Green tea useful properties and contraindications. What can be useful? Enzymes and amino acids

The health of the family is in the hands of a woman - a Simple Queen in the home kingdom

Hello, friends. Today I propose an interesting topic - let's talk about the benefits and harms of green tea for our body, its effect on women and men, and whether it can be drunk by pregnant women or while breastfeeding. Is the most popular drink so healing, and what harm can it cause?

The drink of emperors

An ancient Chinese legend says that tea began to be brewed 5,000 years ago, when the attention of the emperor was attracted by a wonderful aroma coming from a boiling cauldron. The wind brought tea leaves into the bowl with water, which exuded a wonderful fragrance. The emperor tasted the miracle drink and thus gave rise to a national "tea" passion that flourished during the Teng Dynasty (approximately 618-907 AD). Japanese monks, visiting China, brought tea leaves home, inspired by the concept of the tea ceremony, bringing its elements into Japanese culture.

The famous English "five-o-clock" was officially approved in the 17th century by the Queen of Britain after drinking an invigorating tart drink at 17:00 became a national habit.

Tea leaves are grown in 50 countries, among which China leads in quantity and Japan in quality. Depending on the processing that gives the leaf its characteristic color and aroma, there are three main types of tea: green, black and oolong.

Whereas for standard teas the leaves are plucked and fermented, green tea leaves are steamed and roasted almost immediately to prevent fermentation, resulting in paler shades and milder flavors. Japan's most nutrient-dense matcha green tea, which is powdered and steamed for a rich, pleasantly mild flavor.

Benefits of green tea for the body

Both the benefits and harms of green tea for the body are due to its rich chemical composition. The drink is an excellent source of antioxidants and alkaloids, contains vitamins A, D, E, C, B, B5, H, K, trace elements such as manganese, zinc, chromium and selenium.

Tea leaves are extremely rich in catechins - polyphenols, which have the ability to destroy free radicals (substances that contribute to aging). The content of catechins can be up to 30% of the dry weight of the leaf, so each cup is actually an elixir of youth.

Researchers say that the amount of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) - the most powerful catechin found in green tea - is between 20 and 35 mg per cup. Chinese scientists claim that the mentioned catechin has a more effective positive effect on the body than vitamins C and E.

And studies by Italian scientists show that one cup of green tea has a greater antioxidant effect than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots or strawberries.

"Health Cup", as tea is called in China, is used to activate the activity of the brain, prevent and treat various diseases, including diabetes, stroke, heart disease and oncology.

Green tea for cancer

Studies by British scientists have shown that green tea polyphenols act on molecular pathways, preventing the appearance and spread of cancer cells. They also prevent the growth of blood vessels that feed the tumor.

In a study examining the effect of green tea components on the prevention and progression of ovarian cancer, scientists found a direct link between consumption of the drink and a decrease in the incidence of the disease. Everything is explained simply - in the tea leaf there are components that create the effect of the drug cisplatin to fight a malignant tumor.

In order to benefit, but without harm, use green tea in the prevention of cancer, you need not to exceed the recommended norms for its use - only 2 cups a day.

Atherosclerosis

Research suggests that the catechin EGCG mentioned above may be useful in preventing atherosclerosis, cerebral thrombosis, heart attack, and stroke, in part because of its ability to relax arteries and improve blood flow.

Green tea against obesity, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease

There are certain compounds and nutrients that seem to have almost limitless health potential, and tea leaf catechins are one of them. Fortunately, high-quality green tea is an excellent source of these antioxidants, making them readily available.

Catechins in the fight against obesity and diabetes

Studies by Canadian scientists have shown that catechin EGCG, in particular, has a regulatory effect on fat metabolism, thereby increasing fat oxidation, which contributes to weight loss and the prevention of obesity. Green tea may also promote weight loss by inhibiting the development of fat cells and increasing fat excretion. Obesity and diabetes tend to go hand in hand, and what contributes to one disease is also beneficial to the other.

It has been scientifically proven that green tea or high quality green tea extract may be beneficial in the prevention and/or treatment of diabetes.

For benefit without harm, green tea for diabetes and obesity should be drunk no more than 2-3 cups a day. Brew without sugar! Take for a long time, at least 6 months daily.

Alzheimer's disease

The researchers also found that the drink has the potential to boost brain function and prevent age-related (senile) brain degenerations.

In particular, the famous catechins reduce the production of beta-amyloid protein, which accumulates excessively in the brain, leading to nerve damage and memory loss, a condition associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Regular consumption of high quality green tea has been shown to reduce the risk of this disease by 54%! The recommended dose is 2-3 cups per day (no more than 200 ml at a time).

Green tea lowers blood pressure

I already wrote about this earlier. How to use green tea to lower blood pressure with benefit and without harm, read in detail in this article.

Glaucoma and eye diseases

Green tea catechins may also protect against glaucoma and other eye conditions. In one study, researchers analyzed several hundred people from regions where the drink is traditionally consumed from infancy to old age. It turned out that eye diseases such as glaucoma, retinal dystrophy, blindness and visual impairment were practically absent in these people. Why?

In medicine, there is such a thing as “oxidative stress”. It happens in the muscles, various organs, including the retina of our eyes. According to the authors of the study, oxidative stress in the retina causes biological disorders, such as DNA damage and activation of proteolytic enzymes, which can lead to tissue cell damage or dysfunction and, ultimately, to ophthalmic diseases.

Green tea is good for the eyes because catechins stop the process of oxidative stress in the retina, thereby reducing the likelihood of glaucoma and other eye diseases. It remains only to add that you need to drink no more than 2-3 cups of the drink per day throughout your life.

Green tea for women: benefits and harms

The anti-aging properties of green tea have long been known - thanks to antioxidants and L-theanine, the favorite drink can curb cell aging (if taken in moderation). In addition, the beneficial effect of phytohormones affects both the appearance of a woman and her physical health.

Catechins against breast cancer

The famous catechins also have an impact on the benefits and harms of green tea for women. In particular, studies by American scientists in 2008 found a link between drinking a drink and reducing the risk of developing breast cancer. A detailed study revealed the mechanism of action - epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) inhibits folic acid in a woman's body, thereby protecting her from breast cancer.

With menopause in women

One interesting study showed a significant association between green tea consumption and improved urinary function during menopause. Bladder dysfunction often develops due to hormone deficiency in women after menopause. Doctors attribute the positive effects of green tea to the content of catechins in it, with their strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Therefore, during menopause, you need to drink 2 cups of a healthy drink per day (of course, you need to brew weak tea).

Green tea during pregnancy and breastfeeding

No matter how they write about the usefulness of the popular drink, it contains almost 30 mg of caffeine per 150 ml, so green tea should be consumed very moderately during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Preferably no more than 1 cup per day, or 2 cups of a weakly brewed drink with honey or ice (in the heat).

