Green tea has a wide range of health benefits, enough to be listed among the "Top 10 Super Foods in the World" by Time magazine in the United States. Learn about the benefits of green tea and healthy ways to consume it.

 

Weight Loss

 

Green tea has the effect of breaking down body fat and aiding in weight loss. The plant compound called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) contained in green tea promotes metabolism, increases calorie expenditure, and breaks down fat cells to burn body fat quickly. According to a study by the Cleveland Clinic in the United States, green tea helps with long-term weight management by controlling appetite and blood sugar levels.

 

◇Blood Sugar Improvement

 

Green tea helps manage post-meal blood sugar levels. According to a study conducted by Jeju Halla University, green tea inhibits alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates and raises post-meal blood sugar. The research team analyzed that the tannin component in green tea, which gives it a bitter taste, contributed to the blood sugar improvement effect.

◇Cholesterol reduction

 

Green tea lowers LDL cholesterol levels, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. A study from Sun Yat-sen University in China found that polyphenol compounds in green tea inhibit enzymes used in cholesterol synthesis in the body, helping to regulate blood cholesterol levels. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also showed that green tea reduced total cholesterol by 7.2 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol by 2.2 mg/dL compared to a placebo. The catechin components in green tea function to reduce cholesterol absorption in the intestines.

 

◇Anti-aging

 

Green tea is rich in antioxidants and has excellent anti-aging effects. The epigallocatechin gallate component slows down collagen breakdown, improving skin elasticity and eliminating active oxygen, the main cause of aging. Vitamin C provides skin hydration and whitening effects, creating a youthful complexion.

 

◇Two to three glasses a day is appropriate

 

Green tea has excellent health benefits, but it is best not to drink more than two or three cups a day. One cup of green tea contains 30 to 50 mg of caffeine, and the Korea Food and Drug Administration recommends a maximum daily caffeine intake of 400 mg for adults. Consuming caffeine above the recommended amount is not advisable.

 

The epigallocatechin gallate component contained in green tea poses a higher risk of liver damage if consumed in excess of the recommended amount. Kelly Metzger, a licensed dietitian at George Washington University School of Medicine in the United States, said, "One cup of green tea contains 50 to 100 mg of epigallocatechin gallate, and it is advisable not to consume more than 338 mg per day."

 

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Green tea also contains caffeine.

Drinking a lot is not advisable.

 

Two glasses a day, from blood vessels to aging...

 

It's autumn. Let's have a cup of tea.