Everything You Need To Know About Green Tea

Did you know that tea is the most consumed beverage in the world after water?! Green tea comes from the plant Camellia Sinensis, its leaves are steamed, pan fried and dried in order to produce green tea leaves - these leaves can then be brewed in hot water to create a cozy drink! Matcha is another popular type of green tea, the tea leaves are ground into a fine powder, and matcha tea differs slightly in nutrient composition. But what’s so special about green tea? Continue reading to find out! 

Nutritional Composition 

Green tea on its own is very low in calories, but contains small amounts of essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, magnesium, potassium and selenium - it is also a great source of antioxidants! It contains a polyphenol called catechin, which is a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent free radical damage. A specific catechin in green tea called EGCG has also been found to be beneficial for health. Green tea contains caffeine alongside L-theanine, which can provide steady energy without the anxiety and jitters that coffee can cause.

Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

All these special compounds found in Green Tea allow its consumption to contribute to a range of health benefits, let’s have a look at some of the benefits of consuming green tea!

Green tea is a popular supplement for weight loss, as studies have shown it is effective in body weight reduction as well as in maintaining weight after weight loss.

Studies have shown that green tea supplementation can reduce blood pressure, and contribute to improved cholesterol levels, and consumption of green tea is also associated with reduced mortality due to cardiovascular disease. 

Studies have also found that a special component of green tea called L-theanine helps regulate mood, such as alleviating stress, feelings of anxiety and depression. L-theanine also alleviates some of the anxiety and jitters that can occur when we have caffeine, and therefore makes green tea a good option for people who are sensitive to coffee! 

One study showed that individuals who consume 7 or more cups of green tea per day had a 60% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those who rarely consumed green tea. If this isn’t a sign to add a cup of tea to your daily routine, I’m not sure what is!

How to Incorporate Green Tea Into Your Diet

Traditionally, green tea is consumed as a beverage, it’s good hot or cold, and even with milk, and it can also be incorporated in cakes and bakes! Matcha green tea is convenient to use in baking as it comes in a powdered form, plus it’s normally higher in nutrients than regular green tea - bring on the matcha cookies!

If you don’t like the taste of green tea itself, it can also be taken in the form of a tablet! MOBU Green Tea Tablets contain over 5g green tea with 112.5mg EGCG - the compound in green tea which is most closely linked with its health benefits!

Are you a green tea drinker? Let us know in the comments below!