The Antioxidizing Powers of Green Tea – What Does it Actually Do?

So often we’re told about antioxidants like those found in green tea, and we all seem to know just one thing – that they’re good for you.

But what do antioxidants actually do? And why is green tea such a great source of them?

I’m no doctor, but with a little research, you can find out a whole heap of information on the antioxidizing powers of green tea. Here are a few benefits you could expect from drinking green tea.

What are antioxidants in green tea?

Green tea is packed full of antioxidants called polyphenols. The polyphenols within green tea are more called catechins, and it’s the EGCG form that offers the majority of the health benefits you feel from this hot drink.

Antioxidants are kind of like little soldiers within your body, which protect your cells from damaging toxins. This helps to keep you healthy so your body can work as efficiently and well as possible.

By regularly topping up on antioxidants like the ones in green tea, you could promote your internal health all the way down to a cellular level.

  1. Fights off fatigue

One great benefit of green tea is that it contains a little caffeine, which can help to boost energy levels, without overwhelming you.

But one health-boosting property of the antioxidizing catechins within this hot drink, is that they help to protect against nasty toxins, and therefore reduces cellular damage within your muscles. This means that, whether you’re out for a fun-filled outdoor weekend with the kids or have just been for a quick run, your body won’t fatigue as quickly and you’ll repair and recover faster [1][2].

  1. Focused mind

Life can get on top of your so easily sometimes and juggling social life with family and work can be a real chore. Often, before you know it, brain fog has descended.

Luckily, tea doesn’t just support your body, it also offers benefits for your brain too. The antioxidizing catechins also protect the cells in your brain from damaging toxins. This has been shown to promote better cognitive function, which translates into a healthier brain and even better memory [3]. It’s the perfect hot drink to help you stay focused on even the busiest days.

  1. Weight loss

Those handy catechins we’ve been talking about can also help to support weight loss. They provide thermogenic properties, which have been proven to boost metabolism and the amount of calories you burn at rest [4].

It also contains small amount of caffeine, which can offer an energizing boost, but can also help you to lose weight too. The stimulant is also a thermogenic, meaning it works alongside the catechins to help you to boost your metabolism.

One study of green tea found this combination of catechins and caffeine led to an increased fat burn by around 180 calories on average [4].

Because it’s so effective, it’s actually a very popular ingredient in some of the best fat burners for women.

  1. Could improve heart health

Once again, the antioxidizing catechins don’t just protect your muscle and brain cells – they could also help to keep your heart in tip top condition.

By protecting your body against the damage caused by free radical toxins, you could absorb less fat into your blood cells, which may help to improve your heart health and reduce blood pressure [5].

As I said, I’m no doctor, but the research out there suggests it could help to keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check.

  1. Energizes your body

There’s a little caffeine within green tea, which should help to energize your body.

This makes it a great option for a boost for women in particular, as the caffeine shouldn’t overwhelm you. This, combined with the muscle cell protecting qualities of the catechins, could help you to feel ready to fit more activity into your day-to-day.

Should you drink green tea?

Why not! It comes with a range of health benefits, which makes it a very popular choice among fitness fans. Plus, it’s just an easy way to support your body and mind.

To get the most out of the benefits research suggests 3-5 cups a day is enough. Try not to exceed this, as the caffeine within the mix could leave you with some side effects like jitters or headaches.

Now you know all about the health benefits of green tea, why not try it out for yourself. While some benefits will be working away under the surface, you should feel the energizing and mind focusing properties with every cup.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

[1][2][3][4][5] referenced at
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15199226

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