Green tea gained popularity in our area not so long ago, unlike China, where its use has been going on for several centuries, and many ceremonies are held in honor of this drink. We know everything about the benefits and harms of green tea from the Chinese, who use it not only for the purpose of enjoying delicious drink, but also for the purpose of prevention and treatment of about four hundred diseases.

Many people mistakenly think that the difference between greens lies in the plant that is used to prepare them. However, for both one and the other species, the same leaves are collected - the tea bush or Camellia sinensis. The only difference is pre-treatment leaves.

So, green tea is subjected to oxidation, its fresh leaves go through a steaming process before they reach our table.

Let's figure out what we can get from regularly drinking green tea?

You can’t even imagine how many beneficial properties green tea leaves have, thanks to which the drink will help cope with an abundance of health problems. This is explained by the rich chemical composition of the drink, the components of which have universal properties.

• Strengthens the nervous and endocrine system body. Green tea is one of the the best means from depression, polyneuritis and headaches. Its components have a good effect on the stress-depleted nervous system. Its use also stimulates brain activity and improves concentration. The drink is also beneficial for problems associated with hormonal imbalances. Green tea also helps cope with nausea while traveling in the car;
• Prevents cardiovascular diseases . This drink lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, helping to prevent the development of atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular diseases and many other heart problems. Daily moderate consumption Green tea is useful for lowering blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Also, the tea drink increases the elasticity of blood vessels and strengthens their walls, which is very useful for preventing the possibility of internal hemorrhages. The polyphenols contained in tea prevent the accumulation of blood clots. After all, the reason why green tea is worth drinking is that it halves the risk of heart attack and stroke;
• Improves performance digestive system . This tea drink is good at removing toxic substances from the body in case of food poisoning and dysbacteriosis. If you have an upset stomach, then strongly brewed green tea will help neutralize harmful microbes in the stomach and intestines, as well as increase intestinal tone and improve motor functions. digestive organs. Its regular intake improves digestive processes due to its tannin content, which ensures normal digestion of food. Thanks to the catechins contained in the drink, green tea is used as an antimicrobial agent for dysentery, the presence of coccal and typhoid bacteria in the body. It is also useful for colitis accompanied by severe pain;
• Promotes weight loss. Many women who want to lose weight resort to taking green tea, as it speeds up metabolic processes and removes excess fat and controls the level of norenaline, which is responsible for the formation of fatty deposits;
• Has powerful antioxidant properties. Scientists have not yet figured out the exact mechanism of action of green tea against cancer, but many are inclined to believe in its ability to cleanse the blood of carcinogens with the help of polyphenols. Moreover, this product strengthens the immune system, which also plays an important role in the prevention of cancer;
• Cleanses the body. With the help of this healthy drink you can cleanse your body of toxins and salts of heavy metals, such as mercury, zinc, lead, cadmium and the most dangerous radioactive isotope - strontium-90. The tea drink is also recommended for people who sit for a long time in front of the TV or computer, as it alleviates exposure to harmful radiation;
• Is a natural biostimulant. Green tea is rich in vitamins and components that saturate the body with energy. If you want to recharge your batteries, feeling good and mood for the whole day - a morning cup of green tea will help you;
• Destroys fungi, viruses and bacteria. Regular consumption of the drink strengthens the immune system and increases the body's resistance to diseases such as the influenza virus, candidiasis, salmonella, herpes, as well as many other viral and chronic diseases;
• Has a rejuvenating effect. It’s not for nothing that green tea is called the drink of longevity. Its intake helps maintain healthy and youthful skin, improve its color, strengthen hair and reduce its oiliness. Thanks to the antioxidant content, the drink slows down the aging process of the body. This is confirmed by statistics according to which the majority of pensioners who have reached the age of 90 drink green tea throughout their lives;
• Prevents the development of diabetes mellitus. This is caused by the presence of flavonoids, which have an insulin-like effect;
• Protects muscles from injury. This product is recommended for athletes, as tea polyphenols significantly reduce oxidation processes in the body;
• Improves the condition of ENT organs. For rhinitis, green tea can be used to flush out the sinuses. And a warm infusion of green tea can relieve pain and inflammation from sore throat, pharyngitis, laryngitis and stomatitis;
• Protects eyes. Green tea lotions relieve inflammation in such eye diseases, like the conjunctiva, and also relax the eye muscles after prolonged visual stress;
• Improves the condition of teeth and gums. The fluoride content allows you to use the tea drink to prevent caries and many other dental diseases;
• Accelerates healing of burns. The drink contains tannins, which have a wound-healing and hemostatic effect, so chilled tea can be used to lubricate burns;
• Stimulates the excretory system. Drinking green tea improves the functioning of the spleen and liver, it is effective in preventing the accumulation of stones in the bladder, liver and kidneys;
• Ensures favorable development of the fetus. Thanks to zinc, green tea is beneficial for pregnant women;
• Has a positive effect on the organs of the reproductive system. Men should pay attention to this tea drink, as it contains minerals that stimulate the production of the male hormone - testosterone.

