrimental effect on tooth enamel. What to believe? You can’t answer for sure, but it’s hardly worth rinsing with tea while brushing your teeth.
9. Urea formation. Each tea is rich in purines, which synthesize urea in the assimilation process. It is known to be toxic and difficult to remove from the body. Its salts synthesize crystals that cause gout. In addition, green tea spoils the condition of people suffering from arthritis and rheumatism.

What are harmful green tea bags:

1. The predominant composition of most packaged tea brands contains so-called tea residues (damaged leaves, stems, sticks), which are discarded in the production of high-quality loose teas. The taste and benefits of such tea dust are minimal.
2. Many tea brands in bags contain, in addition to the tea leaf itself, various plant components of questionable quality or origin (tree leaves, grass).
3. Expired tea leaves are often used to make tea bags. The composition of the tea packaging paper contains thermoplastic fibers (for molding). This substance emits various harmful substances when it comes into contact with hot water.

Extremely hot drinks should not be consumed in large doses. Therefore, if you constantly consume excessively heated tea, internal organ burns will inevitably occur. They are deformed, shrink painfully, cracks appear on the tissues. These types of burns definitely increase the risk of cancer. It should be noted here that this does not damage the tea as such.

Benefits of green tea

The beneficial properties of green tea have long been used in Asia – China, Japan, the peoples of Central Asia use this “health cocktail” on a daily basis: chilled with heat, hot – in the cold season. Look at Japanese women – their wonderful skin, youthfulness and harmony have long been a role model for all women.

Of course, a diet rich in seafood also plays an important role in maintaining youth and health, but the “drink of life” – green tea – is one of the most important components of this diet. Do you think that for nothing, movie stars and glamorous divas in their expensive spas have long adopted a cup of green tea, which is great for cleansing and rejuvenating the body?

The product has a huge number of useful properties, but the most important of them are:

1. Decreased growth of cancer tumors. The ability to stop and delay the growth of various types of tumors and fight the activity of cancer cells (according to some studies, however, green tea is ineffective against breast tumors).
2. The ability to remove free radicals from the body and protect against the effects of increased radiation.
3. Prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system up to heart attacks and strokes, lowering of blood pressure.
4. Breaking down fats, removing harmful cholesterol from the body, normalizing metabolism and weight control.
5. Fight oral diseases, eliminate periodontal disease and bad breath, prevent tooth decay.
6. Normalization and maintenance of healthy intestinal microflora.
7. Removal of toxins, salts, including radioactive metal compounds from the body.
8. Maintain vitality and daily activity, combat decreased vitality, sleepiness, headache.
9. Improvement of brain (mental) activity, reaction.
10. Removal of anxiety, depression, stress, normalization of sleep (if used correctly).
11. Reducing the harmful effects of tobacco on the body.
12. Fight against urolithiasis and gallstone disease. Restoring the water balance in the body.
13. Slowing down the aging process, raising the general tone of the body.
14. Improving the functioning of the endocrine, cardiovascular, immune and digestive systems.
15. Maintaining visual acuity, good skin and hair condition.

How to make green tea

There are many recipes for making this drink, but first you need to understand what effect you want to achieve by using it. When it comes to taste preferences, it can be brewed almost anywhere – someone likes the combination of tea with milk or lemon, someone chooses flavored or mixed varieties, someone adds a drop of honey or sugar to their taste.

• use ceramics, porcelain or glassware for brewing;
• brew tea with not too hot water – 60-80 degrees is enough (tea is brewed even in absolutely cold water). In order to determine whether the water has reached the desired temperature, you need to listen – bubbles in boiling water should make a noise like the wind in a pine forest;
• during brewing, you should not add sweet additives – it is better to add them immediately before use;
• various tea additives help to strengthen certain properties of tea – tea with milk helps to relieve hunger; hibiscus improves metabolic processes and gives the tea a mild diuretic effect.

Green tea turns out to be much tastier if you heat the teapot with steam, pour a teaspoon of tea per glass, pour hot water on top. You can brew tea with milk or make tea the usual way and add milk to taste. Such a drink helps to relieve hunger and normalize blood pressure.

Does green tea raise or lower blood pressure?

As you know, the terms arterial hypertension and arterial hypertension are considered synonymous. Although more precisely, “hypertension” means increased tone of the blood vessels, and “hypertension” means “increased pressure in the system.”

