If you search online for the effects of green tea on health, you may get the impression that you've stumbled across a genuine miracle cure : Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and even various types of cancer are just some of the illnesses against which green tea is touted as a curative or preventive remedy. It is also claimed to help with weight loss and acne when applied to the skin. So far so good, but what's really going on with these promises of healing?
Green tea, like black tea, is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Unlike green tea, the leaves of black tea plants are fermented, causing them to lose their green colour. For green tea, the young shoots of the Camellia plant are harvested and then first stored in "withering plants" to reduce the water content to 30-40%. Unlike black tea, green tea leaves are not fermented afterwards. Instead, they are treated with hot steam to stop the enzymatic reaction. This preserves the phenolics: the reason the leaves stay green.
The green tea manufacturing process already gives an indication that the promised health benefits may well be true. Thanks to gentle production and the fact that young shoots and leaves are used for tea, many plant substances remain present and can potentially have a positive effect on our organs. One important active substance that has already been well studied is the secondary plant substance epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG. If you're looking for scientific publications on this substance, you can't escape the results: in the last three years alone, more than 1500 studies have been published on the subject. It's worth mentioning, however, that so far the effect has generally only been demonstrated on animals.
Whether it's tea to drink, skin creams made with tea extract or even EGCG in capsule form, it's up to you to decide how you want to enjoy its health benefits. In addition to the benefits mentioned above, however, you should bear in mind that green tea contains caffeine. Theine and caffeine are the same thing, it's simply the caffeine in tea that is often referred to as theine. And it's precisely this caffeine that explains why you shouldn't drink too much green tea. You can drink up to 1.5 litres a day without harming yourself (apart from more frequent trips to the toilet). As caffeine can reduce or slow down the absorption of certain medicines, you shouldn't overdo it either. And in the second half of the day, it's best not to drink green tea, so as not to disrupt your sleep rhythm. What's more, it's worth opting for organic teas, as this reduces the load of harmful substances, which is unfortunately a problem with many teas. If you have stomach problems, such as ulcers, or inflammatory bowel disease, you should be careful with green tea and watch your body's reaction carefully, as the symptoms may be amplified. In these cases, as well as when taking EGCG in capsule form, it is always advisable to consult your doctor. When using green tea-based skin creams, simply follow the advice corresponding to your skin type.