Harm of green tea

Green tea is a rather specific drink, since on the one hand it is very healthy and safe to drink, but on the other hand it can be harmful to health if not prepared correctly and for some groups of people.

Harm from green tea if taken incorrectly

• Excessive use. Unwise consumption of the drink in large quantities can cause intoxication, nausea, headache, dizziness and agitation nervous system due to excess caffeine. If you drink tea in excess quantities regularly, it will lead to the formation of kidney stones and gallbladder, as well as to disruption of the liver and poisoning due to polyphenols, which in large quantities not only useless, but also harmful;
• Drinking old tea. If tea is stored for a long time, purines accumulate in it, complicating the process of removing uric acid, which increases the load on the kidneys and provokes the entry of uric acid into the intra-articular fluid, and this is dangerous for the development of gout;
• Concomitant use with alcohol. This leads to active synthesis of aldehydes, which damage the kidneys;
• Take on an empty stomach. Tea irritates the gastric mucosa, which can lead to ulcers;
• Brewing in boiling water . In such water, all the beneficial elements of tea leaves are destroyed, while the amount of harmful substances increases.

Harm of green tea for some diseases

• For exacerbations of gastritis, ulcers and gastric erosion. This is because regular consumption of green tea increases the acidity of gastric juice;
• At elevated temperature . The drink contains theophylline, which increases body temperature, which can aggravate the patient’s condition;
• For hypotension. Ability tea drink reduce arterial pressure poses a danger to people suffering from low blood pressure;
• For gout. As we mentioned earlier, green tea contains purine bases, which provoke this joint disease;
• For cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension, insomnia and excessive stimulation of the nervous system. Green tea contains a lot of caffeine and alkaloids, which are stimulating components. Therefore, people with these diseases should use this drink with extreme caution.

To summarize, we can say that there is a very fine line between the benefits and harms of green tea, so if you decide to improve your health with the help of this product, carefully study its properties, in which cases the drink is recommended, and in which cases you should refuse it consumption. We hope this article will help you understand this.

Drinking tea is always appropriate; it warms well in the cold season and perfectly quenches thirst in the heat. A properly prepared drink can fight ailments. You should know what effect green tea has on the body - the benefits and harms of the substances included in the product, when it is necessary to consume aromatic drink, and under what circumstances it is advisable to refuse it and how to brew tea leaves correctly.

What is green tea

The product is the dried leaves of an evergreen shrub, which is grown for industrial needs in China, Japan, India, and on the island of Java. Fresh leaves are oval in shape. To produce green and black tea, the same raw materials are used, but there are differences in their production technology. Dried black leaves are obtained after deep fermentation (oxidation).

The green tea production process uses gentle technology. Steam, which is treated for 2-3 minutes, helps to stop oxidative processes fresh leaves. Then the moisture is removed - crushed and twisted into scales, balls (pearls) or spirals, and then dried until ready to stabilize the aroma, taste qualities and beneficial properties of the product. For elite varieties use the first harvest.

Compound

The use of special technology allows us to obtain a high-quality tea product, which is distinguished by a wide variety of chemical composition:

1. Among the organic compounds, tannins are released, which affect the taste of the drink. The aroma bouquet is provided by a combination of essential oils. Alkaloids (theine), catechins (tannin), and amino acids have a beneficial effect on health.
2. Positive influence The beneficial microelements included in the composition influence life processes: calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, fluorine, phosphorus, iodine, copper.
3. Tea leaves are rich in vitamins A, C, E, K, P, which improve metabolic processes.