There is no need to think that the drink is harmless - like any other decoction, it has certain properties and can harm the expectant mother or child if the nursing mother is too fond of her usual tea.

Benefits and harms of green tea for men

Prostate cancer

Japanese scientists decided to find out the relationship between the use of green tea and oncology of the male genitourinary system. Over several years of observation, a remarkable fact has been established: those who drink the drink regularly are less likely to get prostate cancer than men who are not addicted to this drink.

How does green tea fight prostate cancer? Some scientists believe that this is the action of an enzyme that promotes the decomposition of prostate cancer cells, slows down their growth and induces apoptosis (self-destruction). Catechins can also interfere with the activity of COX-2, an enzyme that accumulates in prostate cancer tissue and promotes the destruction of cancer cells.

Hangover

Green tea polyphenols help fight the effects of yesterday's spree. You need to drink a glass of honey on an empty stomach.

Drink harm

However, in addition to the benefits, green tea can be harmful to men if taken in large quantities. Excessive drinking of your favorite drink can lower testosterone levels, according to Brazilian scientists. In any case, this was shown by studies that they conducted for several years.

Another study, however, conducted on white rats at the University of Science and Technology in Calcutta (India), showed that high doses of green tea extract lead to a deterioration in the functional state of the testes in rodents. This observation raises concerns about the impact of large portions of the drink on male reproductive function.

Is green tea invigorating or calming?

Advertising and popular articles often present this drink as calming and invigorating at the same time, which misleads and bewilders users. So invigorating or calming green tea, what effect does it have?

Soothes. The drink contains polyphenols, which help relieve stress, help with anxiety, fear and insomnia.
Invigorates. Do not forget about caffeine, which has a stimulating effect on the nervous system and tones the body.

The secret to the effect of the drink is simple:

If you brew strong tea, we get an invigorating effect, if you make weak or medium tea, then the effect is the opposite - soothing.

Does green tea thin or thicken the blood?

Thrombosis is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The lack of information prompts patients to question whether green tea thickens or thins the blood so that its consumption does not harm one's health.

Green tea acts like aspirin and blocks the formation of thromboxane A2, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack and thrombotic stroke, that is, it helps to thin the blood.

It inhibits a clotting agent called platelet activating factor (PAF) and a protein in the blood called fibrinogen, which is involved in the formation of blood clots.

But! If you are taking blood-thinning medications, check with your healthcare provider and take green tea with caution.

The fact is that it contains vitamin K, which, if accumulated in large quantities, can reduce the effect of blood thinning drugs.

Harm of green tea: 6 notes for each

In addition to the benefits, green tea can be harmful, and not everyone, it turns out, is equally useful. I bring to your attention 6 reasons to give up excessive consumption of this drink and limit yourself to only two or three cups a day. So, six reasons why your favorite drink can bring real harm.

1. Myths about caffeine

A steaming cup of hot coffee is the only image we imagine when we hear the word caffeine. But, did you know that green tea also contains this substance in sufficient quantities? Therefore, the abuse of your favorite drink (up to five glasses a day) can lead to a number of diseases: insomnia, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea and frequent urination.

2. Risky period of pregnancy and lactation

Excessive consumption of green tea during pregnancy can result in a risk of miscarriage and a number of other negative consequences. To avoid such situations, pregnant and lactating women are advised to drink no more than one cup of the drink per day. Caffeine with HB is undesirable, therefore, there are restrictions for green tea.

3. Blocking of anticancer drugs

This is one of the biggest paradoxes. Green tea is known for its anti-cancer properties, but green tea's beneficial polyphenols, when in excess, can block the anti-cancer properties of Bortezomib.

4. Iron deficiency

It may seem unbelievable, but it is true. Too high doses of green tea can increase the chance of iron deficiency. The drink contains tannins, which block the absorption of iron from food and supplements.

5. Osteoporosis

It would seem, what is the connection between green tea and osteoporosis? It turns out that we do not know much about the usual drink!

The abuse of green tea helps to reduce the amount of calcium in the body, the deficiency of which leads to the development of osteoporosis. Possible loss of calcium can be compensated by the use of calcium-containing foods or dietary supplements with a passion for tea.

6. Harm to the liver

Too much passion for green tea is dangerous for the liver. The culprits are already known to us polyphenols, called catechins. Although they are antioxidants, catechins are harmful to the body if taken in excess.

Catechins affect mitochondria in muscle cells and disrupt metabolic processes. They prevent food from being digested and converted into energy, which can lead to liver disease and, in some extreme cases, even liver failure.

Catechins can also deplete protective molecules (like glutathione) in cells that protect us from injury. This can eventually lead to fatal liver damage in susceptible individuals. Details on the effect of catechins on the liver can be found in the report of American scientists studying these processes, which was published in 2013 (here).

Why does green tea interfere with medications?

An interesting video why you should not take pills with this drink and why you need to be careful with the combination of green tea and drugs:

But still, despite some harm, the benefits of green tea are much more tangible, and men and women in many countries continue to use this most popular drink with great pleasure. You just need to know the measure, and then everything healing will be good, not without reason in China there is a proverb that a cup of green tea drunk daily leaves our doctor without work

All health!

With love, Irina Lirnetskaya

Popular green tea, whose benefits and harms are described below, has varieties that differ both in leaf varieties and the place of their collection, and in the type of preparation (semi-fermentation or its absence) and the presence of additional components (ginseng, jasmine, mint, lemon balm).

Depending on the person's taste preferences, tea is consumed with honey, lemon, milk, mint, ginseng, jasmine, hibiscus, hot or cold. On sale there is this drink in different forms - in bags or in bulk. It is widely believed among buyers that the best tea is loose tea, and small fragments of leaves, stems and other waste from the production of loose tea are packed into bags. However, this is not always true, because the quality of the product depends on the variety, additional components (jasmine, hibiscus, rose) and processing, regardless of the form in which it was marketed.

Benefit

Due to its composition, tea is able to normalize blood pressure, has a positive effect on the kidneys. Green tea also contains a complex of vitamins necessary for the normal functioning of the liver.

B1 (19 mg) is involved in the processing and synthesis of fats, promotes their speedy dissolution and excretion from the liver;
B2 (1) stimulates the production of bile and accelerates its flow, preventing harmful substances from stagnation in the organ;
C (250) normalizes the metabolism between liver cells by increasing vascular permeability and helps to restore the organ in cases of cholecystitis and hepatitis.

The presence of catechins in the composition can affect the health of this organ and negatively. Scientists from the American College of Gastroenterology have determined that a daily intake of up to 500 mg of catechins for men and 450–470 mg for women is safe for liver dosing. Exceeding this dosage leads to inhibition of liver function.

This is especially dangerous in connection with the spread of biologically active additives, in which the content of catechin exceeds 700 mg. Daily use of such a dosage can lead to the destruction of liver tissues.

