Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, second only to water in terms of pleasure and health. Black, green, and white tea are all belong to the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea performs better than black tea in terms of health benefits. Its primary components of interest are the polyphenols that give green tea its antioxidant qualities and other health benefits. The main polyphenols in green tea are flavonoids. There are four major flavonoids; epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epicatechin gallate (EGCG), and epigallocatechin (EGC), all found in green tea.
The health benefits of drinking green tea include lowering LDL cholesterol, limiting aberrant blood clot formation, reducing platelet aggregation, controlling lipid levels, and inhibiting the migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells. Given that thrombosis, or the production of aberrant blood clots, is the primary cause of heart attacks and strokes, inhibition of abnormal blood clot formation becomes even more crucial.
According to clinical research, green tea's antioxidant properties may help prevent atherosclerosis, particularly coronary artery disease. Scientists from Japan emphasis that green tea helps reduce LDL cholesterol, which lowers the risk of coronary heart disease. Their research indicates that regular tea drinking may prevent heart disease; one study found that tea drinkers had a 36% lower chance of developing the condition. In addition, numerous population-based research studies have shown that green tea may have cancer-preventive properties. For example, cancer incidence is often lower in nations like Japan, where green tea is a staple food. These population-based studies, however, do not provide solid proof that green tea protects people against cancer but, recent human and animal study results indicate that EGCG may play a big part in preventing cancer. According to some theories, EGCG and other tea catechins prevent tumor formation by preventing tumor necrosis factor-alpha production, which is believed to promote tumor growth and the spread of started and pre-malignant cells.
The application of green tea polyphenols to the skin has shown promise in influencing the biochemical pathways related to inflammation, cell proliferation, reactions to chemical tumor promoters, and the inflammatory indicators triggered by UV radiation. EGCG may rejuvenate dying skin cells, according to studies that contrasted the normal development of skin cells with those treated with EGCG using pooled human keratinocytes. Pyrogallol catechin outperformed the others in terms of its antifungal efficacy against Candida albicans. These results imply that EGCG enhances antifungal qualities.
According to a recent research study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, green tea's EGCG may strengthen the immune system and help prevent HIV. The first phase of HIV infection is the inhibition of HIV's adhesion to human T-cells by EGCG. In cell culture, EGCG and ECG were shown to be potent inhibitors of influenza virus replication. All examined influenza virus subtypes showed this impact, including the A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B viruses. The quantitative study revealed that EGCG and ECG also inhibited high doses of viral RNA production in cells.
The green tea diet preserves a lot more antioxidants that are intact and accessible to the body in this way. Green tea diets are rich in poly catechin polyphenols, a kind of antioxidants that fight free radicals. These free radicals harm the body since they are the main cause of diseases and aging. The oxygen radical absorption capacity shows that green tea exhibited higher antioxidant activity than spinach, kale, garlic, and Brussels sprouts. The initial evidence of EGCG's antioxidant properties came from experiments showing that it inhibited soybean lipoxygenase. Later, it was discovered that EGCG inhibited the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) mediated by Cu²⁺, inhibited the oxidative DNA base modification brought on by TPA in HeLa cells, inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species from NADPH-cytochrome, and reduced lipid peroxidation induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide.
Studies have shown that green tea extract also has anti-inflammatory qualities since it includes polyphenolic components. Green tea may also help reduce inflammation associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. There is evidence that EGCG inhibits pro-inflammatory interleukin 8 (IL-8). Because of the popularity of recent research, green tea has almost become a diet and weight loss cliché. Also, green tea consumption increases the body's metabolic rates. A green tea diet would promote a faster metabolism of fats and carbs because of its thermogenic properties. By inhibiting insulin, which transports sugar directly to the muscles for immediate use, the green tea diet helps stop sugar from being stored as fat. Epidemiological data also suggest that consuming green tea may help stave off diabetes. Traditionally, people have used green tea to regulate their blood sugar levels. Green tea may help prevent type 1 diabetes and decrease its course after it has already occurred, according to research on animals.
Green tea may even prevent tooth decay. Just as its antibacterial qualities may help prevent food poisoning, it can also eliminate the germs that cause dental plaque. Researchers at the University of Chicago have shown that polyphenols can inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath According to Japanese research, older Japanese individuals who drank more than two cups of green tea daily had a 50% reduced risk of cognitive impairment than those who drank less than two cups or engaged in other examined drinks. However, Green tea may contain between 15 and 50 milligrams of caffeine. However, caffeine is addicting, and too much of it may have harmful side effects, such as increasing the chance of certain sleep issues. Meanwhile, skin treatments based on green tea, including deodorants and lotions, are starting to appear on the market.

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