Benefits of green tea

What properties does green tea have - the benefits and harms of the chemical composition of the product for the body? Due to the content of useful components, the unique drink is characterized by the ability to:

1. Stimulate the digestion process.
2. Act as a preventive agent in the fight against the formation of dental caries due to its fluoride content.
3. It has a medicinal effect - fights cancer, as it is an excellent antioxidant due to the presence of tannins, catechins and tannins. They bind third-party proteins, heavy metals, free radicals and remove them from the body without damaging healthy cells. Vitamin C and zinc reduce the risk of cancer.
4. Improve the condition of nails and hair, accelerate the healing process of wounds due to the presence of zinc.
5. Stimulate the functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin P, calcium, phosphorus are necessary for normal brain activity, theine plays the role of a stimulant.
6. Increase human performance – the product contains caffeine (theine). The caffeine alkaloid is bound to tea tannin, therefore it has an stimulating effect on the body, but it is milder than caffeine.
7. Reduce the risk of thyroid disease due to the presence of iodine.
8. Provide an antimicrobial effect. This property is provided by the catechins contained. Tannin promotes the healing of ulcers, but the tea should be brewed weakly.
9. Remove toxins. Thanks to its cleansing properties, the product increases the body's immunity and reduces the risk of any diseases.
10. Have a diuretic effect, reduce tissue swelling.
11. Reduce the risk of developing eye disease due to the content of vitamin A and C.
12. Maintain smooth muscles in normal condition. This property is ensured by the presence of zinc.
13. Facilitate the treatment of inflammatory processes due to its copper content.
14. Help with toxicosis and seasickness. In these cases, it is recommended to chew dry leaves.
15. Increase stomach acidity, stimulate the activity of the gastrointestinal tract.

For women

The product is considered a longevity drink. The benefits of green tea for women are as follows:

1. Prepared masks based on tea leaves or frozen green tea extract perfectly tone the facial skin, increase its elasticity, tighten and even out the contour.
2. As a means of stimulating metabolic processes and cleansing the body, improving activity digestive tract The aromatic drink promotes weight loss.
3. The drink can improve the general condition of a woman during menopause; it is recommended to be used as a prophylactic in the fight against breast cancer.

For men

What are the benefits of green tea for men? The drink contains manganese, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the reproductive system and musculoskeletal system, with its participation the hormone testosterone is produced. The stimulating effects of caffeine when consumed strong tea helps increase the body's performance and resistance to stress. The presence of antioxidants turns green tea into a valuable remedy for normalizing blood pressure and preventing prostate cancer.

For the liver

The cleansing properties of the drink, when consumed in moderation, have a positive effect on the functioning of the liver and gall bladder; vitamins P and C help improve their activity. It should be taken into account that the product contains polyphenols. At excessive consumption Drinking significant amounts of these substances can have a destructive effect on the liver.

For the kidneys

The benefits of green tea for the body are achieved by properly brewing the leaves and consuming the drink. It acts as an adsorbent of toxins - removes them from the body and helps cleanse the kidneys. At the same time, polyphenols contained in tea leaves can harm the kidneys. They promote the formation of purines. This leads to kidney stones if overused. green tea.

For vessels

Correct usage drink can improve the condition of the cardiovascular system. These beneficial features green tea is provided through the following processes:

1. Vitamin C thins the blood, facilitates its movement through the vessels and reduces blood pressure.
2. Potassium strengthens the heart muscle.
3. Vitamin P increases vascular tone, and tannins strengthen them. Antioxidants stimulate metabolic processes and prevent the accumulation of harmful cholesterol in capillaries. All these processes normalize blood pressure, so a cup of tea is useful for the prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system: atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, hypertension.

Is green tea with milk healthy?

Opinions about the health benefits of milk tea are contradictory. It is believed that with this combination, tea helps the body absorb the beneficial substances of milk. It is recommended to drink the drink: for depletion of the central nervous system, for nursing women to increase lactation. There is an opposing opinion that milk neutralizes useful action tea antioxidants (catechins).

How often can you drink green tea?

The benefits and harms of green tea for the body depend on the quality of the product, the brewing method and the frequency of use. To obtain the effect of drinking the drink, the following conditions must be met:

• buy fresh and quality product;
• need to brew tea leaves clean water, heated to 60-90 degrees;
• do not drink a cup of tea on an empty stomach or in the evening;
• Do not combine drinking and alcohol;
• do not take medications;
• Do not drink too strong or hot drinks.

Harm of green tea

Should you drink green tea often – what benefits and harm will it bring? regular use strong drink? The product becomes useful only with moderate use. Things to remember:

Video

Today there is a lot of information about the benefits of green tea, but can you trust it? Indeed, the fact that this drink helps to cope with many diseases was known back in ancient times. For centuries it has been used as a preventative and medicine, and modern doctors have only confirmed its properties. Let's try to figure out in what cases it is worth drinking green tea.