Tea has a beneficial effect on high blood pressure (hypertension). Theophylline (3-4%) - an alkaloid that relaxes muscles and eliminates spasms, promotes the expansion of blood vessels by relaxing their walls and increasing the gaps through which blood flows out.

As a result, blood circulation is normalized and blood pressure is reduced. A positive effect on the level of pressure affects immediately after drinking the drink, which helps to relieve an attack. With its daily use of 1-2 cups per day by hypertensive patients, the severity of the disease may decrease, and pressure surges will stop. Also, pressure has a positive effect of tannin, which increases vascular tone.

Caffeine causes a diuretic effect. This relieves swelling and removes excess fluid from the body. It also has a positive effect on the kidneys, because it contributes to their “washing” of sand (if any) and resists stagnation of urine. But if this drink is abused (using more than 600 ml per day), the content of salts and acids in the kidneys may increase, which provokes the formation of stones. This is because when dehydrated, the urine becomes more concentrated and the salts contained in it accumulate and form a sediment.

With milk

Perhaps the healthiest drink for tooth enamel is green tea with milk, tea bags or brewed from the leaves. Due to the high content of calcium (495 mg), it effectively strengthens tooth enamel and prevents its thinning. In addition, when consumed with milk, tea does not stain teeth (unlike black tea, the pigment of which is not always neutralized even by milk).

Another property that green tea in bags with milk is useful for is that it has an alkaline environment (thanks to milk), which means it can neutralize the acidity of the stomach. Therefore, the benefits of green tea with milk in any form for people suffering from heartburn, gastritis, and high acidity are obvious. When ingested, this drink, due to its alkaline environment, reduces the acidity of gastric juice. As a result, the severity of attacks of gastritis and heartburn decreases. To improve the taste, it can be consumed with honey, jasmine, mint, lemon balm and other additives.

With lemon

One of the important aspects of what green tea is useful for is its high content of vitamin C (250 mg, while in lemon 40 mg, and in black tea it is not at all), which can increase the body's immunity and resistance to bacteria, viruses and infections. . You can significantly increase the content of this substance if you drink a drink with lemon. On average, 1 cup of tea contains about 10 mg of vitamin C. Adding one slice of lemon, which contains about 4 mg of this vitamin, can increase its content in a cup to 14–15 mg. Vitamin passes into tea with proper brewing (you can not pour tea leaves with water with a temperature above 90 degrees). The drink is also useful for the liver due to the content of vitamin C, which normalizes intercellular metabolism in it.

Advice! To maximize the benefits of green tea for the body, it is poured not with boiling water, but with water at a temperature of 80-90 degrees and infused for about five minutes. Caffeine from the leaves is extracted into a drink at a water temperature of 85-90 degrees. And at a higher temperature, tannins begin to be extracted into the drink, which give it bitterness.

For one cup, you need to use 1 sachet or 1 teaspoon of leaves per 200-300 ml of water. After that add a lemon. It is better to sweeten such tea with honey, not sugar, because honey also contains vitamin C. To improve the taste, you can add lemon balm or mint during brewing, which reveal the taste to the best extent together with lemon.

With honey

Speaking about the benefits of green tea for the human body, it is worth mentioning the presence of vitamin C (250 mg) in its composition. Thanks to him, the drink helps to increase the immunity of the body. Imed is also characterized by the content of vitamin C (0.5 mg). Regular consumption of a hot drink with sdom is suitable for those who need to strengthen their immunity during epidemics of viral infections and cold weather.

Medic is equally effective regardless of whether it is added directly to the drink or consumed simultaneously with it. When adding honey to a drink, dissolve it in an amount of at least 1 teaspoon per cup. At the same time, 1 bag of tea or one teaspoon of leaves is used for 300 ml of water. To improve the taste, sedom tea can be used with crushed, lemon balm, lemon. In addition, honey tea is used by women and men for weight loss, as it satisfies the need for sweets and gives a feeling of satiety.

with melissa

Mint and lemon balm can not only significantly improve the taste, but also enhance the beneficial properties of green tea, regardless of whether it is in bags or in the form of whole leaves. In the composition of mint and lemon balm, as well as in the composition of tea leaves themselves, potassium is present (569, 458 and 6.4 mg, respectively). Potassium has a positive effect on the body, normalizing muscle function and relaxing the muscles.

Therefore, the benefits of green tea with lemon balm and mint are obvious for those who need to get rid of cramps and spasms. Drinking one cup of this drink hot has an antispasmodic and relaxing effect. To prepare one cup of drink with lemon balm or mint, you need a spoonful of tea leaves and one medium sprig of the plant. All this must be put in a cup and pour hot, but not boiling water. Insist 5-7 minutes.

Weight loss

Green tea with lemon, honey, jasmine or mint is an effective way to lose weight for men and women. Tea works in several ways:

caffeine and catechin in the composition of such a drink with honey significantly accelerate the metabolism with daily use and are responsible for faster burning of body fat and cleansing the liver of fats;
catechins also make tea with honey an effective diuretic, as a result, swelling of men and women decreases, therefore, body weight and volume decrease (the same property positively affects the state of the kidney and the level of blood pressure);
polyphenols in the composition of the drink with honey contribute to increased heat transfer, as a result, more energy is spent on warming the body, obtained by burning body fat, and weight loss is stimulated;
The presence of honey reduces the need for sweets and saturates with energy.

In order for weight loss to be active for both men and women, tea with honey must be brewed correctly. It is necessary to pour a leaf into the teapot at the rate of 1 teaspoon per 200–300 ml of water. Pour the tea leaves with water at a temperature of 80–90 degrees and let it brew. For the morning intake - 5 minutes during this time, the caffeine will have time to be extracted into the drink and this tea will give vivacity for the whole day. For lunch and evening - 2-3 minutes, but no more, to reduce the excessive invigorating effect of caffeine, which can cause insomnia.

After brewing, pour the tea into a glass and dissolve two tablespoons of honey in it. Use three times a day, 200 ml for women and 250-300 ml for men. Continue taking until the desired weight is reached. Sometimes, when losing weight, the drink is drunk with milk and honey 1 time per day in the morning, 250 ml each. The calorie content of such a serving is about 90 kcal. At the same time, it gives a fairly long feeling of fullness.

Harm

Green tea, the benefits and harms of which are discussed in the material, can not be taken by everyone.