An increase in blood pressure up to 140/90 mm Hg. is not always associated with an increase in vascular tone. High values ​​can be observed with their normal and even reduced tone due to an increase in cardiac output for various reasons. Therefore, the debate about the usefulness of green teas in lowering or raising blood pressure continues.

• According to one point of view, there is no change in the indicators. The caffeine in the composition stimulates the heart, which initially raises blood pressure. At the same time, the vasomotor center of the medulla oblongata, which is responsible for the constriction or expansion of blood vessels, gives an order to lower the tone, as a result of which the indicators quickly normalize. Studies have found that the green drink has the ability to thin the blood, making it more fluid. As a result, the load on the heart muscle is significantly reduced, pressure indicators are normalized and the risk of stroke is reduced.
• Other studies, with varying degrees of certainty, confirm the benefits of green tea in reducing “bad” cholesterol levels, strengthening blood vessel walls and increasing elasticity due to the high content of tannins it contains. The best effect is achieved when using varieties made from high-quality young tops.
• Green tea varieties are useful for their diuretic effect and therefore can be used in the treatment of cardiovascular or kidney diseases by reducing swelling. The obtained results allow recommending to all healthy people to drink a green drink both to reduce the risk of arterial hypertension and in the initial stages of this disease. Many patients note a normalization or a noticeable decrease in performance, improvement. But there is no need to talk about the complete recovery of the disease in this way.

More years of research are needed to draw definitive conclusions about the blood pressure-lowering effects of regular green tea consumption.

Green tea with milk

Perhaps the healthiest drink for tooth enamel is green tea with milk, tea bags or tea brewed from the leaves. Thanks to its high calcium content (495 mg), it effectively strengthens tooth enamel and prevents its thinning. In addition, tea with milk does not stain the teeth (unlike black tea, the pigment of which is not always neutralized even by milk).

Another benefit of bagged green tea with milk is that it has an alkaline environment (thanks to the milk), which means it can neutralize stomach acidity. Therefore, the benefits of green tea with milk in any form are obvious for people suffering from heartburn, gastritis and high acidity. When ingested, this drink reduces the acidity of gastric juice due to the alkaline environment. As a result, the severity of gastritis and heartburn attacks is reduced. To improve the taste, it can be used with honey, jasmine, mint, lemon balm and other additives.

What is the best way to drink green tea?

To maximize the benefits of green tea, choose high-quality, large-leaf products. It is desirable that the product contains only one ingredient. If you want to improve the taste, you can do it yourself by adding natural products and not flavorings of unknown origin.

Tea is drunk freshly brewed. Within an hour, the concentration of vitamins in it decreases significantly. Do not heat the tea as it will create harmful compounds. High-quality varieties are brewed 2-3 times, while the infusion time increases by 20 seconds each time.

A hot drink destroys tooth enamel, irritates the stomach, and a cold drink is poorly absorbed and becomes less useful.

A lot is said and written about the benefits of green tea, and people wonder: is it really that useful? Like any plant, green tea is a medicine, in reasonable doses it is beneficial and in excess it is harmful. Therefore, you should not drink green tea in liters. Many even refuse black tea in favor of green. But is green tea really as good as the weight loss magazines say? Today we will find out the benefits and harms of this popular drink and how to prepare it correctly.

Green tea is one of the best sources of antioxidants, substances that remove old toxins and prevent the formation of new ones. Thanks to them, it is useful to drink green tea for almost all infectious diseases and for the prevention of atherosclerosis and oncology.

The amazing healing properties of green tea have long attracted the attention of people who are not indifferent to their health. The ancient Chinese used it to treat many diseases. And today, no one doubts that green tea is a miracle doctor that heals ulcers, lowers blood pressure, removes heavy metal salts from the body, etc. But green tea, like any other medicinal plant, has side effects. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of green tea, when green tea is medicine and when it is poison. Green tea is most commonly used as an effective weight loss aid.

Benefits of green tea. Composition of green tea

15-30% of the composition of green tea is occupied by tannins, which are a mixture of more than thirty polyphenolic compounds – tannin and various catechins, polyphenols and their derivatives. The tannin content of green tea is almost twice that of black tea. High quality teas have more tannin than low quality teas.

Essential oils . The quality of the tea depends on the essential oils. It seems that they are very few (about 0.02%), but their role is huge – essential oils give the tea a unique taste. When processing tea leaves, the loss of essential oils reaches 70-80%.

alkaloids . Among them, the most famous is caffeine. Together with tannin, caffeine in tea forms caffeine tannate, which has a milder effect on the cardiovascular system and central nervous system than caffeine in coffee. In addition to caffeine, tea contains a small amount of other alkaloids – water-soluble theobromine and theophylline, which are good vasodilators and diuretics.