The chemical composition of this drink is very rich. About a third of it is occupied by valuable tannins, which are various compounds of tannin, catechins, polyphenols, etc. High-grade green tea contains twice as much tannin as black tea. The chemical combination of this substance with caffeine has a stimulating effect and affects the functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

This tea is also rich in alkaloids - for example, it contains more caffeine than natural coffee– 1-4%, there is also theobromine and theophylline.

Basic chemical indicators of green and black tea

The drink also contains protein substances - amino acids and enzymes. Most of them are found in green tea from Japan.

It also contains a lot of vitamins. Green tea leaves contain more vitamin P than citrus fruits, and there is also a lot of vitamin C. They enhance each other’s effects, help strengthen the immune system and protect the body’s cells from destruction. Besides, in this tea There is six times more carotene (vitamin A) than in carrots, and it helps remove free radicals and improves vision.

Excessive consumption of green tea can lead to loss of energy, nausea and increased blood pressure.

The drink is very rich in B vitamins: vitamin B1, which regulates carbohydrate balance in the body, B2, which strengthens hair, nails and immunity, B3, which cleanses the blood of cholesterol. It also contains vitamin E, an antioxidant that strengthens cell membranes.

From trace elements and minerals Green tea contains calcium, fluorine, iron, iodine, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, gold, and sodium. It also contains valuable essential oils, which, unfortunately, are often lost during processing.

Benefits of green tea (Video)

The extremely rich composition of green tea allows it to be used under the most various diseases or drink for prevention. This drink is an excellent stimulant for the nervous, cardiovascular and immune systems. If you use it regularly, you may notice that over time you will begin to get sick less. This is explained not only by the stimulation of the body’s defenses, but also by the drink’s own antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity.

Green tea helps cleanse the body of carcinogens. It removes heavy metals from the body and, according to some studies, even fights cancer. To some extent, this drink can even neutralize harmful effects various radiations, which will be useful for those who spend a lot of time at the computer or in front of the TV screen. True, there is no scientific confirmation of this fact yet.

Very often people are confused about what effect green tea has - invigorating or calming. It depends on the infusion time. If the tea is brewed for more than 2-4 minutes, it turns out to be invigorating, if it takes 5, it becomes calming, and after 6, it is simply a pleasant and healthy drink.

There are studies that confirm that green tea can activate the whole body, treat endocrine diseases and normalize digestion, improve skin and hair. Let's try to figure out if this is so.

Green tea for skin and hair

Due to its antioxidant and antibacterial properties, green tea is widely used in cosmetology. Of course, when preparing cosmetics, it is not the drink that is used, but the leaves of the plant. But at home you can also use regular tea leaves. Even simply drinking the drink can significantly improve the condition of your skin, but if you freeze it and wipe your face with a piece of ice in the morning, this will help achieve amazing results. At oily skin You can add a little lemon juice to this ice.

Green tea can be used to make effective masks for face and hair

If your face suffers from dryness, then you should not overcool it; a mask made from warm tea leaves will do. After it, the skin should be thickly lubricated with a rich cream. This mask helps get rid of spider veins and rejuvenate the skin.

Drinking green tea in a bathhouse is very beneficial for the skin.. It helps expand skin pores and increase sweating. Thus, the skin is deeply cleansed and acquires a fresh, healthy color. In addition, after this procedure, the walls of blood vessels are strengthened and small pimples disappear.

For digestive health

Green tea is an excellent remedy detoxification of the body, so it is recommended for food poisoning. The strongly brewed drink has antibacterial properties, so it helps destroy pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract. It can also improve the condition of a patient with dysbiosis.

You can add fruits and herbs to green tea

Those who have digestive problems should definitely drink green tea. Tannin helps normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, it enhances the motility of the digestive tract and intestinal tone. If you drink tea after every meal, you will soon notice improvements in your well-being.

Green tea should not be consumed at the same time as alcohol. This can lead to kidney problems, swelling and pain in the bladder.

You should avoid this drink during exacerbations. stomach diseases– for example, with gastritis and ulcers. But even if this moment the disease does not cause discomfort, it is better to drink weakly brewed tea.

For the cardiovascular system

We have already said that green tea makes the walls of blood vessels more elastic. This allows you to prevent their ruptures and internal hemorrhages. In addition, the polyphenols contained in the drink prevent the formation of blood clots. Its ability to lower cholesterol has long been known. This helps prevent atherosclerosis and some heart and vascular diseases.