There is some harm to green tea when consumed with lemon. Since organic acids are not contained in lemon, its addition significantly increases the acidity of the drink. Acids have a negative effect on the teeth and destroy the tooth enamel of men, women in particular, in children, since they are thinner. However, such harm from green tea can be reduced by rinsing your mouth or brushing your teeth immediately after drinking it. The best way to remove acidity is to drink milk, as its alkaline environment neutralizes acids;
The potential harm of green tea also exists for allergy sufferers. Although green tea is one of the most non-allergic teas, flavorings and additives with which it can be fortified (ginseng, hibiscus, jasmine, rose) sometimes cause intolerance. Quite rarely, a natural flower is used as a flavoring agent, for example, Jasmine, because it does not give a strong aroma, and the production of such tea is more expensive, so manufacturers replace it with a chemical analogue. It is to him that the reaction can begin. Regardless of which tea is purchased, in bags or leaf, it is important for allergy sufferers to find out what composition the product has in order to be sure that it does not contain flavors;
The ability to lower blood pressure explains the contraindications of green tea for use by hypotensive patients. It can greatly expand the blood vessels, resulting in a drop in blood pressure. This can cause dizziness, weakness, drowsiness, and even fainting. If a man or woman is suspected of being prone to hypotension (low blood pressure), then it is better to refuse the drink;
The use of milk reduces the acidity of the stomach. Milk has an alkaline reaction, and tea acquires the same when milk is added to it. When it enters the stomach, the drink reduces the acidity of the gastric juice, as a result, the digestion of food worsens. This feature explains why green tea is harmful for gastritis with low acidity;
The diuretic effect of the drink is undesirable for kidney stones. The active flow of urine can cause the movement of stones and blockage of the ducts of men and women;
The choleretic effect, useful for the liver, causes the displacement of stones in the ducts and gallbladder (if any). This can lead to blockage of the ducts;
Catechins in the composition can have a negative effect on the liver;
The controversial question is whether green tea is harmful during pregnancy. Since it relieves swelling, it is useful for expectant mothers. However, along with urine, potassium and calcium are washed out of the body. But this happens in small quantities.

If there are no contraindications, the drink can be consumed by men and women in any quantity. But even with contraindications, a person can sometimes treat himself to one cup of such a drink.

increased sweating;
weakened immunity, frequent colds;
weakness, fatigue;
nervous state, depression;
headaches and migraines;
intermittent diarrhea and constipation;
want sweet and sour;
bad breath;
frequent feeling of hunger;
weight loss problems
loss of appetite;
night grinding of teeth, salivation;
pain in the abdomen, joints, muscles;
does not pass cough;
pimples on the skin.

If you have any of the symptoms or doubt the causes of ailments, you need to cleanse the body as soon as possible. How to do it .

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A lot is said and written about the benefits of green tea, and people are wondering: is it really so useful? Like any plant, green tea is a medicine, in reasonable doses it brings benefits, and if used excessively, it is harmful. Therefore, you should not drink green tea in liters. Many even refuse black tea in favor of green. But is green tea really as good as it says in weight loss magazines? Today we will figure out what is the benefit and what is the harm of this popular drink and how to brew it correctly.

Green tea is one of the best sources of antioxidants - substances that remove old toxins and prevent the formation of new ones. Thanks to them, green tea is useful to drink in almost all infectious diseases and for the prevention of atherosclerosis and oncology.

Amazing healing properties of green tea have long attracted the attention of people who are not indifferent to their health. The ancient Chinese used it to treat many diseases. And today no one doubts that green tea is a miracle doctor that heals ulcers, lowers blood pressure, removes salts of heavy metals from the body, etc. But green tea, like any other medicinal plant, has side effects. Let's talk about the pros and cons of green tea, when green tea is a medicine, and when it is a poison. Green tea is most commonly used as an effective weight loss aid.

Benefits of green tea. Composition of green tea

15-30% of the composition of green tea is occupied by tannins, which are a mixture of more than three dozen polyphenolic compounds - tannin and various catechins, polyphenols and their derivatives. The tannin content of green tea is almost double that of black tea. High-grade teas have more tannin than low-grade teas.

Essential oils. The quality of tea depends on essential oils. They seem to be very few (about 0.02%), but their role is huge - essential oils give tea its unique flavor. When processing tea leaves, the loss of essential oils reaches 70-80%.

alkaloids. Among them, the most famous is caffeine. Acting in tea along with tannin, caffeine forms the compound caffeine tannate, which has a milder effect on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems than the caffeine present in coffee. In addition to caffeine, tea contains small amounts of other alkaloids - water-soluble theobromine and theophylline, which are good vasodilators and diuretics.

Amino acids. Glutamic acid was found in tea, which is important for the human body: it normalizes metabolic processes, helps to restore the depleted nervous system.

Protein substances together with free amino acids make up from 16 to 25% of tea. All enzymes are proteins. In terms of protein content and their quality, the tea leaf is not inferior to legumes.

Mineral and other inorganic substances in tea contains from 4 to 7% . Tea contains magnesium, manganese, sodium, potassium, calcium, fluorine, iodine, copper, gold.

vitamins. Tea contains provitamin A - carotene, which ensures the normal condition of the mucous membranes of the nose, pharynx, larynx, lungs, bronchi, urinary organs and is especially important for maintaining good vision. Green tea is rich in vitamins K, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B9 (folic acid), B12, PP (nicotinic acid).

Tea also contains vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Green and yellow teas contain 10 times more vitamin C than black teas. Vitamin P in green tea is 4 times more than in oranges or lemons. In combination with vitamin C, it significantly enhances the effectiveness of ascorbic acid, promotes its accumulation and retention in the body.

Thus, green tea is a treasure trove of substances useful for humans.

How to brew green tea

To brew green tea for its greater benefit, you should:

Green tea should only be brewed in clean drinking water. In many homes, bad, hard water with a lot of impurities flows in the faucet. Green tea requires pure, soft, natural water. You can buy it in the store or filter tap water using home filters.
Pour water into the kettle and let it boil. As soon as the water boils, pour a small amount of it into the green tea infuser and shake, letting the water warm all the walls of the teapot. This is necessary so that the cold walls do not take away all the heat of the water, which is intended for brewing.
now with a clean and dry spoon we collect the right amount of green tea. Usually the calculation is one teaspoon without a slide per 150 ml of water. You can read the recommendations on the tea package. Many manufacturers print methods for proper brewing. Especially important is the brewing time for green tea, which must be indicated on the box. The time depends on the variety and harvest of tea.
pour the tea leaves into the teapot and pour the required amount of water. While we were counting the amount of tea leaves and rinsing the kettle with boiling water, the water cooled down a little, which was what we needed. It is recommended to brew this sort of tea with water no more than 80 degrees.
poured, covered with a lid and allowed to brew for the right amount of time. If the time is not indicated on the package, then you can stop at the average value for green tea - 3-4 minutes.
pour tea into mugs, but not immediately filling each container to the brim, but doing it in a circle, evenly and in small portions. This is necessary in order to maintain the correct concentration of tea and get the same taste and astringency in all cups.

Green tea - useful properties

Green tea has long been revered as a drink of vivacity and good mood. It is thanks to the caffeine contained in it that tea acts as a biological stimulant. If you have a headache, drink a cup of green tea. One glass of tea contains as much caffeine as one headache pill. But remember that headaches can have different causes. If the pain does not go away for a long time, it is better to consult a doctor. It is not necessary to insist green tea for a long time, otherwise, instead of benefit, you can get harm.

