Green tea has gained massive popularity in the last few years with green tea imports in the United States reaching 100 million annual sales in 2023 and having an estimated 6.7 billion annual sales by 2035 for matcha imports. But what health benefits does green tea offer that make this drink so desirable?
It turns out green tea may serve as a preventative for osteoporosis! With over 14 studies conducted between 2008 and 2024 with 562,838 participants observed, it was concluded that green tea was correlated with a lowered risk for osteoporosis. Green tea acting as a preventative strengthened with consumption that was more than four times per week. In essence, the more green tea was consumed, the stronger the bones!
Green tea’s involvement can even reach our hearts. In fact, in a recent study with mice, these compounds had involvement in moderating the cardiovascular system, reducing inflammation, and improving antioxidant involvement in the cardiovascular system because of selective cell apoptosis involving iron concentrations.
This universal benefit for our bodies involving green tea is because it contains polyphenols, alkaloids, amino acids, and polysaccharides in each serving. These can aid in treatment of diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, oral cancer, and dermatitis due to their antioxidant, anticancer, hypoglycemic, antibacterial, antiviral, and neuroprotective components!
Polyphenols are a compound that aids in digestion, is anti-inflammatory, helps in improving cognitive abilities, controls blood sugar, prevents cardiovascular disease, and contains antioxidants! Alkaloids in green tea are theobromine and theophylline, which can reduce inflammation in the lungs, improve cardiovascular function, enhance blood flow, relax muscles, reduce blood pressure, strengthen teeth, improve cholesterol, aid in cognitive functions, and improve sleep quality. Amino acids in green tea include L-theanine which can increase dopamine and serotonin production! This overall increases cognitive functions with improved memory, focus, and elevated mood. And finally polysaccharides can control blood sugar, help in immune function, and improve digestion.
With these components in each cup of green tea, it’s no wonder the body feels so good after!
Who knew a latte could be so healthy?
It all depends on how you grow these super plants. It turns out even the way green tea is produced can affect how much benefits you can harvest from them! When green tea plants were shaded at specific times during production it could enhance the concentration of theanine, caffeine, chlorophyll and various types of catechins.
Catechins in particular are a compound that can improve blood, bone, and brain functions. Even so far as to promote antigenotoxic activities, which is a process that prevents chemical compounds, biological compounds, and radiation from causing damage to human DNA and mutations from occurring in the human cells. Talk about an investment in your future if you drink green tea!
The antigenotoxic activities of catechins in green tea are due to supporting ROS production, moderating the endogenous antioxidant system, aiding DNA repair processes, being involved in the selective apoptosis of genetically compromised cells, having involvement in epigenetic modulation, and aiding in metal ion binding occurring in the blood which can maintain cellular homeostasis and reduce inflammation.
ROS production involves enzymes interacting with mitochondria in the process of transporting electrons and modulating molecular oxygen in the body. Green tea aids with providing a balance in ROS production to prevent oxidative stress from occurring. Endogenous antioxidant systems help in preventing oxidative damage from occurring, relying on antioxidant enzymes to support the process. Epigenetic modification can involve change in gene expression, ultimately affecting the process of proteins that may alter a person’s phenotypes. This process essentially can change the physical body of a person!
Green tea catechins have a role in the changes occurring in a body, and its involvement is not only in epigenetic modification. It is also linked to cellular homeostasis can aid cells in self-regulation to ensure peak performance to prevent cell apoptosis and provide energy for cells. All of these processes combined have provided prevention of diseases associated with oxidative DNA damage and ensure green tea catechins provide a necessary role in blood and bone health.
Notably ROS production modulation from catechin involvement can produce anti-oxidative properties, which effectively aid in bone density and structure, promote bone fracture healing, and increase bone mineral density. Green tea catechins essentially work with enzymes in the body to promote these protective antioxidant effects that aid in bone health. This protection can even assist cigarette smokers who are at major risk of developing osteoporosis. Talk about a strong preventative against osteoporosis!
Other compounds in green tea that can aid in bone and even teeth health include theobromine, which can prevent periodontitis with its anti-inflammatory effects. Green tea continues to serve in providing a basis for promoting healthy functions in our blood and bones!
Overall, green tea is a great choice for a morning beverage or an indulgence in self-care.
So drink up!
Another informative commentary