High-quality green tea can even help prevent heart attacks

Green tea helps prevent heart attack. This was stated by Dutch scientists who noticed that people who drink 4 glasses daily of this drink and eating one apple or one head onions, suffered from this disease half as often as others. Such conclusions were made after a detailed analysis of the eating habits of a fairly large group of elderly people.

The caffeine contained in the drink can be addictive, so you should not abuse tea.

It is also worth remembering the benefits of green tea in the initial stages of hypertension. Doctors from Japan claim that long-term use of this drink can lower blood pressure by 10-12 units.

Green tea for weight loss

Due to its ability to normalize digestion and activate the gastrointestinal tract, this drink can be used as a means of promoting weight loss. Of course, this does not mean that you can continue to overeat, and tea will solve all problems. But if you start eating right and drinking at least three cups a day, the results won’t take long to arrive.

Drinking green tea helps get rid of excess weight

In order for the effect to be maximum, it is necessary to give up too sweet, salty and fatty foods, and also increase physical exercise. In this case, tea can be drunk both hot and cold. You can add ice cubes and lemon to the cooled tea, as well as decoctions of herbs such as lemon balm, mint, oregano, and chamomile. They will make tea not only more tasty and aromatic, but will also have a beneficial effect on digestion.

Benefits for the liver

Green tea is very useful for people suffering from liver disorders and bile flow disorders. It is especially effective for cholelithiasis. If you consume several cups of it a day, you can quietly get rid of sand, and even small stones can come out without serious consequences. This drink is also useful for those who suffer from bile stagnation.

Catechins in green tea protect the liver

There are also studies that confirm that systematic consumption of green tea helps protect the liver from the harmful effects of alcohol and tobacco. This information cannot be considered completely reliable, but a couple of cups of tea will definitely not hurt people who smoke and like to drink.

You can add milk to green tea - this will give it new taste and aroma and will make it more nutritious.

Benefits of tea for teeth

Today it is definitely established that green tea helps to improve the health of teeth and gums. The substance responsible for this is catechin, which can even reduce the symptoms of periodontitis and other diseases. Regular consumption of this drink allows you to get rid of bleeding gums and generally make them stronger. A antibacterial properties tea helps prevent the development of caries. It should be noted that improvement in oral health was recorded even in smoking patients.

Frequent consumption of green tea has a beneficial effect on dental health

Separately, we need to consider the property of green tea to whiten teeth. This is due to high content it contains fluoride. Of course, your teeth will not become perfectly white immediately after drinking the drink, but if you drink it regularly and use it to rinse your mouth, you will definitely get results.

In addition, green tea helps get rid of unpleasant odor from the mouth, and this often brings a lot of problems to patients and becomes the reason for visiting the dentist.

If you have any difficulties or problems, you can contact a certified specialist who will definitely help!

Why is green tea harmful?

How is this drink harmful? In fact, drinking green tea may cause some side effects. These are cardiac arrhythmia, foggy thoughts, slow thinking. These factors can occur with excessive consumption of the drink. Great amount A drink drunk immediately can cause tremor of the fingers, weakening of the body, and problems sleeping.

In case of exacerbation of chronic diseases associated with gastrointestinal tract, high temperature green tea is strictly contraindicated. Elderly people, as well as pregnant women, are not recommended to get too carried away with green teas. It should be remembered that everything is good in moderation.

In China, tea is never drunk during meals. It is able to slow down the digestion process. To prevent this from happening, you need to wait a couple of hours after a hearty lunch, and then enjoy aromatic tea.

Drinking too much is not recommended. Because according to a study conducted in America, regular consumption of a hot drink will negatively affect the condition of the esophagus and stomach. A large amount of a healthy drink that contains the substance polyphenol leads to its accumulation in the body, and this is harmful to internal organs. This amount can lead to problems with the liver and kidneys.

It is very dangerous to drink yesterday's tea. Green tea brewed the day before becomes a harmful mixture filled with microorganisms, losing all its invaluable properties. You need to brew tea only before drinking tea.

It is harmful to constantly use tea bags. There is no benefit to them. Special harm no, but why use tea dust and waste for brewing? tea production? Preference should be given to high-quality teas; the best green tea is large-leaf tea, grown and produced in China.

Green tea: combination with alcohol

Alcohol (in any form) is very dangerous on its own, but when combined with green tea it can cause irreparable harm health. Drinking alcohol with tea, before or after drinking it, puts a lot of stress on the kidneys, heart, and nervous system. If a person already has problems with these organs, the load becomes deadly.