Recovery of an exhausted nervous system- one of the medicinal properties of green tea. It acts as an excellent prophylactic that increases resistance to stressful situations. Green tea is a good antidepressant. Only in this case it should be brewed loosely. Green tea harmonizes the nervous system as a whole, normalizes its activity.

It is known that in people with age, the fragility and fragility of blood vessels, including the smallest vessels - capillaries, increases. Green tea will come to the rescue here too. If you drink it regularly, of course. It will strengthen the walls of blood vessels, increase their elasticity, and reduce the risk of internal hemorrhages.

Green tea infusion helps lower blood pressure in the initial stages of hypertension, leads to lower blood cholesterol levels, improves the condition of patients with atherosclerosis. Japanese scientists claim that long-term use of green tea can reduce blood pressure by 10-20 units. To do this, tea should be brewed as follows: before brewing dry green tea, rinse with warm boiled water to reduce the content of caffeine in it, which has an exciting effect on the cardiovascular system. Then pour tea with boiling water at the rate of 3 g of tea per half a glass of water and leave for 10 minutes. Drink 1 glass 3 times a day after meals. At the same time, the total amount of liquid drunk is reduced, taking into account tea, to 1.2 liters (so as not to overload the cardiovascular system).

If you regularly drink green tea, then you will never know what sclerosis is. On the one hand, it prevents the deposition of fats and fat-like substances - lipids on the walls of blood vessels, on the other hand - destroys already deposited fatty layers.

Dutch scientists claim that if you drink 4 glasses of green tea during the day and eat one apple or onion head, then the risk of myocardial infarction will be halved. This conclusion they made after studying the food habits of a large number of people who lived to old age.

Green tea has long been used as a cure for dysentery.. Catechins, which are part of tea, have a direct antimicrobial effect on dysentery, typhoid and coccal bacteria. Dysentery sticks die from green tea on the 2nd-3rd day of treatment.

The “tea medicine” is prepared as follows: pour 50 g of crushed green tea into 1 liter of water, leave for 30 minutes. Then boil over low heat for 1 hour, then filter. The resulting infusion can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Take an infusion of 2 tbsp. spoon 4 times a day half an hour before meals.

Green tea is also indicated for food poisoning.

And if you are poisoned by drugs, drugs, alcohol or nicotine - green tea will also help you. Just drink it with milk and sugar.

If you have digestive problems, then breakfast, lunch and dinner should be with tea. Tea tannin contributes to normal digestion. Tea is also useful in cases where a lot of toxins accumulate in the intestines due to diseases of other organs.

If your stomach is upset, drink strong green tea for 2-3 days. Thanks to its bactericidal properties, green tea destroys pathogens in the stomach and intestines. In addition, medium-strength tea enhances the motor function of the digestive tract and is a good tool for strengthening intestinal tone.

For those who often watch TV, Professor Cheng Qikong, deputy director of the Tea Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, advises drinking green tea instead of coffee and lemonade, as it neutralizes the harmful effects of radiation from the screen. This also applies to people who sit in front of computer screens for a long time. Professor of Kyoto University Tenji Ugai, summarizing the data obtained after the explosion of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, said that green tea is an excellent antidote for poisoning the body with strontium-90, the most destructive isotope that pollutes the air during nuclear explosions. Green tea also helps to eliminate lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc and other heavy metals from the body, which we get with food, air and water. If you have colitis, then green tea will come to the rescue. Take it inside for 2 tbsp. spoons 4 times a day. Can be used as an enema.

For conjunctivitis, inflammation of the eyelids, rinse your eyes with strong, quickly chilled green tea.

Medium-brewed green tea with lemon, pepper and honey is a diuretic for colds and respiratory diseases. But at high temperatures, green tea should not be abused, as there is an additional burden on the heart and kidneys.

Fresh tea leaf juice or powdered tea leaf helps with burns. If you get sunburned, then brew green tea, cool it quickly and dampen the burnt skin with a cotton swab. Strong tea can wash fresh wounds. Thanks to tannins, tea coagulates proteins, i.e. has a hemostatic effect.

For rhinitis, rinse your nose with green tea infusion. For this, 1 tsp. crushed green tea, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 15-20 minutes, strain. Use a disposable syringe without a needle for flushing. Do this procedure 6-8 times a day.

Green tea infusion will help with sore throat, laryngitis, pharyngitis, as well as in inflammatory processes in the tongue or gums. Pour 2 tsp of dry tea with 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 15-20 minutes, strain. Gargle with warm tea. Repeat this procedure several times a day.

Green tea improves blood composition by improving the number of blood cells. In addition, it activates the activity of the liver and spleen, reduces the risk of kidney stones.

For those who regularly drink green tea, diseases associated with metabolic disorders, as a rule, do not threaten.

When motion sickness in a car and seasickness, it is good to chew dry green tea.

With vitamin deficiency, prepare yourself such an infusion. Pour 3 g of crushed tea with half a glass of boiling water, leave for 10 minutes. Add 1 tsp. rosehip syrup. Drink warm one glass 3 times a day after meals.

Green tea has anti-cancer properties. It is assumed that the mechanism of this action is reduced to the blood-purifying properties of tea, i.e. the ability of tea polyphenols to remove carcinogens from the body. Tea strengthens the immune system, which reduces the risk of cancer cells.

Weak green tea (no more than 2 cups per day) is good for pregnant women to drink. The drink contains many useful vitamins and minerals. Japanese scientists have found that women who regularly drink green tea before pregnancy give birth to stronger children.

Green tea is a source of youth and longevity. Among the centenarians who have crossed the 90-year threshold, there are many admirers of green tea.

It is also an excellent cosmetic product. For example, rinse oily hair after washing with a strong infusion of green tea. With a vascular network on the face, a mask is made from chilled tea leaves (tea grounds are applied to a cleansed face for 15-20 minutes). The same mask is useful for fading dry facial skin. Only after removing the tea leaves, you need to lubricate the skin with a greasy cream. Oily, aging facial skin is useful to wipe with ice cubes made from green tea. To enhance the effect, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (1 tbsp per 1 tbsp of tea) can be added to the tea infusion. There are many other useful cosmetic recipes that do not fit into the scope of this article.

It turns out that green tea kills alcohol cravings. That is why in China and Japan - countries that have a special preference for green tea - there are far fewer heavy drinkers than in Western countries. To prepare an anti-alcoholic drink, use the following recipe: 1 teaspoon of green tea in 1 glass of water. Drink without sugar. The remaining leaves are not thrown away - they are eaten. The effect is not immediate. Months will pass and the effect will come.

There are many different teas for weight loss, but the best among them, no doubt, is green tea. This is an ideal drink for those who want to lose weight without harm to their body.

Green tea is useful for those who want to lose weight, as it reduces appetite. In addition, it regulates the level of norenaline, a chemical neurotransmitter that plays an important role in fat formation. Therefore, when you drink green tea, you reduce the fat layer in the hips, waist, buttocks.

