Green tea is the most extensively researched drink on the planet; so many of us are already aware that it’s a great source of the antioxidants and nutrients that have positive effects on the body.

While there’s lots information out there about green tea’s benefits relating to the prevention of certain cancers and heart disease, there are many other proven health benefits that people just don’t know about.

We’ve chosen our top 5 favourites to share with you:

1. Green tea improves gut health

With fermented foods and probiotics being all the rage, it’s good to know that green tea is also working hard to promote your gut health.

The polyphenols (antioxidants) in green tea work to increase the number of good bacteria in the gut, while inhibiting the growth of bad bacteria.

This restoration of bacterial balance in turn leads to improved digestion and greater nutrient absorption, benefiting your entire body.

2. Green tea is good for your bones

Osteoporosis is the result of an imbalance between bone resorption and bone formation. This imbalance is more noticeable as we get older.

There is mounting evidence to suggest that the bioactive components of green tea may act towards restoring the balance between bone resorption and formation, thus working to actually prevent osteoporosis.

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3. Green tea assists in reducing stress levels

Studies in Japan showed that green tea extracts may help to offset the various symptoms associated with stressful lives, including physical and mental fatigue.

It was found that there is a clear and significant relationship between green tea consumption and reduced stress levels and anxiety. As Mums, that’s a great reason to drink up!

4. Green tea assists in weight loss

Forget the diet pills, the magic combination of green tea and exercise are your new best weight loss buddies as green tea extract has been clinically proven to boost thermogenesis (fat burning), suppress appetite and boost metabolism.

It’s also the perfect alternative to sugary drinks, and swapping just one can of soft drink for a cup green tea can save you over 30g of sugar and 150 calories on the spot!

5. Green tea helps to strengthen the immune system

With our super-busy lives, none of us really have time to get sick, so it’s great to know that we can do something towards preventing illness just by drinking green tea regularly.

The antioxidants in green tea work to protect our bodies against damage from potentially dangerous free radicals caused by our food, drink and environment.

This protection helps to support a healthy immune system, which in turns means we’re much better at effectively managing infections from bacteria and viruses.

The wonderful news is that green tea has also been shown to prevent and even reverse some types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and play a significant role in the prevention of Type 2 Diabetes.

The verdict is in, green tea plays a very important role in disease prevention and would be a great addition to your daily health routine.

Do you currently drink green tea? Why do you like it? Please share in the comments below.

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