Some people recommend drinking a cup of tea to combat a morning hangover. This is dangerous, although the external effect of relief occurs, it is followed by very unpleasant consequences. The stimulating effect of green tea, combined with residual alcohol contained in the body can lead to neurosis and heart attack.

The claim that green tea removes toxins produced by alcohol from the body is erroneous. On the contrary, they begin to form with redoubled force. The diuretic effect of tea and alcohol leads to dehydration of the body, aggression, nervous agitation, and decreased vitality. A frequent use alcohol together with green tea accelerates the aging process of the skin and destroys internal organs.

Green tea: effect on blood pressure

Tea has an active effect on blood pressure. A lot is said and written about this. Some claim that green tea helps lower blood pressure, while others say the opposite. Who to believe? What does tea do to blood pressure? After all, it’s enough, how can it reduce blood pressure?

In fact, the truth is in the golden mean. Tea regulates blood pressure. He has amazing property slightly lower gently high pressure, and slightly increase the reduced one. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the body. You should observe how the body reacts to green tea. If your blood pressure drops too much after a cup of tea, it is better to refuse it, especially if you are hypotensive. If after a cup good drink The back of the head hurts, there is no need to experiment, it is better not to drink this drink in the future, or make it weak. It is better not to drink tea in large quantities for people with hypertension and hypotension.

Green tea and the gastrointestinal tract

The mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines is very sensitive to various drinks and products. Green tea can have Negative influence on them if a person has chronic health problems:

• colitis;
• gastritis;
• stomach ulcer.

At increased acidity It is recommended to limit the consumption of tea; it can be consumed in the form of one cup per day. For ulcers, it is completely contraindicated. This is explained by the fact that green tea contains theophylline, a substance that prevents phosphoric acid from reducing gastric secretion. As a result, acidity only increases, it does not allow the resulting ulcers to heal, pain appears, and the disease worsens.

It is not recommended to drink green tea on an empty stomach. Entering the body, it irritates the gastric mucosa, causing the release of gastric juice, causing nausea. Constantly drinking tea on an empty stomach can trigger the development of gastritis.

Green tea is rich in organic acids: malic, succinic, oxalic, citric. They stimulate the production of bile. This is helpful in most cases, but the buildup of bile can cause diarrhea. There are people who are particularly sensitive to caffeinated drinks, so you should drink green tea and monitor your reaction, and if diarrhea occurs, stop drinking the drink.

Green tea can irritate the stomach and cause saliva to thin. To reduce it, you can drink it with milk.

Green tea and diabetes

To those who suffer diabetes mellitus, likes to abuse tea, you need to be more attentive to your body. According to scientists, if a person drinks green tea daily for more than a month, blood sugar decreases. But one-time or periodic consumption of the drink can increase sugar levels, increase the risk of developing the disease, and in sick people reduce sensitivity to insulin.

Harm of green tea for men

Research conducted by Brazilian scientists has shown that active substances tea reduces testosterone levels. This may have a negative impact on men's health, seminal fluid production, reproductive function.

Green tea and pregnancy

Green tea prevents breakdown folic acid, and it is very important for the development of the future baby’s brain. This is explained by the fact that tea contains a substance called gallatepigallocatechin.

The caffeine contained in tea is beneficial, but not for pregnant women. Accumulated in a woman’s body, it can lead to the birth of a baby with reduced weight or premature birth. Caffeine causes heart palpitations and puts too much strain on the kidneys.

Green tea consumption rates

Of course, green tea is beneficial, but it doesn’t cause side effects, did not cause any harm? British scientists, after research, state that up to six cups of green tea per day is a safe amount. Of these, 3-4 cups are beneficial, and the fifth cup will not bring any benefit, but will not cause harm either.

If you have chronic diseases, you should not take risks; it is better to reduce the amount of green tea to 2-3 cups per day. During the period of exacerbation of diseases - up to 1-2. If you notice unpleasant consequences or discomfort in the diseased organ, stop drinking tea.

Harm from the wrong drink

The “wrong” tea can be obtained if you purchase low-quality tea or brew good tea wrong. Green tea is very sensitive to water temperature. Boiling water can lead to the loss of everyone useful substances tea leaf. Boiling water also makes the drink less tasty and bitter. Optimal temperature- 85-90°.