There is a ten-day diet with green tea. Tea in this scheme for weight loss is used as a substance to speed up metabolism, suppress appetite and improve the quality of life.

Green tea for weight loss with and without milk will help us in the fight against extra pounds and pressure. Green tea can be used as a weight loss aid. It accelerates the excretion of fats from the body and accelerates metabolic processes.

Green tea with milk- a good prophylactic for diseases of the kidneys and heart. It is also a tonic for central nervous system exhaustion and polyneuritis. The drink is prepared like this. 5 g of brick tea, 200 ml of water, 200 ml of baked milk, 10 g of butter, salt. Slightly dry the brick tea in the oven and place in boiling water. Then strain, add milk, butter and salt to taste.

Contraindications for green tea:

As we said earlier, green tea promotes weight loss, and also improves mental activity, reaction and vision. Now let's talk about the dangers of green tea. Despite all the positive properties of green tea, you should not abuse it. Since green tea lowers blood pressure, hypotensive patients should not drink it. You can not get involved in green tea with:

acute form of hypertension;

any diseases in the acute phase;

diseases accompanied by high fever.

It should be remembered that green tea increases the acidity of gastric juice, which is undesirable for stomach and duodenal ulcers.

Those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis should also avoid this drink.

Exciting substances included in green tea - caffeine, theobromine and theophylline - actively affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Therefore, you should not get carried away with green tea, especially strong, for people suffering from tachycardia, increased excitability, and insomnia.

Remember that tea left for later increases the amount of purine compounds and caffeine. Such tea is especially dangerous for patients with hypertension, glaucoma and gout. Green tea is not recommended to drink on an empty stomach, as well as while drinking alcohol. Tea with alcohol forms aldehydes, which are bad for the kidneys.

Green tea cannot be stored in paper bags: they do not close tightly and allow moisture to pass through; with such storage, tea will deteriorate very soon.

Four simple rules for brewing fragrant green tea.

Rule one. Brew green tea in a warm teapot

A cold teapot will lower the temperature of the water by about 20 degrees. Therefore, the first green tea brew will be spoiled by the cooled water. Such tea will not bring any harm or benefit, and you will not get pleasure from drinking tea. Essential oils and trace elements will not have time to leave the tea leaf in full. Therefore, before brewing tea, warm the teapot by pouring boiling water over it.

Rule two. Do not boil green tea

Hot water destroys the beneficial components of tea and spoils its taste and aroma, and also reduces its beneficial properties. The optimum brewing temperature is 60-80 degrees Celsius. Certain types of tea need to be brewed with hotter water. The brewing temperature is usually indicated on tea packages (if you buy it from a reliable manufacturer). It is better to use spring water, and if not possible, then soft and light (no smell, taste or taste in the mouth).

If you want to drink a real healing drink - do not let the water boil! It is enough to heat it up to 95 degrees (water bubbles begin to appear at the bottom of the kettle), and then cool it. In boiling water, all salts precipitate, and oxygen leaves the water - so the tea will no longer be so tasty and fragrant.

Rule three. The first water must be drained

The Chinese at tea ceremonies always drain the first water poured into the teapot. This is done in order to rinse the tea. After that, the tea leaves are immediately filled with fresh water.

Rule four. Control your green tea brewing time

Do not steep green tea for too long. If you overexpose it in a teapot, it will be bitter, as a lot of tannins will be pulled out of the leaf. In addition, such tea cannot be brewed several times, because all the flavor has already been used. Please note that each type of tea has its own brewing time. It can vary from 30 seconds to 1 minute.

And yet, you should not focus on the color of green tea. Each variety of green tea has its own color. Some varieties are almost transparent, others are light green, or honey, amber.

Advice: Never drink cold green tea.

Cooled tea loses many of its beneficial properties: vitamins are lost, essential oils evaporate, antioxidants are destroyed. Always make only as much tea as you can drink.

The aroma and taste of tea depends not only on the correct brewing, but also on the conditions of its storage. Equally important is the utensil in which you brew the drink.

Brew tea in pottery

Clay is ideal for a teapot. It has excellent heat capacity, is chemically neutral and allows the tea leaves to "breathe" - i.e. perfect conditions for brewing tea.

In addition to clay, you can use glass and porcelain, they are also chemically neutral. But tea leaves do not breathe in them. In addition, tea cools down very quickly in them.

Never brew green tea in metal or plastic teapots. In the first case, your tea will acquire a persistent taste of metal, and in the second, it will be saturated with toxic elements. Plastic is strictly contraindicated for hot products.

Store green tea properly

Delicate green tea leaves absorb odors and moisture well. If you store tea incorrectly, it will quickly lose its beneficial properties and aroma. Your tea will smell like anything but real green tea. Light can also ruin tea leaves. Therefore, use airtight and opaque dishes for storage. Tin cans with tight-fitting lids or wooden boxes are suitable.

You can not store tea in paper bags either: they allow moisture to pass through and do not close tightly - the aroma of tea will disappear over time.

Today we will tell you about who is contraindicated in green tea. In addition, from the presented article you will learn what composition this product has and what healing properties it has.

general information

Before telling you about who is contraindicated in green tea, you should tell about this drink in more detail.

Green tea is tea that has undergone minimal fermentation (i.e. oxidation). At the same time, few people know that both green and black drinks are obtained from the leaves of the same tea bush. Then what is the difference between them? The fact is that the leaves for the mentioned teas are obtained in completely different ways. Without going into details, I would like to note that the raw materials for the green drink are pre-oxidized by 3-12%.

Green tea: benefits, composition

We will present the properties, contraindications and harm of this drink a little further. Now I want to tell you about what its chemical composition is. After all, it is the elements included in it that determine its benefits for the human body.

Tannins

Answering the question of who it is impossible not to say that a third of this product is made up of various compounds of polyphenols, tannin, catechins, as well as derivatives from them. Moreover, these substances are contained in such a drink twice as much as in black. That is why it should be included in your diet for those who regularly suffer from constipation and other bowel problems.

It should also be noted that the combination of caffeine with tannin forms the substance caffeine tannate. It is it that acts as a stimulant on the cardiovascular and nervous system.

alkaloids

Contraindications of green tea, as well as the benefits, are due to its composition. As we found out above, this drink contains caffeine. As a rule, its amount is approximately 1-4%. Its exact content depends on many factors (for example, the size of the tea leaves, processing method, growing conditions, water temperature during brewing, etc.). In addition to caffeine, this product also contains other alkaloids in the form of theobromine and theophylline, which promote vasodilation.

Enzymes and amino acids

If we talk about the presence of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in green tea, then it contains only substances such as enzymes and amino acids. Moreover, the best composition is observed in the Japanese variety.

Product calorie content

What else is remarkable about green tea? The benefits and harms for weight loss are also due to the composition of this product. It should be noted that green tea is a low-calorie product. In this regard, it can be included in your diet, even for those who are overweight.

