Green tea, a beverage with a rich history, offers many health benefits. Studies have shown that drinking green tea regularly can help prevent cognitive decline in older people and reduce stress and depression.
Because some people find green tea bitter and experience gastrointestinal discomfort after drinking it, Jonathan Liu, a professor at Georgian College in Canada, shared tips on selecting and brewing green tea to maximize its health benefits on The Epoch Times’ “Health 1+1.”
Green tea is rich in tea polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that can neutralize free radicals produced during the body’s metabolic processes. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules can damage cells and tissues. Green tea also contains many vitamins, amino acids, and trace elements.
Green Tea’s Catechins Fight Cognitive Decline
Green tea contains a high catechin concentration. A review published in CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics in 2008 highlighted the neuroprotective effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a catechin found in green tea, which can reduce the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.A study conducted at Kanazawa University in Japan found that among 490 cognitively normal elderly individuals aged 60 and above, those who frequently consumed green tea had a significantly lower rate of cognitive decline during subsequent years than those who regularly consumed black tea or coffee.
Green Tea Alleviates Stress and Promotes Longevity
Animal experiments have also demonstrated that green tea has antidepressant effects, helping to prevent premature aging caused by excessive stress.A study conducted at Shizuoka University in Japan, published in Nutrients in 2022, revealed that mice with depression exhibited improvements in adrenal enlargement and brain inflammation after consuming green tea extract. Furthermore, abnormal behaviors associated with depression were reduced. The study also identified that the greatest improvement in depression occurred when the combined ratio of caffeine and EGCG to theanine and arginine was approximately 4 to 5. Among Japanese teas, sencha demonstrated better antidepressant effects than matcha or hojicha.
Another study at Shizuoka University found that male mice living together in a cage experienced higher stress levels, resulting in shorter lifespans. However, when these stressed mice consumed water containing green tea extract’s theanine, their lifespans were comparable to normal mice’s.
Additionally, when normal mice ingested theanine from green tea extract, their lifespans did not increase, suggesting that theanine extended the first set’s lives by reducing stress.
3 Tips for Brewing Tea
Some individuals may find green tea bitter and need to become accustomed to it. Improper tea selection and brewing methods can also affect the flavor. Liu advises paying attention to the following three points when brewing tea:Tea Selection
Choose fresh green tea with a vibrant green color and a noticeable aroma. Avoid tea with a smoky, burnt, or moldy smell.Water Temperature
The ideal water temperature for brewing green tea is around 185 F (85 C). The steeping time should not be too long, usually two to three minutes, with some adjustments based on the specific type of green tea. The recommended tea-to-water ratio is 1 to 50, using 3 grams of tea leaves for 150–200 milliliters of water, resulting in a balanced and moderate strength of green tea. If the water is too hot or the tea is steeped too long, it will be bitter.Choice of Teaware
Using porcelain or transparent glass cups for drinking green tea is recommended. Metal cups are not suitable as they can react with the tea.Green tea can also be used as a seasoning ingredient for foods such as tea eggs or tea-infused chicken. Matcha powder can be used in baking to make treats such as Longjing tea cookies and matcha cakes.
Green tea can be made into matcha cake as a dessert. Anna_Pustynnikova/Shutterstock
9 Taboos for Drinking Green Tea
According to traditional Chinese medicine, foods have the properties of cold or hot. Green tea is cold, so it can have a cooling effect on the body. People with a constitution leaning toward coldness may experience discomfort if they consume excessive amounts of green tea, especially those prone to diarrhea after drinking cold beverages.Liu advises that people who feel discomfort after drinking green tea try lightly fermented white or yellow tea, which has similar benefits but milder properties. For those that have no such concern, there are other issues they should pay attention to.
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