Date Posted: 2/11/2019 5:28:18 AM
Posted By: Jayne Wathira Membership Level: Silver Total Points: 137
Green Tea…. The Magical Sip?It’s been praised for its potential health benefits especially prevention of certain health conditions and weight loss? Does it really work as claimed? Imagine drinking a few cups of green tea or green tea extract and boom, all your body issues are solved. A few months later you have a flat tummy, and your body is prevented from certain health conditions. Wouldn’t it be great to have a massive change on the scale without the rigorous exercises and dieting? Well, let’s first explore tea, in general, to see what brings about the difference in the various types of tea.Besides water, tea, in general, is the most consumed beverage worldwide. The most popular types of tea are black tea, oolong, white and green tea. They are all prepared from the same plant that is Camellia sinensis. The difference comes about in the manufacturing process of each type of tea.Green tea is also referred to as non-fermented tea. This implies that the fermentation and oxidation process that is used in the manufacturing of black tea is not applied while making green tea. Oxidation is prevented from occurring in the case of green tea. The degree of oxidation also varies depending on such conditions as temperature and weather. Oolong tea is also referred to as semi-fermented tea.Type of Tea ---Degree of oxidation/fermentationBlack Tea ----Fully fermentedOolong Tea----Semi-fermentedWhite Tea-----Very light fermentationGreen Tea-----Non-fermentedWhen it comes to tea, fermentation means activation of the enzymatic oxidation process. This activates antioxidant polyphenols which bring about the color and flavor in black tea. As expected, tea becomes darker in color as it undergoes oxidation because of the presence of tannins which are otherwise absent in unoxidized tea. There’s usually a misunderstanding as to whether the process is actually fermentation or oxidation based on the scientific definition of both terms, however, the process suggests that both actually occur.Some of the claimed health benefits of green tea1. Weight loss2. Prevention and Control of diabetes3. Heart disease4. Reduction of bad cholesterol in Blood5. Alzheimer’s disease6. Skin care7. Cancer preventionCatechin polyphenols are the key constituents of green tea that are responsible for the claimed health benefits, not forgetting its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A lot of research has been conducted and is still ongoing to validate or invalidate the presumable health benefits of green tea. Green tea and weight loss: Scientists have confirmed that intake of green tea can raise the metabolic rate, hence; contribute to the burning of more calories. This is attributed to the antioxidant properties of green tea components. Researchers also confirmed that the amount of weight loss resulting from green tea intake is likely to reflect minimal if any change on the scale. It is therefore recommended that green tea should be used as an aid in weight loss together with proper exercise and diet, but not as the magic sip that melts away all the fat.Due to the supposed health benefits of green tea, there has been a rise of green tea supplements, known as green tea extract. Green tea extract basically is green tea which is prepared as supplements and its rich in polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants.Green tea if taken without sugar and other additives can help in regulating your sugar intake levels as it contains zero sugar.In conclusion, green tea has promising input in human health and there is no harm in taking reasonable amounts of it but a lot of the claimed health benefits are awaiting validation by researchers. It is, therefore, crucial to filter any information concerning this topic, so that there is no confusion or undelivered promises which would result in frustrations.
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