Native to India and China, green tea is known to be one of the healthiest beverages around the globe. Proven with considerable scientific research, green tea has been around for its health benefits for centuries. Green tea extracts are made out of unoxidized leaves, therefore making them one of the less processed types of herbal tea. Containing numerous antioxidants and healthy polyphenols, this magical drink is even good enough to have researchers raving about it. Here are the most common benefits of green tea and why you should consume it on a regular basis.

Green Tea General Benefits

It is known that green tea has been consumed in Chinese and Indian medicine for its health benefits, including healing wounds, aid digestion, bleeding control, regulating body temperature, and improving mental health. Modern-day studies also show that green tea benefits diseases such as Alzheimer's, type 2 diabetes, and liver disorders. So what are the benefits of green tea? Just to name a few:

Green tea helps prevent cancer.

Recent studies have shown that the polyphenols inside green tea have been able to decrease tumor growth and have a positive impact on breast, bladder, ovarian, lung, and prostate cancer. The high level of polyphenols speeds up killing cancerous cells or stopping them from growing altogether. It is important to note that the amount of tea required for these benefits to arise is quite variable - such as 2 to 10 cups a day. No matter what various studies come up with about the effects of green tea on cancer, it is a known fact that green tea aids healthy cells in all stages of growth.

Green tea protects against bone loss.

Consuming green tea on a daily basis helps stimulate mineralization that initiates bone formation. Not only does green tea improve bone loss, but it can also strengthen the bones and protect against osteoporosis.

Green tea fights inflammation, burns fat, and helps with weight loss.

The benefits of green tea for weight loss are hard to ignore. Green tea helps you lose weight faster by increasing your fat-burning rate, speeding up your metabolism, and fight inflammation thanks to the flavonoids it has. Drinking green tea every day, especially in the morning before breakfast, can ignite your body and provide it the energy it needs for weight loss. Of course, it is important to remember that no food or drink can ever melt your weight off magically; however, green tea is one of the best and smartest swaps for sugary and fizzy drinks.

Sipping a cup of green tea helps you relax and unwind.

There is nothing quite as soothing as nibbling on a hot cup of freshly brewed green tea after a long, hard day. Drinking green tea helps you relax and slow down, whereas the theanine found in the tea provides a calming and soothing effect. Not to mention that brewing and enjoying a delicious cup of green tea is just a beautiful excuse to take a small break.

Green tea helps with brain function.

Green tea has a small level of caffeine that at times acts as a stimulant for your body. After drinking coffee or tea, you may tend to feel more energetic and alert. However, the optimum amount of caffeine in green tea is just enough for you to improve your mood, productivity, concentration, and reaction time. Besides, the catechins within the green tea provide health benefits that prove to protect the brain's neurons, thus reducing the risk of neurological diseases. Talk about food for the brain!

Green tea fights cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and oral health problems.

Just as with cancer treatments, green tea is one of your best friends when fighting against cardiovascular problems. Normalizing cholesterol levels, green tea plays an important role in minimizing conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. It is proven with research that drinking green tea regularly helps lower the bad cholesterol in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is another disease that can be restrained with the help of green tea consumption. Green tea reduces insulin sensitivity and helps regulate blood sugar levels. The antioxidants and catechins in green tea fight against oral bacteria as well, benefiting your overall oral health.

Benefits of Green Tea on Skin

Just with its overall health benefits, the benefits of green tea on skin are also proven by multiple studies and research. An antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, therapeutic beverage, regular green tea consumption improves oily skin and acne treatment. That being said, studies have also shown that the polyphenols in green tea prevent solar-based skin disorders such as photoaging and skin cancer. Using green tea extract for your skin stands by you during your fight with candidiasis, acne, atopic dermatitis, rosacea, and keloids. Drinking, as well as applying green tea on your skin, can assist it in handling the aging process much better. It is recommended to apply a couple of soaked and warm green tea bags on the eyes for puffiness and swelling as a home remedy.

Benefits of Green Tea for Hair

By now, you may have already figured out that many hair care brands add green tea extract to their products, and they are right in doing so. The potential benefits of green tea on hair include preventing hair loss, supporting hair growth, improving nutrient delivery, and strengthening strands individually. You can safely enjoy 3 to 4 cups of green tea a day on a regular basis in order to experience these benefits firsthand. For a more effective outcome, use shampoo or conditioner containing green tea extract or make your own homemade hair rinse using a couple of green tea bags boiled in water and steeped for approximately 5 minutes, and then applying it on your hair just like a hair mask.

Benefits of Green Tea in the Morning

It is advised to consume green tea early in the morning, preferably before or during breakfast. Not only will it provide you with the caffeine you need to wake up in the morning, but green tea will also help boost your immune system and metabolism, introducing your body to the new day. Unlike coffee or black tea, green tea contains specific amino acids that prevent a temporary caffeine rush and providing you with a sustainable and day-long energy boost instead. This may be counted as one of the primary differences between benefits of green tea vs. black tea. If you choose to drink green tea for its weight loss aids, then the best time to have a cup is either right before your workout or in the morning on an empty stomach. If you have liver or stomach problems, make sure to consult your physician before going through with the regimen. 

To prepare a fresh cup of green tea for your liking, you can use a variety of methods such as a french press, a porcelain teapot or an electronic tea maker.

The benefits of green tea are - to say the least - countless, therefore making it the perfect addition to your herbal tea collection. In addition to its health benefits, green tea is a zero-calorie drink when consumed without sugar or honey. Whether you are trying to lose weight, lower your risk of chronic diseases or just improve your lifestyle in general, consider making green tea a systematic part of your life and experience the benefits first hand.