Green tea is a healthy, refreshing and hydrating drink that you can enjoy hot or cold. Green tea contains antioxidants that help to improve brain health, prevent chronic disease, and boost your cardiovascular health. You can also use green tea to help lose weight and improve your health at the same time.
The health benefits of green tea also include using it to improve your skin tone. Green tea contains compounds that are great for keeping your skin healthy and looking fresh. You can also use green tea to help treat acne prone skin and assist in reducing the appearance of pimples.
In this article, I will examine what scientific research has revealed as to the true health benefits of green tea. You will also find out if science backs up claims on using green tea to lose weight. You will also learn how to use green tea as a cleansing toner for your skin.
What is Green Tea?
Green tea comes from the tea plant Camellia sinensis. Native to East, South and Southeast Asia, but these days cultivated across the world in tropical and subtropical regions for its many wonderful properties. Tea leaves from Camellia sinensis are used to make green tea, black tea, white tea, and oolong tea.
Green tea is made by drying tea leaves; however, they are not fermented as is the case with black tea or oolong tea. This minimal processing of green tea helps to keep its beneficial polyphenolic compounds – these natural antioxidants necessary for good health. (1)
Green Tea vs. Coffee
Green tea (like coffee) also contains caffeine. Green tea contains about 11-20 mg/g of caffeine which is about half the amount of caffeine in black tea (22-28 mg/g). Green tea also contains more catechins (natural antioxidants) than black tea and also high levels of phenolic compounds. (2)
Interestingly, gram for gram, tea contains about the same amount of caffeine as coffee. However, a study found that a cup of tea contains much less caffeine than a cup coffee. A cup of tea has a caffeine content of 28-46 mg whereas a cup of coffee has 107-151 mg caffeine. This is probably because less green tea leaves are used to make a cup of green tea. (3)