You need to brew as much tea as will be drunk at one time. After a couple of hours, the brewed drink will lose its properties, turning into a regular infusion to quench thirst, and after 12 hours the tea leaves begin to produce toxic harmful substances, they accumulate in the body and cause harm.

A lot is said and written about the benefits of green tea, and people wonder: is it really that healthy? Like any plant, green tea is a medicine; in reasonable doses it brings benefits, and when excessive use- harm. Therefore, you should not drink green tea in liters. Many even refuse black tea in favor of green. But is green tea really as beneficial as they say in weight loss magazines? Today we will figure out the benefits and harms of this popular drink and how to brew it correctly.

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

The amazing healing properties of green tea have long attracted the attention of people who care about their health. The ancient Chinese used it to treat many diseases. And today no one doubts that green tea is a miracle doctor that treats ulcers, lowers blood pressure, removes heavy metal salts 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 poison. Green tea is most often used as an effective weight loss remedy.

Nutrients in 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 in green tea is almost twice that of black tea. High-grade teas have more tannin than low-grade teas.

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

Alkaloids. Among them, the most famous is caffeine. Coming together with tannin in tea, 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 is found in tea, which is important for the human body: it normalizes metabolic processes and helps restore a depleted nervous system.

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

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

Vitamins. Tea contains provitamin A - carotene, which ensures the normal condition of the mucous membranes of the nose, pharynx, larynx, lungs, bronchi, genitourinary organs and is especially important for the preservation 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). In green and yellow teas Vitamin C is 10 times more than in black ones. There is 4 times more vitamin P in green tea 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 beneficial substances for humans.

How to brew green tea correctly

To brew green tea for its greatest benefits, you should:

• Green tea should only be brewed in clean drinking water. In many homes, the tap flows bad, hard water with a lot of impurities. For green tea, you need clean, soft, natural water. You can buy it in a store or filter tap water using home filters.
• pour water into the kettle and let it boil. As soon as the water has boiled, pour a small amount of it into the green tea teapot and shake, allowing the water to 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 that is intended for brewing.
• Now use a clean and dry spoon to scoop required quantity green tea. Usually the calculation is one level teaspoon per 150 ml of water. You can read the recommendations on the tea packaging. Many manufacturers print methods proper brewing. Particularly important is the brewing time for green tea, which must be indicated on the box. The time depends on the type and harvest of tea.
• Pour the tea leaves into the teapot and add the required amount of water. While we were calculating the amount of tea leaves and rinsing the kettle with boiling water, the water cooled down a little, which is what we needed. It is recommended to brew this type of tea with water no more than 80 degrees.
• poured it in, covered it with a lid and let it brew for the required 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 the 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 - beneficial properties

Green tea has long been revered as a drink of vigor and good mood. It is thanks to the caffeine it contains 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 tablet. 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. There is no need to infuse green tea for a long time, otherwise you may end up with harm instead of benefit.

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

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

An infusion of green tea helps reduce blood pressure in the initial stages of hypertension, leads to a decrease in cholesterol levels in the blood, and improves the condition of patients with atherosclerosis. Japanese scientists claim that long-term consumption of green tea can reduce blood pressure by 10-20 units. To do this, tea should be brewed as follows: before brewing, rinse dry green tea with warm boiled water to reduce the caffeine content in it, which has a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system. Then pour boiling water over the tea 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. 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, 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, it destroys already deposited fatty layers.

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

Green tea has long been used as a cure for dysentery.. The catechins that make up tea have a direct antimicrobial effect on dysentery, typhoid and coccus bacteria. Dysentery bacilli are killed by green tea on the 2-3rd 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 simmer for 1 hour over low heat, then filter. The resulting infusion can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

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

Green tea is also indicated for food poisoning.

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

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

If you have an upset stomach, 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 way to strengthen intestinal tone.

For those who frequently watch TV, Professor Cheng Qikun, deputy director of the Institute of Tea at 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 remove lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc and other heavy metals from the body, which we receive through food, air and water. If you have colitis, then help will come green tea. Take it orally, 2 tbsp. spoons 4 times a day. Can be used as enemas.

With conjunctivitis, inflammatory processes eyelids, rinse your eyes with strong, quickly cooled green tea.

Medium brewed green tea with lemon, pepper and honey - a diuretic for colds and illnesses respiratory tract. But at high temperatures, green tea should not be consumed in excess, as it puts additional stress on the heart and kidneys.

Fresh tea leaf juice or powdered tea leaves help with burns. If you received sunburn, then brew green tea, cool it quickly and moisten the burnt skin with a cotton swab. Strong tea can be used to 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 rinsing. Do this procedure 6-8 times a day.

