How does your body change when you drink tea every day?

Why is tea considered a longevity drink?

With over 1,500 varieties, tea is a relaxing and comforting beverage with medicinal properties. In the green zone, tea is consumed regularly and is considered healthier than water.

Green tea helps boost the immune system to fight disease and prolong a healthy life. Tea leaves contain powerful antioxidants called polyphenols that help prevent cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and other chronic problems.

Polyphenols are commonly found in large quantities in fruits, vegetables, grains, coffee, and wine. The specific polyphenols in tea, known as catechins or EGCG, are more potent than polyphenols found anywhere else in nature.

How does tea prevent cancer?

According toBlue ZonesCancer cells possess unique characteristics that allow them to live longer than normal, healthy cells. When normal cells die, cancer cells tend to grow and spread throughout the body.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the effects of green tea on cancer cells. It has been shown to slow the growth of lung cancer cells and breast tumors. A meta- analysis showed that women who regularly drink green tea have a lower risk of breast cancer.

In a screening trial for prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer, involving more than 100,000 people, researchers found that those who consumed green tea had a lower risk of developing all of these cancers.

However, some studies suggest that tea has little effect on cancer. Therefore, more research is needed on this link. So, even if people still disagree about drinking tea to prevent cancer, there are still many other health benefits you can reap from drinking tea.

Can tea protect us from heart disease and high blood pressure?

In Japan, green tea is one of the most popular beverages. In a study of 40,000 Japanese people who regularly drank tea, the risk of heart disease was significantly lower. Studies showed that the risk was 30% lower in women and over 20% lower in men.

The mortality rate from stroke is even lower in this Japanese population group, with a reduction of over 60% in women and over 40% in men. Catechins work by inhibiting the production of free radicals in arteries and tissues, preventing the formation of blood clots.

Drinking green tea for a year reduced high blood pressure by over 45% in those who drank two and a half cups a day. For those who drank more than two and a half cups, high blood pressure decreased by 65%. In fact, the Journal of the American College of Nutrition concluded that tea, especially green tea and EGCG, is beneficial for cardiovascular health and metabolism.

Can tea protect us from death from all causes?

A study conducted in Japan also examined all-cause mortality rates associated with regular green tea consumption. Researchers concluded that Japanese adults, aged 40 to 79, experienced a reduced all-cause mortality rate if they consumed five or more cups of green tea per day.

This is very significant; women have a 23% lower risk of dying from all causes, and men have a 12% lower risk.

Does tea help you relax?

Tea also reduces stress by increasing relaxation and focus. The amino acid, L-theanine, counteracts any caffeine in tea and the stimulation that may accompany it. Tea is the only way you can incorporate this substance into your diet without using supplements.

Amino acids increase brain activity to achieve a state of relaxed focus. The highest concentrations of L-theanine are found in green and white teas. It has been shown to help lower bad cholesterol, fight fat accumulation in the body, inhibit viral diseases such as colds or flu, and reduce plaque buildup on teeth.

The tea-drinking habits of the people in the green region of Ikaria (Greece).

The Ikarian people show virtually no signs of dementia or many other chronic diseases. Family values, long-standing traditions, and a love of herbal teas, among other factors, allow one-third of the Ikarian to live to at least 90 years old.

They drink strong red wine, stay up late, sleep in, and know how to relax. They are active outdoors and in their gardens. They live like mountain dwellers and follow a healthy Mediterranean diet.

In addition to a diet rich in beans, green vegetables, olive oil, lemons, and potatoes, they also regularly brew tea from natural herbs.

When Dan Buettner was in Ikaria researching the diets of the longest-living, healthiest people, he sent samples of herbal teas there for laboratory testing. They discovered that they all possessed antioxidant properties in addition to functioning as mild diuretics.

Therefore, they not only contain powerful antioxidants but can also help remove waste products from the body and slightly lower blood pressure.

According to Traditional Medicine Practitioner Phung Tuan Giang, Chairman of the Vietnam Institute for Research and Development of Traditional Medicine, green tea originates from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), which consists of unfermented leaves, allowing it to retain a high content of antioxidants.

According to studies, green tea is considered one of the top healthiest beverages. Regularly drinking this tea can reduce the risk of heart disease or Alzheimer's disease, help maintain better bone mineral density, prevent eye diseases affecting vision in old age, prevent stroke, fight cancer, combat metabolic disorders, and prolong life.

Antioxidants and other beneficial compounds found in green tea include flavonoids and catechins such as EGCG, quercetin, linoleic acid, theobromine, and theophylline.

"While green tea can be very beneficial, drinking green tea alone will not improve longevity or protect us from disease. Research shows that a combination of lifestyle factors provides health benefits for tea drinkers."

Overall, studies have found many health benefits of green tea, especially in relation to anti-aging. However, the key point is that the quality of our overall diet is what really matters most," Dr. Giang emphasized.