Experts say that without the use of granulated sugar is close to zero. In some cases, it can equal about 10 calories in one small cup. Therefore, you can safely brew delicious and healthy green tea for your family.

The benefits and harms of green tea

The benefit of this product is that it contains many useful substances. For example, green tea leaves contain four times more C and C than citrus fruits. Moreover, these substances mutually enhance the healing properties of each other. They protect cells from destruction, and also help strengthen the immune system.

It should also be noted that green tea includes such an important vitamin as vitamin A (or carotene). As you know, this substance has a beneficial effect on vision, and also enhances the elimination of free radicals.

A very important place in this drink is occupied by B vitamins. So, B1 helps regulate the carbohydrate balance of the body, and B2 fights viruses and bacteria, helps strengthen hair and nails. As for vitamin B3, it reduces the amount of cholesterol and enhances the production of red blood cells.

Among other things, green tea is also very rich in vitamin E, which strengthens cell membranes and has an antioxidant effect on the human body. It also has a positive effect on the reproductive system - both men and women.

What is the harm?

Why some people are not recommended to include in their diet is closely related to the composition of this drink. After all, it contains a lot of substances that contribute to the expansion of blood vessels. In this regard, it should be drunk with caution for those who have any problems in this area.

Contraindications for use

To whom is green tea strictly contraindicated? Few people know, but the presented drink is allowed to drink to a fairly small number of people. This is primarily due to the fact that it is very rich in minerals and vitamins.

So, consider the contraindications of green tea in more detail:

How not to drink green tea?

Now you know who is contraindicated in green tea. However, it should be noted that before buying this product, it is necessary to pay attention not only to its harm, but also to how it should be used correctly. After all, even in the absence of contraindications, improperly drunk tea can cause significant harm to the human body.

Brewing process

The preparation of any tea drink, including green tea, is called brewing. To do this, take about 2 g of dry matter and pour it with about 100 ml of boiled water.

It should also be noted that the brewing process can vary markedly depending on which grade of product you have purchased. For example, for high-quality tea, a large amount of dry leaf is used, which can be brewed several times in a short time.

The preparation time of the drink and the temperature of the water are also different for different types of tea. The highest brewing temperature is 81-87°C and the longest time is 2-3 minutes. As for the lowest value, it is 61-69°C and 30 seconds, respectively.

As a rule, low-quality tea is brewed at higher temperatures and much longer than high-quality tea. It is by this observation that you can determine which product was sold to you in the store.

Finally, I would like to add that if green tea is brewed for too long and in boiling water, it will become astringent and bitter, regardless of its variety and quality.

Green tea is an ambiguous drink. It is made from tea tree leaves that have not been fermented. Known for the rich chemical composition of green tea. What a person eats and drinks affects his health. Drinks that are sold in stores contain chemicals that are not very good for the body.

What a drink for a long time there is no doubt - it's green tea. However, it is worth knowing all its features, because green tea can bring benefits and harm to health to the same extent.

Compound

Due to the fact that the processing of fresh products mainly consists in evaporating moisture from the tea leaf, the color and composition of the finished tea leaves are as close as possible to the natural original product. Only the concentration of useful substances becomes many times greater.

The chemical composition includes such an abundance of elements that green tea is considered one of the most valuable products for the human body. It contains vitamins, microelements, and macronutrients.

Tea composition:

Vitamins - for example, vitamin P, which contributes to the health and elasticity of blood vessels and supports the cardiovascular system as a whole; vitamin C, which is more in green tea than in lemons and oranges; vitamin K, which ensures normal blood clotting; vitamin B, which has a beneficial effect on the nervous system; vitamins A, PP, D and E.
Minerals and trace elements - for example, zinc, necessary for the growth and strengthening of hair, teeth and nails; as well as iodine, which supports the endocrine system; fluorine, which strengthens the gums and teeth; potassium is a friend of the heart muscle; copper, promoting women's health, and manganese. The minerals contained in the leaves help the proper functioning of internal organs, strengthen the immune system, maintain the balance of all body systems and normalize metabolism, which, among other things, contributes to weight loss.
Caffeine - well, everyone knows caffeine, its invigorating and tonic properties are familiar to coffee lovers, but with green tea everything is not so simple. The fact is that it contains “another caffeine” - theine, the effect of which is much softer, and at the same time longer. In addition, it is excreted from the body completely without causing side effects. When I, an experienced coffee addict, suddenly began to jump pressure, my doctor recommended replacing morning coffee with green tea, and the positive experience inspired me so much that I completely switched to it. Surprisingly, the pressure returned to normal.
Antioxidants - flavonoids (catechins), which not only slow down the aging process, but even protect against cancer. There is an opinion that green tea, rich in catechins like no other, slows down and even stops the growth of tumors. Catechins also regulate blood sugar, which makes this drink incredibly beneficial for diabetics.

Green tea contains four main catechin components. Only one of these components is 100 times the antioxidant properties of vitamin C. Studies have shown that a cup of green tea contains up to 40 mg of polyphenols, which is many times higher than the antioxidant effect of the same apples, spinach or broccoli.

Harm of green tea

The composition of green tea includes substances that have both positive and negative effects on the human body. In addition, green tea contains theophylline and theobromine, which have a stimulating effect on the human nervous system. That is why the infusion of tea leaves is not recommended for people with increased excitability and insomnia.

Remember that the recommended temperature of the brewing water is around 80-90 degrees. Without a thermometer at hand, determining the right temperature is quite simple. It is necessary to open the lid of the kettle and when the steam begins to rise, bring your hand to it. The steam must not burn the hand. This is the optimum temperature. Learn once and for all - boiling water destroys most of the beneficial substances in tea, making this drink useless!

A strong drink is definitely harmful in such situations:

During pregnancy. It interferes with the natural breakdown of folic acid, which is so vital to the developing brain of an unborn baby. All this is due to the content in it of a large dose of a chemical drug with the unpronounceable name "gallatepigallocatechin". Again, we mention caffeine, which is contraindicated for pregnant women. Whether black tea prevents the breakdown of folic acid has not been proven for certain, but it does contain caffeine. Just a few cups of any tea per day can cause the birth of a child with low weight, stimulate premature labor with possible fetal death.
With an unstable nervous system and with diseases of the cardiovascular tract. Of course, theine is bad for them. But tea is not rich in theine alone, it contains substances that actively influence these systems, which causes its harmful effects, for example, due to theobromine.
With a stomach ulcer. Rather, tea is contraindicated than really harmful. Strong tea, and green tea in particular, increases the acidity of gastric juice, and this, in turn, interferes with the natural process of wound healing. As a result, the patient's condition may worsen significantly.
At a temperature. Tea contains theophylline, which can raise a person's temperature. Therefore, a patient with a temperature, drinking green tea, will worsen his condition even more.
With an unhealthy liver. This is where green tea comes into play. Some of the compounds found in tea are extremely taxing on the liver, especially if the drink is drunk in large quantities. But in black tea, these compounds are very few.
For the skeleton and bones. The analyzes put by scientists on animals showed unexpected results. It turns out that tea has a negative effect on the skeleton and, in particular, on the density of bone tissue. In fairness, we note that such studies have not been done on humans.
Washing out beneficial trace elements. Tea removes metals from the body. Again because of theine.
For teeth. Although the opposite effect was mentioned here, there is evidence that tea has a detrimental effect on tooth enamel. What to believe? You can’t answer for sure, but it’s hardly worth rinsing your teeth with tea when brushing.
Urea formation. Any tea is rich in purines, which in the process of assimilation synthesize urea. It is known to be poisonous, and is removed from the body with difficulty. Its salts synthesize crystals that develop gout. In addition, green tea disrupts the condition of people suffering from arthritis and rheumatism.