Amino acids . Glutamic acid was found in the tea, which is important for the human body: it normalizes metabolic processes, helps restore the exhausted nervous system.

Protein substances together with free amino acids make up 16-25% of tea. All enzymes are proteins. In terms of protein content and their quality, tea leaves are not inferior to legumes.

Mineral and other inorganic substances in tea contain 4-7 % . The tea contains magnesium, manganese, sodium, potassium, calcium, fluorine, iodine, copper, gold.

vitamins . The tea contains provitamin A – carotene, which ensures the normal condition of the mucous membranes of the nose, pharynx, throat, lungs, bronchi, and urogenital organs, and is especially important for maintaining good vision. Green tea is rich in vitamins K, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B9 (folic acid), B12, PP (nicotinic acid).

Tea also contains vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Green and yellow teas contain 10 times more vitamin C than black teas. Green tea has 4 times more vitamin P than oranges or lemons. Together with vitamin C, it significantly increases the effectiveness of ascorbic acid, promotes its accumulation and preservation in the body.

Thus, green tea is a treasure of useful substances for humans.

How to brew green tea

To drink green tea to get more of its benefits, you should:

• Green tea should only be brewed in clean drinking water. Many homes have bad, hard tap water with lots of impurities. Green tea requires clean, soft, natural water. You can buy it at the store or filter tap water using home filters.
• Pour water into the kettle and let it boil. As soon as the water boils, pour a small amount into the green tea infuser and shake, allowing the water to warm all the sides of the teapot. This is necessary so that the cold walls do not take away all the heat of the water intended for boiling.
• now we collect the right amount of green tea with a clean and dry spoon. Usually, one teaspoon without a slide is calculated per 150 ml of water. You can read the recommendations on the tea package. Many manufacturers print methods for proper brewing. The brewing time of green tea is especially important, which must be indicated on the box. The time depends on the variety of tea and the harvest.
• pour the tea leaves into the teapot and add the required amount of water. While we counted the amount of tea leaves and rinsed the kettle with boiling water, the water cooled down a bit, which was just what we needed. It is recommended to brew such tea with water whose temperature does not exceed 80 degrees.
• poured, covered with a lid and allowed to infuse for the right time. If the time is not indicated on the package, you can stop at the average value of green tea – 3-4 minutes.
• pour the tea into the mugs, but not immediately filling each container to the brim, but doing it circularly, evenly and in small portions. This is necessary to maintain the correct concentration of the tea and achieve the same taste and astringency in all cups.

Green tea – useful properties

Green tea has long been revered as a drink of vitality and good mood. Thanks to the caffeine it contains, tea acts as a biological stimulant. If you have a headache, drink a cup of green tea. One glass of tea contains as much caffeine as one headache pill. But remember that headaches can have different causes. If the pain does not go away for a long time, it is better to consult a doctor. It is not necessary to insist on green tea for a long time, otherwise you can get harm instead of benefit.

Recovery of the exhausted nervous system – one of the healing properties of green tea. It acts as an excellent prophylactic that increases resistance to stressful situations. Green tea is a good antidepressant. Only in this case should it be brewed loosely. Green tea harmonizes the nervous system as a whole, normalizes its activity.

It is known that the fragility and fragility of blood vessels, including the smallest blood vessels – capillaries – increases in people with age. Here, too, green tea comes to the rescue. If you drink it regularly, of course. It strengthens the walls of blood vessels, increases their elasticity and reduces the risk of internal bleeding.

Green tea infusion helps lower blood pressure in the early stages of hypertension, lowers blood cholesterol, and improves the condition of patients with atherosclerosis. Japanese researchers claim that long-term use of green tea can lower blood pressure by 10-20 units. To do this, tea should be brewed as follows: before brewing dry green tea, rinse with warm boiled water to reduce the caffeine content in it, which has an exciting effect on the cardiovascular system. Then pour 3 g of tea per half glass of water with boiling water and let it stand for 10 minutes. Drink 1 glass 3 times a day after meals. At the same time, taking into account the tea, the amount of the drink is reduced to 1.2 liters (so as not to overload the cardiovascular system).

