(WNAM Monitoring): Green tea, a source of antioxidants and caffeine, has several possible benefits. Research has found that the health benefits of green tea may include alleviating anxiety and stress, enhancing memory, and reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol.
There are several types of green tea, including beverages, dietary supplements, and even topical ointments.
Alleviates Anxiety and Stress
Tea contains an amino acid called L-theanine, which alleviates anxiety and stress, helping you relax. Green tea has one of the highest concentrations of L-theanine compared to black, oolong, and white tea.
Helps Protect Against Cognitive Decline
Some evidence suggests that drinking green tea helps protect against certain neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Green tea has a high concentration of antioxidants, which may protect against cell damage that raises the risk of chronic illnesses.
Cognitive decline is one of the first noticeable symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. Cognitive decline involves frequent, worsening instances of confusion and memory loss.
May Enhance Memory
Research has found that the L-theanine content in green tea may improve memory. A study published in 2014 found that green tea extract improved working memory among 12 healthy volunteers.
Working memory is a type of short-term memory necessary for cognitive functions like:
- Comprehension
- Planning
- Problem-solving
- Reasoning
In the 2014 study, researchers gave the volunteers a milk-based drink that contained either 27.5 milligrams of green tea extract or a placebo. The volunteers then completed certain tasks while an MRI tracked their brain activity.
May Manage and Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Green tea may manage and prevent type 2 diabetes. Some evidence suggests that the antioxidants in green tea may reduce insulin resistance. Insulin resistance causes your cells to be less receptive to insulin than usual. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells convert sugar into energy. Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Reduces Blood Pressure
Green tea may protect heart health by lowering blood pressure. Research has found that drinking green tea reduces blood pressure significantly, particularly in people with a high risk of heart disease.
High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart disease and stroke because it damages the lining of the arteries, which increases the risk of plaque buildup. As a result, the arteries narrow, restricting blood flow to the heart and brain. Research has found that green tea may lower blood pressure due to its high antioxidant content. Those antioxidants help decrease inflammation and dilate your blood vessels, which supports healthy blood flow.
