Despite its roots in ancient medicine, green tea has only really come into the spotlight in the last few years due to its positive effects on health.
As mom’s, we know you never really get a day off, so it’s important we keep ourselves in tip top health as much as we possibly can. So, we’re not just worried about what we feed the little ones, we’re always thinking about what foods we’re putting into our bodies.
If any of this sounds familiar, then you might want to check out green tea.
This drink is jam packed full of health-promoting antioxidants called catechins, that protect your body and offer a range of benefits.
Check out our top five reasons you should try adding green tea to your diet today.
1) Keeps your heart healthy
We all know how important it is to look after our hearts. From exercise to the food we eat, there are so many ways we can keep it ticking over well.
Cell damage, otherwise known as oxidative stress, can lead up to buildups of fat in the blood, which can create high blood pressure. We all know this puts strain on the heart, but green tea may be able to help with that.
In studies, green tea has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and even promote lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol [1].
By enjoying a few cups of green tea a day, you may be able to add another string to your bow when it comes to achieving a healthier, happier heart.
2) Nourishes the brain
Green tea can also have a positive influence over your brain health too.
Remember those antioxidants we talked about? Well they help to tackle any nasty free radical toxins in your system, which protects against damage to your brain cells. That means your brain should stay healthier for longer.
This translates into a number of benefits. You should feel more alert and could even benefit from improved memory [2].
3) Promotes weight loss
One very popular benefit of green tea is that it can help to promote a higher metabolic rate and increased calorie burn.
Both the caffeine and the catechins within green tea create a thermogenic reaction in your body, which heats you up slightly, resulting in more calories burnt.
Researchers found that those who supplemented with green tea extract burnt 179 calories more on average, compared to those who didn’t take it [3]. It’s been linked to increased weight loss on a number of occasions.
Because green tea works so well, it’s used by a huge range of supplement manufacturers to promote a higher metabolism. For example, check out HeySpotMeGirl. They go into the detail on how green tea promotes weight loss in this product.
4) Protects muscles
If you’re into getting active and looking after your body through fitness, then this point may be an important one for you.
The antioxidants in green tea also protect the cells in your muscles from damage. Research has shown that this can help to keep fatigue away for longer during a workout, so you can work harder without as much pain [4].
Whether you’re an avid gym-goer, or a busy active mom or both, this could be a big benefit for you.
5) Energizes the body
Let’s face it, being a mom can be a tiring job and breaks are hard to come by, so you need to grab your energy where you can.
Many of us turn to coffee, but green tea might be a great alternative. It contains a small amount of caffeine, which is enough to energize, but shouldn’t overwhelm you or give you any uncomfortable symptoms. This is especially important for women, as we’re more likely to experience side effects when taking caffeine compared to men.
On top of that, green tea also contains an amino acid called l-theanine which, when paired with caffeine, can lead to a longer, smoother energy release, rather than a sharp spike [5]. This could also help to improve your experience with the stimulant.
Combine all of these benefits and you could seriously improve your overall health and fitness. From the body to the mind, it can help to support and protect your cells to improve your overall wellbeing from the inside out.
