All the Reasons You Should Drink Green Tea (Plus a Latte Recipe!)

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(Photo by: Mattie Hagedorn)

Green tea is the first herbal tea ever brewed, dating back to as far as 2737 B.C., and its unique effects on the human body have kept it popular over the last 4700 years.

Interestingly, most common types of tea – green, black, yellow, and white – all come from the same plant: Camellia sinensis. The different end products depend on processing. Green tea is processed gently to minimize oxidation, so many of its most useful compounds stay intact.

You can prepare green tea as a beverage and also add it to recipes. Some people even use its extract for medicinal purposes. Read on to learn about the many benefits of green tea.

Fight inflammation and protect your heart with polyphenols

Green tea is loaded with polyphenols, a class of potent antioxidant compounds. Studies suggest that green tea polyphenols may protect you from aging and inflammation associated with oxidative stress. Specifically, green tea is a great source of catechins and flavonoids, the same polyphenols found in chocolate and coffee.

  • The catechins in green tea may promote cardiovascular health by improving LDL cholesterol markers, according to an analysis of 14 randomized, controlled studies. Decreasing oxidized LDL may improve heart health. Less oxidized LDL is also often a sign of decreased inflammation.

The study points out that green tea extracts worked as well as fresh green tea, so if you want the benefits but don’t like the drink, you can always take a supplement.

A last note about catechins: when they bind to calcium ions they become biologically inactive, so if you live in an area with hard water, make your tea with water bottled in glass (not mineral water! Distilled is best) to get the greatest benefit from green tea’s catechins. Don’t add milk either; it’ll do the same thing.

Meditate with theanine?

Green tea also contains amino acids, the building blocks for proteins in your body. Theanine is the most abundant amino acid in green tea, making up 1-2% of the dry weight of the leaves. It’s the compound responsible for green tea’s unique taste. These days, theanine is often used as a food additive to lend a little extra umami (savory) flavor to dishes, much like MSG does. The similarities between the two end there, because unlike MSG, theanine does all kinds of good for you.

  • It promotes relaxation, especially in those who are anxious, by increasing alpha brain waves. Alpha waves are electrical currents that run across the surface of your brain. They’re associated with a relaxed mental state. Alpha waves increase during meditation, quiet rest – and after you ingest theanine. One study found that 50 mg of theanine upped alpha wave production by ~20%. You get about 8 mg of theanine from a cup of green tea. No word on whether a dose that low will help relieve anxiety, but considering green tea’s 4000-year-old reputation as a calming drink, it’s certainly possible.

  • Theanine also may alleviate symptoms of PMS.

  • A study of rats with hypertension showed that when theanine reaches the brain it actually acts a neurotransmitter, greatly reducing blood pressure.

Green tea to burn fat

Green tea may help you burn fat, too. An extract of green tea increased total energy expenditure by 4% in a 24-hour period, and it shifted the body toward burning fat instead of carbs.

Another study gave overweight individuals either freshly brewed green tea, green tea extract, or water over the course of 8 weeks. Both green tea groups lost significantly more weight and showed a decreasing trend in LDL cholesterol. The people drinking freshly brewed green tea lost about a pound more on average than did the ones taking green tea extract.

There is a little controversy when it comes to green tea and metabolism, though. One well-conducted study didn’t find any link between green tea and weight loss, although the participants were obese diabetics, so the results may not apply to healthy people.

Ready to add more green tea to your diet? Try this delicious green tea recipe:

Green Tea Latte

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup canned coconut milk, well shaken

  • 1 ⁄2 cup filtered water, freshly boiled

  • 1 teaspoon pure matcha green tea powder

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla powder

  • 2 tablespoons high-quality heat-stable protein powder (optional)

  • Stevia or hardwood xylitol (optional)

Instructions:

In a small saucepan, bring the coconut milk to a boil over medium-high heat and immediately remove from the heat. In a small cup, mix the hot water and matcha tea powder together. In a blender, combine the tea, coconut milk, and vanilla powder. Cover the blender lid with a cloth (in case the lid leaks) and blend until you have a creamy consistency with a layer of foam on top. If desired, for extra protein, add the protein powder and lightly blend until the protein is mixed in. Sweeten to taste.

Loving this tea recipe? Check out Bulletproof: The Cookbook for more delicious, Bulletproof recipes.

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