Green Tea & its Numerous Benefits
Consumed all over the world, tea has enormous potential health benefits, particularly in reducing, among other things, the risk of developing certain diseases, as research has shown. Among its many benefits, it is mentioned that:
- Green tea would promote long-term weight loss, thanks to its 3 combined actions: 1- Increase in basal metabolic rate. 2- Improvement of glucose absorption by the muscles. 3- Intensification of fat burning in the liver and muscles. 1 Dr. Willem suggests green tea as an aid for treating cellulite, as it is known to eliminate excess water and fats. 2
- Tea and its catechins have also generated positive effects on type 2 diabetes.3
- Green tea contains polyphenols called catechins. These molecules are absorbed and bind directly to the tissues, protecting them. 4 At the level of the skin and dermis, they will reduce free radical damage and prevent the formation of cross-links. These cross-links are the result of aging but also of sun exposure. We will talk about actinic damage (from the sun). Their appearance in the collagen of the dermis leads to a loss of elasticity and an acceleration in the formation of wrinkles. Catechins reduce their formation, accelerate their degradation, and protect against agents that increase their formation, such as excessive and chronic UV rays. Regular consumption of green tea protects against sunburn and UV damage. 5 To learn more about green tea and skin protection, click here!
- Flavonoids (polyphenols) are also found in tea. Their antioxidant action has been known for a very long time. The most active catechin in green tea (called epigallocatechin gallate) also exhibits exceptional antioxidant activity, 200 times higher than vitamin E.2
- Moreover, a clinical study found that a catechin-concentrated drink consumed over 12 weeks visibly and measurably improves skin structure. An improvement in elasticity, roughness, desquamation, dermal density, and hydration is noted. 6
- The consumption of tea rich in catechins could also help normalize sebum and thus be useful both for skin health (hydration) and for the prevention and treatment of acne. 7
- Green tea could even slow down skin aging. 8
- Green tea can also offer numerous antihypertensive benefits, an improvement in cholesterol levels, insulin resistance, and inflammation. 9
- Mood, sleep, stress: Green tea naturally contains L-theanine. L-theanine can affect the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. These include serotonin and dopamine, which influence mood, sleep, and emotions, and cortisol, which helps the body manage stress.10
- Oral health: Studies reveal that green tea also promotes periodontal health by reducing inflammation, preventing bone resorption, and limiting the growth of certain bacteria associated with periodontal diseases.11,12,13
- A more recent study (2017) examined the effects of a specific polyphenol from green tea (epigallocatechin gallate); this polyphenol can significantly inhibit the formation and growth of S. mutans biofilm (the bacteria that cause cavities) on the dentin surface.14
References :
1. Thielecke F, Boschmann M. The potential role of green tea catechins in the prevention of the metabolic syndrome - a review. Phytochemistry. 2009 Jan;70(1):11-24. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2008.11.011. Epub 2009 Jan 13. PMID: 19147161.
2. Jean-Pierre Willem. Je veux être un jeune centenaire : Les incontournables pour se soigner et rester en bonne santé. Éditions Dudauphin, 10 octobre 2013. ISBN : 9782716314930
3. Iso H, Date C, Wakai K, Fukui M, Tamakoshi A; JACC Study Group. The relationship between green tea and total caffeine intake and risk for self-reported type 2 diabetes among Japanese adults. Ann Intern Med. 2006 Apr 18;144(8):554-62. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-144-8-200604180-00005. PMID: 16618952.
4. OyetakinWhite P, Tribout H, Baron E. Protective mechanisms of green tea polyphenols in skin. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2012; 2012:560682. doi: 10.1155/2012/560682. Epub 2012 Jun 26. PMID: 22792414; PMCID: PMC3390139.
5. Rhodes LE, Darby G, Massey KA, et al. Oral green tea catechin metabolites are incorporated into human skin and protect against UV radiation-induced cutaneous inflammation in association with reduced production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoid 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. Br J Nutr. 2013 Sep 14;110(5):891-900. doi: 10.1017/S0007114512006071. PubMed PMID: 23351338. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23351338
6. Heinrich U, Moore CE, De Spirt S, et al. Green tea polyphenols provide photoprotection, increase microcirculation, and modulate skin properties of women. J Nutr. 2011 Jun;141(6):1202-8. doi: 10.3945/jn.110.136465. PubMed PMID: 21525260. https://jn.nutrition.org/content/141/6/1202.long
7. Saric S, Notay M, Sivamani RK. Green Tea and Other Tea Polyphenols: Effects on Sebum Production and Acne Vulgaris. Antioxidants (Basel). 2016 Dec 29;6(1):2. doi: 10.3390/antiox6010002. PMID: 28036057; PMCID: PMC5384166. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/6/1/2
8. Li YH, Wu Y, Wei HC, et al. Protective effects of green tea extracts on photoaging and photommunosuppression. Skin Res Technol. 2009 Aug;15(3):338-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0846.2009.00370. x. PubMed PMID: 19624431. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19624431
9. Bogdanski P, Suliburska J, Szulinska M, Stepien M, Pupek-Musialik D, Jablecka A. Green tea extract reduces blood pressure, inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress and improves parameters associated with insulin resistance in obese, hypertensive patients. Nutr Res. 2012 Jun;32(6):421-7. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2012.05.007. Epub 2012 Jun 20. PMID: 22749178.
10. Jackson Williams, Jane Kellett, Paul Daniel Roach, Andrew McKune, Duane Mellor, Jackson Thomas, Nenad Naumovski. L-Theanine as a Functional Food Additive: Its Role in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Beverages 2016, 2(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages2020013
11. Chatterjee A, Saluja M, Agarwal G, Alam M. Green tea: A boon for periodontal and general health. J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2012 Apr;16(2):161-7. doi: 10.4103/0972-124X.99256. PMID: 23055579; PMCID: PMC3459493.
12. Mitoshi Kushiyama, Yoshihiro Shimazaki, Masatoshi Murakami, Yoshihisa Yamashita. Relationship Between Intake of Green Tea and Periodontal Disease. Clinical Science. First published: 01 March 2009. https://doi.org/10.1902/jop.2009.080510
13. Sakanaka S, Aizawa M, Kim M, Yamamoto T. Inhibitory effects of green tea polyphenols on growth and cellular adherence of an oral bacterium, Porphyromonas gingivalis. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1996 May;60(5):745-9. doi: 10.1271/bbb.60.745. PMID: 8704303
14. Jian Yu, Hongye Yang, Kang Li, Hongyu Ren, Jinmei Lei and Cui Huang. Development of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate-Encapsulated Nanohydroxyapatite/Mesoporous Silica for Therapeutic Management of Dentin Surface. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017, 9, 31, 25796–25807. Publication Date:July 13, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b06597 Copyright © 2017 American Chemical Society
Warning: Maison Jacynthe disclaims all responsibilities. All the information contained on this page does not seek to substitute a justified allopathic treatment nor to dismiss the expertise of the medical profession. It is up to each individual to take charge of their health, to inform themselves, and to make the necessary changes to improve their condition. Therapeutic supervision by a qualified healthcare professional is obviously recommended.