If you drink green tea regularly, you will never know what sclerosis is. On the one hand, it prevents the deposition of fats and fat-like substances – lipids on the walls of blood vessels, on the other – it destroys already deposited fat layers.

Dutch researchers claim that if you drink 4 glasses of green tea and eat one apple or onion during the day, the risk of myocardial infarction is reduced by half. They came to this conclusion after studying the eating habits of many people who lived to old age.

Green tea has long been used to treat dysentery. . The catechins in tea have a direct antimicrobial effect on dysentery, typhoid and coccus bacteria. Dysentery sticks die from green tea in 2-3 days. on the day of treatment.

“Tea medicine” is prepared as follows: pour 50 g of crushed green tea into 1 liter of water, let it stand for 30 minutes, then boil on low heat for 1 hour, then filter. The resulting infusion can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Take an infusion of 2 tbsp. spoon 4 times a day half an hour before meals.

Green tea is also indicated for food poisoning.

And if you are poisoned by medicines, drugs, alcohol or nicotine – green tea will also help you. Just drink it with milk and sugar.

If you have digestive problems, you should have tea for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tea tannin contributes to normal digestion. The tea is also useful in cases where a lot of toxins accumulate in the intestines due to diseases of other organs.

If your stomach is upset, drink strong green tea for 2-3 days. Thanks to its bactericidal properties, green tea destroys pathogens in the stomach and intestines. In addition, medium-strength tea strengthens the motor function of the digestive tract and is a good tool for strengthening the tone of the intestines.

For those who often watch TV, Professor Cheng Qikong, deputy director of the Tea Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, recommends drinking green tea instead of coffee and lemonade, as it neutralizes the harmful effects of radiation from the screen. This also applies to people who sit in front of computer screens for long periods of time. Kyoto University professor Tenji Ugai, summarizing the data obtained after the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima, said that green tea is an excellent antidote for poisoning the body with strontium-90, the most destructive isotope that pollutes the air during nuclear explosions. Also, green tea helps remove lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc and other heavy metals from the body, which we get through food, air and water. If you have colitis, green tea will help. Take it in 2 tbsp. spoons 4 times a day. Can be used as an enema.

For conjunctivitis, inflammation of the eyelids, rinse the eyes with strong, quickly cooled green tea.

Medium-flavored green tea with lemon, pepper and honey is a diuretic for colds and respiratory ailments. However, at high temperatures, green tea should not be abused, as it burdens the heart and kidneys.

Fresh tea leaf juice or powdered tea leaves help with burns. If you get a sunburn, brew green tea, cool it quickly and moisten the burned skin with a cotton ball. Strong tea can wash fresh wounds. Thanks to tannins, tea coagulates proteins, i.e. has a hemostatic effect.

For rhinitis, rinse the nose with green tea infusion. For this, 1 tsp. crushed green tea, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 15-20 minutes, strain. Use a disposable syringe without a needle to flush. Do this procedure 6-8 times a day.

Green tea infusion helps with sore throat, laryngitis, pharyngitis , as well as with inflammatory processes of the tongue or gums. Pour 2 teaspoons of dry tea with 1 cup of boiling water, let stand for 15-20 minutes, strain. Gargle with warm tea. Repeat this procedure several times a day.

Green tea improves blood composition by improving the number of blood cells. In addition, it activates the activity of the liver and spleen, reduces the risk of kidney stones.

As a rule, those who regularly drink green tea are not threatened by diseases related to metabolic disorders.

It is good to chew dry green tea for motion sickness and seasickness in the car.

In case of vitamin deficiency, prepare such an infusion for yourself. Pour 3 g of crushed tea with half a glass of boiling water, let it stand for 10 minutes. Add 1 tsp. rose hip syrup. Drink one glass warm 3 times a day after meals.

Green tea has anti-cancer properties. It is assumed that its mechanism of action comes down to the blood-purifying properties of tea, i.e. the ability of tea polyphenols to remove carcinogens from the body. Tea strengthens the immune system, which reduces the risk of cancer cells.

It is suitable for pregnant women to drink weak green tea (no more than 2 cups per day). . The drink contains many useful vitamins and minerals. Japanese researchers have found that women who regularly drink green tea before pregnancy give birth to stronger children.

Green tea is the source of youth and longevity. Among centenarians who have crossed the 90-year threshold, there are many fans of green tea.

