Image: Ray Piedra // pexels.com

By: Araceli Salcedo, CSUN Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing Volunteer

Besides water, tea is the most commonly consumed drink around the world. Green tea, to be exact, has been known to have many health benefits and has been used in cultures worldwide for medicinal/health purposes or simply enjoyed by people every day.

Green tea contains many antioxidants. What gives tea its health promoting properties are the polyphenols, specifically the flavonoids, and more specifically the catechins. Each one is basically a subgroup. Polyphenols are micronutrients found in various plants, food, and drinks, such as green tea, that contain antioxidants and are essential for your health. Some people drink one cup while others drink 3-5 cups of tea per day to really get the benefits of it. Drinking green tea bears many benefits, but should not be the only thing you rely on for maintaining or improving your health.

The following are the various health benefits linked to green tea (Note: research is still going on when it comes to green tea and although there are links to health benefits, it’s still not extensive enough):

• Can lower risks for various types of cancers, such as breast, cardiac, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers
• May lower blood pressure which decreases risk of stroke and heart disease
• Improves oral health due to antibacterial properties
• Lowers bad cholesterol, which again lowers risk for cardiovascular disease
• Anti-Inflammatory effects, improves inflammation associated with arthritis
• Antimicrobial properties and decreased risk of infections/illnesses
• May lower risk for type 2 diabetes
• May aid in weight loss
• Caffeine and catechins associated with increase in metabolism and digestion
• Improves blood circulation and improves blood vessel health
• Can lower stress
• Improves acne symptoms