Originating in China almost 5000 years ago tea is now the most consumed drink in the world – besides water. We have all heard the beliefs that green tea is supposed to be healthy for you, but how healthy is it really? Very! according to a 2019 joint report by the University of Guelph, Canada and the Nanjing Agricultural University in China.

The report compiles findings from over 129 different studies examining the positive effect of special green tea compounds called polyphenols. Green tea polyphenols have been found to be beneficial to a load of different diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.

One important green tea polyphenol is the antioxidant known as EGCG. This substance reduces the formation of free radicals in the body - compounds that damage cells, proteins and DNA. EGCG and other free radical fighting antioxidants found in green tea help prevent cell damage and actually slow the aging process.

Besides being packed with disease fighting polyphenols green tea also contains several brain boosting chemicals that improve mood, reaction time and memory. The most well-known brain-boosting stimulant in tea is caffeine. Just like coffee green tea contains a significant level of caffeine however unlike coffee, tea also contains the amino-acid L-theanine. L-theanine has shown to have anti-anxiety effects as well as increasing dopamine and alpha waves in the brain according to a 2008 study in the Journal of Nutrition. The combination of these two compounds result in a much steadier buzz than your morning coffee!

Ok so green tea can help reduce your risk of cancer and other diseases, slow the ageing process and increase brain function, but what about all the claims surrounding weight loss? Believe it or not one study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has reported a 17% increase in fat oxidation rates during exercise after ingesting green tea extract when compared to a placebo.

So, in summary green tea has been proven to lower your risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes; slow the ageing process by fighting free radicals; boost brain function, mood and memory and even help you loose weight. With a list of benefits like this it is easy to see why tea is the most consumed drink in world!