Green tea contains a high concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals such as ultraviolet rays, air pollutants and radiation. Green tea helps protect your cells and DNA from the damage of oxidation. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, research shows that free radicals contribute to aging as well as the development of health problems such as heart disease and cancer. Polyphenols in green tea can neutralize free radicals and may help prevent diseases associated with free radicals. Green tea extract vitamins provide the human body with an array of health benefits. Consult your doctor before adding any supplement to your diet.
Weight Loss
Green tea can help burn excess fat by helping to increase metabolism. If your metabolic rate is elevated you will increase the amount of calories you burn. "The Journal of Nutrition" published a study stating that the catechins in green tea were found to help burn belly fat in adults who suffered from obesity. Green tea can also help inhibit the digestive enzyme amylase. Amylase breaks down carbohydrates that cause blood sugar levels to rise. If your blood sugar levels are high you will store more food as fat rather than burning it as energy.
Diabetes
Green tea has been used to help control blood sugar in the body. People with type-1 diabetes produce insufficient amounts of insulin, a hormone that converts foods such as starches and glucose into energy needed for daily life. Green tea has been shown to help regulate glucose. The University of Maryland states that "a few small clinical studies have found that daily supplementation of the diet with green tea extract powder lowered the hemoglobin A1c level in individuals with borderline diabetes."
Cancer Prevention
Green tea consumption has been shown to protect against cancer in several population-based clinical studies. In countries such as Japan where people consume high amounts of green tea cancer rates are lower. More research is needed to determine the extent of the effect that green tea has on preventing cancer. Clinical studies are showing that the polyphenols in green tea may help prevent cancer. Studies also suggest that polyphenols helps fight off cancerous cells and inhibit their progression.
References
- University of Maryland: Green Tea
- Journal of Nutrtion: Green Tea Catechin Consumption Enhances Exercise-Induced Abdominal Fat Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Caffeine and coffee: their influence on metabolic rate and substrate utilization in normal weight and obese individuals
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