It is also a great cosmetic product. For example, rinse oily hair with a strong green tea infusion after washing. A mask of chilled tea leaves is made on the face with a network of blood vessels (tea crumbs are applied to the cleansed face for 15-20 minutes). The same mask is also useful for fading dry facial skin. Only after removing the tea leaves should you apply a greasy cream to your skin. Oily, aging facial skin is useful to wipe over with ice cubes made from green tea. To strengthen the effect, you can add apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to the tea infusion (1 tablespoon for 1 tablespoon of tea.) There are many other useful cosmetic recipes that do not fit into the scope of this article.

It turns out that green tea kills alcohol cravings. Therefore, in China and Japan – countries that especially prefer green tea – there are considerably fewer binge drinkers than in Western countries. To prepare an anti-alcohol drink, use the following recipe: 1 teaspoon of green tea in 1 glass of water. Drink without sugar. The remaining leaves are not thrown away – they are eaten. The effect is not immediate. Months pass and the effect comes.

There are many different types of teas for weight loss, but green tea is undoubtedly the best. This is the perfect drink for those who want to lose weight without harming their body.

Green tea is useful for those who want to lose weight because it reduces appetite. In addition, it regulates levels of norelin, a chemical neurotransmitter that plays an important role in fat formation. Therefore, by drinking green tea, you reduce the layer of fat in the hips, waist, and buttocks.

There is a ten-day diet with green tea. This weight loss regimen uses tea to boost metabolism, suppress appetite, and improve quality of life.

Green tea for weight loss with and without milk helps us in the fight against extra pounds and pressure. Green tea can be used as a weight loss aid. It accelerates the removal of fats from the body and accelerates metabolic processes.

Green tea with milk – a good prophylaxis for kidney and heart diseases. It is also a tonic for central nervous system exhaustion and polyneuritis. This is how the drink is prepared. 5 g brick tea, 200 ml water, 200 ml cooked milk, 10 g butter, salt. Dry the brick tea a little in the oven and place it in boiling water. Then strain, add milk, butter and salt to taste.

Green tea contraindications:

As we said before, green tea promotes weight loss and also improves mental activity, reaction and vision. Now let’s talk about the dangers of green tea. Despite all the positive properties of green tea, you should not abuse it. Since green tea lowers blood pressure, hypotensive patients should not drink it. You cannot participate in the Green Tea:

acute form of hypertension;

any diseases in the acute phase;

diseases accompanied by high fever.

It should be remembered that green tea increases the acidity of gastric juice, which is undesirable for gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis should also avoid this drink.

The exciting substances contained in green tea – caffeine, theobromine and theophylline – actively affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Therefore, you should not indulge people suffering from tachycardia, increased excitability and insomnia, especially strong green tea.

Remember that tea left for later increases the amount of purine compounds and caffeine. Such a path is especially dangerous for patients with hypertension, glaucoma and gout. It is not recommended to drink green tea on an empty stomach, as well as while drinking alcohol. Tea with alcohol forms aldehydes, which are harmful to the kidneys.

Green tea cannot be stored in paper bags: they do not close tightly and allow moisture to pass through.

Four simple rules for brewing fragrant green tea.

Rule one. Brew green tea in a warm teapot

A cold teapot lowers the temperature of the water by about 20 degrees, so the cooled water spoils the first drink of green tea. Such tea does not bring any harm or benefit, and you will not get pleasure from drinking tea. Essential oils and trace elements cannot be completely excluded from the tea leaf. Therefore, preheat the teapot with boiling water before brewing the tea.

Rule two. Do not brew green tea

Hot water destroys the beneficial components of tea and spoils its taste and aroma, and also reduces its beneficial properties. The optimal cooking temperature is 60-80 degrees Celsius. Certain types of tea need to be brewed with hotter water. Tea packages usually indicate the brewing temperature (if you buy from a reliable manufacturer) It is better to use spring water, and if not possible, soft and light (no smell, taste or taste in the mouth).

If you want to drink a real healing drink – don’t let the water boil! It is enough to heat it up to 95 degrees (water bubbles will appear at the bottom of the kettle) and then cool it. In boiling water, all salts are precipitated and oxygen leaves the water – so the tea is no longer so tasty and fragrant.

The third rule. The first water must be drained

The Chinese always drain the water poured into the first teapot during tea ceremonies. This is done to rinse the tea. After that, the tea leaves are immediately filled with fresh water.