Green tea infusion will help with sore throat, laryngitis, pharyngitis, as well as in inflammatory processes on the tongue or gums. Pour 2 teaspoons of dry tea with 1 glass 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, improving the number of blood cells. In addition, it activates the activity of the liver and spleen, reducing the risk of kidney stones.

Those who regularly drink green tea are usually not at risk of diseases associated with metabolic disorders.

For motion sickness and seasickness, it is good to chew dry green tea.

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

Green tea has anti-cancer effects. It is assumed that the mechanism of this action comes down 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 cell formation.

Weak green tea (no more than 2 cups per day) is good for pregnant women to drink. The drink contains a lot useful vitamins and microelements. Japanese scientists have found that women who regularly drank 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 fans of green tea.

It's also beautiful cosmetic product. For example, greasy hair After washing, rinse with a strong infusion of green tea. For spider veins on the face, make a mask from chilled tea leaves (tea grounds are applied to a cleansed face for 15-20 minutes). The same mask is also useful for aging dry facial skin. Only after removing the tea leaves should you lubricate the skin with a rich cream. It is useful to wipe oily, aging facial skin with ice cubes made from green tea. To enhance the effect, you can add to the tea infusion Apple vinegar or lemon juice(1 tablespoon for 1 tablespoon of tea) There are many other useful cosmetic recipes that do not fit into the scope of this article.

It turns out that green tea kills cravings for alcohol. This is why in China and Japan - countries with a particular preference for green tea - there is much less immoderate drinking people than in Western countries. To prepare an anti-alcohol drink, use the following recipe: 1 teaspoon of green tea per 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, undoubtedly, is green tea. This perfect drink for those who want to lose weight without harming their body.

Green tea is beneficial 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 fat in the hips, waist, and buttocks.

There is a ten-day green tea diet. Tea in this weight loss regimen is used as a substance to speed up metabolism, suppress appetite and improve 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 means of losing weight. It accelerates the removal of fats from the body and speeds up metabolic processes

Green tea with milk- a good prophylactic for kidney and heart diseases. It is also a tonic for depletion of the central nervous system and polyneuritis. This is how the drink is prepared. 5 g slab tea, 200 ml water, 200 ml baked milk, 10 g butter, salt. Lightly dry the slab tea in the oven and place it 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 positive properties green tea, do not abuse it. Since green tea lowers blood pressure, hypotensive people should not drink it. You should not indulge in green tea if:

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.

The stimulants contained in green tea - caffeine, theobromine and theophylline - actively act on the nervous and cardiovascular system. Therefore, people suffering from tachycardia, increased excitability, and insomnia should not get carried away with green tea, especially strong ones.

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

IN paper bags green tea cannot be stored: they do not close tightly and allow moisture to pass through; if stored this way, the tea will spoil very quickly.

Four simple rules for brewing aromatic green tea.

Rule one. Brew green tea in a preheated teapot

A cold brewer will lower the water temperature by about 20 degrees. Therefore, the first brew of green tea will be spoiled by the cooled water. Such tea will do no harm or good, and you will not get pleasure from drinking tea. Essential oils and trace elements will not have time to fully leave the tea leaf. Therefore, before brewing tea, warm up the teapot by pouring boiling water over it.

Rule two. Do not brew green tea with boiling water

Hot water destroys useful components tea and spoils its taste and aroma, and also reduces its beneficial properties. The optimal brewing temperature is 60-80 degrees Celsius. Certain types of tea need to be brewed more hot 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 this is not possible, then soft and light (without smell, taste or taste in the mouth).

If you want to drink real healing drink- do not allow the water to boil! It is enough to heat it 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 as tasty and aromatic.

Rule three. The first water needs to be drained

At tea ceremonies, the Chinese always drain the first water poured into the teapot. This is done to rinse the tea. After this, the tea leaves are immediately filled with fresh water.

Rule four. Control the brewing time of green tea

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

And yet, you should not focus on the color of green tea. Each type 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 brew only as much tea as you can drink.

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

Brew tea in a clay pot

Clay - perfect option for the teapot. It has excellent heat capacity, is chemically neutral and allows the brew to “breathe” - i.e. creates ideal conditions for brewing tea.

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

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

Store green tea correctly

Tender green tea leaves absorb foreign odors and moisture well. If tea is stored 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 containers for storage. Tin jars with a tight-fitting lid or wooden boxes are suitable.

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