Green tea & wellbeing
The health benefits of green tea.
Enjoyed for thousands of years and studied ever since, green tea is one of the most antioxidant-rich drinks you can pour. Here's what the science says, and why gyokuro is one of the best sources of it.
The basics
One of the world's healthiest drinks
Because it's made from unfermented leaves, green tea keeps its vivid colour and a high load of antioxidants. Chief among them are polyphenols and catechins like EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), studied for their anti-inflammatory and protective effects throughout the body.
Those same compounds are what set premium shade-grown gyokuro apart: it carries some of the highest natural concentrations of them.
Body & mind
Energy and focus, without the jitters
Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that lifts calming brain chemicals like GABA, dopamine and serotonin. Paired with a gentler dose of caffeine than coffee, it supports steady focus and a relaxed kind of alertness. Energy without the crash.
Its catechins and modest caffeine may also give metabolism a nudge, which is why green tea appears in so many fat-burning and weight-management routines. At roughly three calories a cup, it's an easy swap.
The long game
Heart health and healthy ageing
Regular green tea drinking has been linked to a healthier heart. A 2020 report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found lower stroke risk among green tea drinkers (partly through improved cholesterol), and a large 2020 study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology associated regular consumption with a longer life and reduced cardiovascular disease.
Its polyphenols may also help protect the ageing brain, with research pointing to potential benefits for dementia, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Type 2 diabetes through better blood-sugar control. Theanine, meanwhile, has been found to ease stress and anxiety.
At a glance
Why people drink it daily
- Antioxidant-richLoaded with EGCG and other protective polyphenols.
- Calm, steady focusL-theanine plus gentle caffeine, no coffee crash.
- Metabolism supportCatechins linked to fat-burning and weight management.
- Heart & cholesterolAssociated with lower stroke and heart-disease risk.
- Healthy ageingPolyphenols studied for brain and blood-sugar benefits.
- Barely any caloriesAbout three per cup, an easy daily habit.
This page is general information about green tea and wellbeing, not medical advice. If you have a health condition or take medication, check with your doctor.
Straight from Sakamotoen
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