What is harmful green tea bags:

The composition of the vast majority of brands of packaged teas includes the so-called tea debris (damaged leaves, petioles, sticks), which is rejected in the production of high-quality loose leaf teas. The taste and benefits of such tea dust are minimal.
Many brands of tea in bags, in addition to the tea leaf itself, contain various plant components (tree leaves, grass) of dubious quality or origin.
Often, expired tea leaves are used for the production of tea bags. The composition of the paper in which tea is packaged includes thermoplastic fiber (for shaping). This substance, in contact with hot water, releases various harmful substances.

Extremely hot drink should not be consumed in large doses. Therefore, if you constantly consume excessively heated tea, burns of the internal organs inevitably occur. They are deformed, painfully shrink, cracks form on the tissues. These types of burns certainly increase the risk of cancer. It should be noted here that this is not a harm to tea as such.

Benefits of green tea

The beneficial properties of green tea have long been used in Asia - China, Japan, Central Asian peoples use this "health cocktail" every day: chilled in the heat, hot - in the cold season. Look at Japanese women - their wonderful skin, youthfulness and harmony have long served as a model for all women.

Of course, a seafood-rich diet also plays an important role in maintaining youth and health, but the "drink of life" - green tea - is one of the most important components of this diet. Do you think that in vain movie stars and glamorous divas in their expensive spas have long ago made it a fashion to indulge in a cup of green tea, which is excellent for cleansing and rejuvenating the body?

The product has a huge number of useful properties, but the most important of them are:

Decreased growth of cancerous tumors. The ability to stop and delay the growth of various types of tumors and fight the activity of cancer cells (however, according to some studies, green tea is ineffective against breast tumors).
The ability to remove free radicals from the body and protect against the effects of increased radiation.
Prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system up to heart attacks and strokes, lowering blood pressure.
Breakdown of fats, removal of harmful cholesterol from the body, normalization of metabolism and weight control.
Fight against diseases of the oral cavity, eliminate periodontal disease and bad breath, prevent tooth decay.
Normalization and maintenance of healthy intestinal microflora.
Removal from the body of toxins, salts, including compounds of radioactive metals.
Maintaining vigor and daily activity, combating reduced vitality, drowsiness, headache.
Improvement of brain (mental) activity, reactions.
Removal of anxiety, depression, stress, normalization of sleep (with proper use).
Reducing the harmful effects of tobacco on the body.
Fight against urolithiasis and cholelithiasis. Restoration of water balance in the body.
Slowing down the aging process, increasing the overall tone of the body.
Improving the work of the endocrine, cardiovascular, immune and digestive systems.
Maintaining visual acuity, good skin and hair condition.

How to prepare green tea

There are many recipes for making this drink, but first of all, you need to understand what kind of effect you want to achieve by using it. If it's a matter of taste preferences, then you can brew it almost anywhere - someone likes the combination of tea with milk or lemon, someone chooses flavored or mixed varieties, some add a drop of honey or sugar to their taste.

use ceramic, porcelain or glassware for brewing;
brew tea with not too hot water - 60-80 degrees will be enough (tea will be brewed even in absolutely cold water). In order to determine whether the water has reached the desired temperature, you need to listen - bubbles in boiling water should make noise like wind in a pine forest;
during brewing, you should not put sweet additives - it is better to add them immediately before use;
various additives to tea will help enhance certain properties of tea - tea with milk will help satisfy hunger; hibiscus will enhance metabolic processes and give the tea a slight diuretic effect.

Green tea will turn out much tastier if you heat the teapot with steam, pour tea at the rate of a teaspoon per glass, pour hot water over it. You can brew tea with milk, or make tea in the usual way, and add milk to taste. Such a drink will help satisfy hunger and normalize blood pressure.

Green tea raises or lowers blood pressure?

As you know, the terms arterial hypertension and arterial hypertension are considered synonymous. Although, to be precise, "hypertension" means an increase in vascular tone, and "hypertension" - "an increase in pressure in the system."

An increase in blood pressure up to 140/90 mm Hg. not always associated with an increase in vascular tone. High values can be observed with their normal and even reduced tone due to an increase in cardiac output due to various reasons. Therefore, discussions about the benefits of green teas for lowering or increasing blood pressure continue.

According to one point of view, there is no change in indicators. Caffeine, which is part of the composition, stimulates cardiac activity, which initially increases blood pressure. At the same time, the vasomotor center of the medulla oblongata, which is responsible for the narrowing or expansion of blood vessels, gives the command to reduce the tone, as a result of which the indicators quickly return to normal. Studies have found that a green drink has the property of thinning the blood, making it more fluid. As a result, the load on the heart muscle is significantly reduced, pressure indicators are normalized, and the risk of stroke is reduced.
Other studies, with varying degrees of certainty, confirm the benefits of green tea to reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol, strengthen and increase the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels due to the high content of tannins in it. The best effect is achieved when using high-quality varieties made from the top young leaves.
Green tea varieties are useful for their diuretic effect and therefore can be used in the treatment of cardiovascular or kidney diseases, reducing swelling. The results obtained allow us to recommend that everyone who is healthy drink a green drink to reduce the risk of arterial hypertension, as well as in the initial stage of this disease. Many patients report normalization or a noticeable decrease in performance, improvement. But it is not necessary to talk about the complete cure of the disease in this way.

More years of research is required to draw a more definitive conclusion about the blood pressure lowering benefits of green tea when consumed regularly.

Green tea with milk

What is the best way to drink green tea?

To maximize the benefits of green tea, choose high-quality large-leaf products. It is desirable that the product contains only one ingredient. If you want to improve the taste, then you can do it yourself by adding natural products, and not flavorings of unknown origin.

Tea is drunk freshly brewed. Within an hour, the concentration of vitamins in it is significantly reduced. Do not heat tea, because harmful compounds are formed in it. High-quality varieties are brewed 2-3 times, while the time for infusion increases by 20 seconds each time.

A hot drink destroys tooth enamel, irritates the stomach, and a cold drink is poorly absorbed and becomes less useful.