Fucoidan Health News May: The Unimaginable Benefits of Green Tea
Are you a coffee person or a tea person? Either way, it is good to know how this refreshing beverage can benefit your health. The positive effects of green tea are so potent that it will allow you to stay physically young and energetic even with the waning of age.
What is green tea?
Tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. It is made from the plant Camellias Sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze. The origin of green tea began in China when Emperor Shennong discovered it in 2737 BC after accidentally drinking boiling water that had a dead tea leaf in it. The Emperor experienced an incredibly refreshing taste that he could not forget and had a new beverage created.
Initially, green tea was available only to the top layers of Chinese society and was very expensive to buy. It was not until the 14th century that green tea became available to the general public for enjoyment and medicinal purposes.1)
Green tea leaves begin to change (fermentation) through oxidation from the moment they are plucked. By heat-treating (steaming/roasting) the leaves when they are completely fresh the process of oxidation can be stopped. This is achieved by adjusting the shape of the leaves as well as their water content. Once they are thoroughly dried the green tea leaves are prepared for storage and injected with a particular scent. 2)
Amazing Effects of Green tea
Green tea and dementia
Green tea has been found to have preventative effects for many diseases, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.
Some human observational and interventional studies have also shown that green tea aids cognitive function and memory retention. Studies have shown that green tea has positive effects on the prevention of Parkinson’s disease. However, the research on green tea’s effect on Alzheimer’s is scarce, thus ruling out the definitive effect of green tea on dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease and stress release have a unique causal relationship. Stress can lead to neurodegenerative diseases and skin problems. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), there were an estimated 5 million adults over 65 with dementia in 2014. This number is projected to reach 14 million by 2060.
Monica Pervin et al. A cross-sectional study of 635 Japanese participants aged 69-71 years examined the relationship between dietary patterns and cognitive function. They found that plants were among the three nutritional habits of Japanese people.
A high intake characterizes this dietary pattern. Green tea and soy products, seaweed, mushrooms, potatoes, fruits, and fish are among the daily intake of the sample. Mainly, Green tea may have contributed significantly to the results. Green tea contains many compounds that can affect brain function, such as green tea catechin (GTC), caffeine, and theanine. 3)
According to Kazuki Ide et al., the green tea compound EGCG may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers have found that green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) stops the formation of beta-amyloid plaque, which is characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, by interfering with the function of beta-amyloid oligomers. 4)
How green tea helps to reduce skin problems
Psychological stress has many adverse effects on the skin, like affecting stratum corneum aggregation disorders, impaired permeable barriers, altered antibacterial properties of the epidermal barrier, delayed wound healing, decreased innate immunity epidermis, and skin homeostasis. Several reports support the role of psychosocial factors that cause certain skin disorders.
Research indicates that stress may lead to neurodegenerative disease making green tea the perfect stress release drink.
In a murine experiment, researchers investigated EGCG-mediated protection against stress-induced nerve injury. EGCG improved stress-induced neuronal damage in rats with partial recovery of normal plasma glucocorticoid, dopamine, and serotonin levels. EGCG reduced the reduction in stress-induced phosphorylation and restored the expression of critical regulators of ATP production and cellular energy metabolism in stressed animals.
The finding suggests that EGCG has a protective effect against stress-induced nerve damage. Also, EGCG may support neuropsychiatric disorders and psychosomatic disorders. 5)
By drinking three or five cups of green tea a day, you can obtain young-looking skin and protect yourself from neurodegenerative disease.
Recipe: Green tea jello
You can make tasty jello with green tea! It is perfectly refreshing after greasy foods. Try this recipe yourself, and we promise you will be amazed!
How to make:
- Add gelatin to the water in a bowl, mix and leave for about 5 minutes to soak.
- Put green tea in a pan and heat over medium heat.
- Heat 2 until just before boiling, remove from heat, add gelatin, and honey and mix well.
- When the gelatin is completely melted, pour it into a container and chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
- When 4 is solidified, add mint and it’s done.
References:
1.https://www.hackberrytea.com/blogs/tea-education/the-history-of-green-tea#
2.https://minorien.jp/university/process.pdf
3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6sis099654/
4.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6225145/
5.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5885122/
http://www.ocha.tv/history/japanese_tea_history/
https://minorien.jp/university/process.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6099654/
