Green tea as an elixir of life: let’s discover all its benefits

Green tea is a drink with many benefits. Let's find out together what are its properties, nutritional values ​​and possible contraindications.

Green tea is a drink made from the leaves of camellia sinensis , a shrub native to Southeast Asia, where it has been grown for more than 5,000 years.
Unlike other types of tea (such as black, white, or oolong), green tea does not undergo any type of oxidation after harvesting. For this reason, its leaves remain green in color and the drink obtained from them appears golden and with slight shades of green. Once widespread only in Asia, today it is consumed in abundance in the West too, thanks to its beneficial properties . Let's see together what they are.

Green tea: properties and benefits

Green tea is a drink rich in flavonoids, catechins, tannins, theine, theophylline, amino acids, minerals and group B vitamins. It also mainly boasts diuretic, purifying and antioxidant properties , which make it a valid ally in slimming diets and in the fight against cellulite . Some studies have also highlighted anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities , due to the presence of polyphenols.

Furthermore, the latter, according to more recent studies, could help in the prevention of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases .
Furthermore, several positive effects have also been found on pathologies such as type 2 diabetes. And all because green tea helps to rebalance blood glucose levels.
Going then to a short list of its main properties of green tea, among the many we find:

– Stimulates the organism
– Has a detoxifying effect
– Regulates blood sugar
– It is a natural anti-inflammatory
– It's good for the brain
– He is a friend of the heart
– Helps in weight loss
– It has diuretic properties
– Helps purify the body

Others are added to these properties, especially if you get into the habit of drinking green tea every day . By including it in a healthy lifestyle, green tea actually increases its beneficial effects.

Going, instead, to the contraindications, green tea seems to have none. The only aspect to pay attention to, unless you are allergic to tea, is important to remember that theine, in large quantities, can lead to problems such as insomnia, agitation and nervousness .

Green tea: what are the nutritional values

As we have anticipated, green tea is an excellent ally in slimming diets and all thanks to its diuretic properties. When taken without added sugar, it has only 2 calories per 8 oz. (one large cup). Below, find the complete nutritional values ​​for the same amount of tea:

– Kilojoule 8 kJ

– Calories 2 kcal

– Protein 0 g

– Carbohydrates 0.47 g

– Sugars 0 g

– Fat 0 g

– Saturated fats 0.005 g

– Monounsaturated fats 0.002 g

– Polyunsaturated fats 0.012 g

– Cholesterol 0 mg

– Fiber 0g

– Sodium 2 mg

– Potassium 21 mg

In conclusion, green tea is without a doubt a beneficial drink that is worth including in your diet. Excellent for relaxing, it is in fact able to bring benefits to health while offering a pleasant flavor both in the morning and during the day.