Green Tea: Can You Believe the Hype?

By Stepy Kamei

When it comes to starting up a healthy diet, you probably know some of the better foods to incorporate into your meals. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins should all ring a bell when thinking of the best foods to incorporate into your diet. But what about the options you have when it comes to what you drink? Yes, nutritionists agree that what you drink with your meals can be just as important as what's on your plate. For instance, green tea is commonly touted by healthcare experts and everyday people alike as a healthy drink. So, what should you be filling your cup up with -- and which drinks are better to avoid altogether?

Green Tea: Is It Really Good For You?

Green tea is made from the leaves of the same plant that black tea comes from; it's just plucked sooner and processed less. Since it's more "intact" than its black tea counterpart, green tea contains more catechins, a compound known to have antioxidant properties.

You may have heard the health claims about green tea before. People have been proclaiming for years that green tea has the ability to boost the immune system, aid in weight loss, fight fatigue, improve heart health, and prevent cognitive decline. So, is there any truth to these claims? Should you start drinking green tea on a daily basis in an effort to improve your health?

The short answer is, it couldn't hurt to make it a regular part of your routine. However, it's good to look into some of the various studies done on green tea by scientists and nutritionists alike to better understand some of the claims being made.

Green Tea Health Claims

For instance, a common claim made about green tea is that it can cause weight loss. While studies do show that green tea consumption is found in relation to weight loss, it's unclear exactly why this is the case; it could be the caffeine, or the ethnicity of Asian people who tend to drink green tea over other drinks, who also tend to carry less body fat.

Meanwhile, many people claim that green tea can keep Alzheimer's and other diseases of the brain at bay. However, it's difficult to find a direct link between the two.

Still, there is no evidence claiming that green tea is bad for a person's health in any way. So, if you like the taste, drink up! At the very least, it's a great way to get caffeine without the jitters that coffee can bring.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Temple, Texas.