Rule four. Check the brewing time of your green tea

Do not steep the green tea for too long. If you overexpose a teapot, it will remain bitter because a lot of tannins are extracted from the leaf. In addition, such tea cannot be brewed several times, because all the flavor has already been used. Note that each type of tea has its own brewing time. It can vary from 30 seconds to 1 minute.

And yet, you should not focus on the color of green tea. Each variety of green tea has its own color. Some varieties are almost transparent, others are light green or honey, amber.

Tip : Never drink cold green tea.

Cooled tea loses many of its beneficial properties: vitamins disappear, essential oils evaporate, antioxidants are destroyed. Always make as much tea as you can drink.

The smell and taste of tea depends not only on proper brewing, but also on its storage conditions. Equally important is the vessel in which you prepare the drink.

Make tea in a ceramic pot

Clay is perfect for a teapot. It has excellent heat capacity, is chemically neutral and allows the tea leaves to “breathe” – i.e. ideal conditions for making tea.

In addition to clay, glass and porcelain can be used, they are also chemically neutral. But tea leaves do not breathe in them. In addition, the tea cools very quickly in them.

Never brew green tea in metal or plastic teapots. In the first case, your tea will acquire a persistent metallic taste, and in the second case, it will be saturated with toxic elements. Plastic is strictly contraindicated for hot products.

Store green tea properly

Tender green tea leaves absorb odors and moisture well. If you store tea incorrectly, it will quickly lose its beneficial properties and aroma. Your tea smells anything but real green tea. Light can also spoil the tea leaves. Therefore, use airtight and opaque containers for storage. Tin cans with tight-fitting lids or wooden boxes are suitable.

You can’t store tea in paper bags either: they let moisture through and don’t close tightly – the aroma of the tea disappears over time.

Green tea is obtained from an evergreen plant. The drink has been known in China since 2700 BC. Then it was used as medicine. In the 3rd century AD, the era of tea making and processing began. It became available to both the rich and the poor.

Green tea is produced in factories in China and grown in Japan, China, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Composition and calorie content of green tea

Green tea contains antioxidants, vitamins A, D, E, C, B, H and K and minerals.

The calorie content of a cup of green tea without sugar is 5-7 kcal. The drink is ideal for weight loss.

Green tea is good for heart, eye and bone health. It is drunk for weight loss and type 2 diabetes. The benefits of green tea become apparent when you consume 3 cups of the drink per day.

Green tea neutralizes the effects of harmful fats, bacteria and viruses such as Staphylococcus aureus and hepatitis B.

For bones

Green tea relieves pain and inflammation in arthritis.

The drink strengthens bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

The caffeine in green tea improves movement and reduces fatigue.

For the heart and blood vessels

Green tea reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

People who drink green tea daily have a 31% lower risk of heart disease than non-drinkers.

The drink prevents atherosclerosis and thrombosis. It improves blood flow and relaxes the arteries.

Drinking 3 cups of green tea a day reduces the risk of stroke by 21%.

For nerves

Green tea improves mental alertness and slows down brain degeneration. The drink calms and relaxes, but at the same time increases alertness.

Theanine in tea sends a feel-good signal to the brain, improves memory, mood and increases concentration.

Green tea is useful for treating mental disorders, including dementia. The drink prevents nerve damage and memory loss that leads to Alzheimer’s disease.

In a study presented at the 2015 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, those who drank green tea 1 to 6 days a week experienced less depression than those who did not. In addition, the researchers found that tea drinkers had almost no dementia. Polyphenols in tea are useful in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

For the eyes

Catechins protect the body against glaucoma and eye diseases.

For the digestive tract

Green tea improves digestion and protects the liver from obesity.

For teeth and gums

The drink improves the condition of the periodontium, reduces inflammation and inhibits the growth of bacteria in the oral cavity.

Green tea protects against bad breath.

The study found that people who consumed at least 6 cups of green tea per day had a 33% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who drank 1 cup per week.

For the kidneys and bladder

The caffeine in green tea acts as a mild diuretic.

For the skin

Organic green tea extract ointment is useful for treating warts caused by human papillomavirus. The researchers selected more than 500 adults with the disease. After treatment, warts disappeared in 57% of patients.

For immunity

Polyphenols in tea protect against cancer. They reduce the risk of breast, colon, lung, ovarian and prostate cancer.

Women who drank more than 3 cups of green tea per day reduced their risk of breast cancer recurrence because polyphenols stop the production and spread of cancer cells, as well as the growth of blood vessels that feed tumors. Green tea enhances the effect of chemotherapy.

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