The latest research report from Japan tracked over 40,000 middle-aged and elderly people aged 40 to 79 starting in 1994. It found that compared to those who drank less than one cup of tea a day, men who drank five or more cups of green tea daily had a 22% lower average risk of dying from cerebrovascular disease, while women had a 31% lower risk. The most significant reduction was in cerebral infarction, with a 42% decrease in men and a 62% decrease in women. According to a report in the British "Daily Mail," a new study found that drinking three cups of tea a day can reduce the risk of myocardial infarction by 70%. Studies from Finland and France also show that drinking two to three cups of tea daily can lower the risk of stroke.
Tea has the effect of lowering cholesterol and blood pressure
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong found that tea can reduce total blood cholesterol levels by 25%. Another study on the relationship between tea consumption and hypertension found that the incidence of hypertension was 10.55% among non-tea drinkers and 6.95% among regular tea drinkers, confirming that tea has a certain blood pressure-lowering effect.
Tea helps reduce the risk of diabetes
A long-term observational study of 17,000 men and women aged 40 to 65 found that those who drank more than six cups of green tea a day had a 33% lower risk of developing diabetes compared to those who drank less than one cup a week. Some data also suggest that drinking cold-brewed green tea is even more effective in preventing and treating diabetes.
Tea helps prevent early-onset Alzheimer's
Tea protects brain cells and effectively delays brain degeneration, helping maintain the health of brain blood vessels. The latest research shows that drinking more tea can improve memory and prevent early-onset Alzheimer's.
Tea has anti-stress and anti-anxiety effects
Modern life and work are fast-paced and stressful, often leading to anxiety, tension, irritability, depression, and other mental and psychological symptoms. Green tea contains theanine, a non-sedative relaxant that helps the brain produce more gamma waves. Gamma waves can help control anxiety, improve focus, and enhance overall mental state and function. Generally, three to four cups of green tea contain 100 to 200 milligrams of theanine, making green tea effective in combating stress and anxiety.
Tea boosts immunity
If there's a recent flu outbreak, drink more tea. Researchers at Harvard University found that people who drank five cups of tea daily for two weeks produced large amounts of antiviral interferon, ten times more than non-tea drinkers. This infection-fighting protein can enhance immunity and help the body resist the flu.
Tea enhances antibacterial power
A May 2008 report noted that Egyptian scholars tested "green tea plus antibiotics" against 28 types of bacteria. They found that green tea could significantly enhance the potency of antibiotics, increasing bactericidal efficiency by up to three times. It also reduced the resistance of various bacteria to antibiotics.
Tea aids in weight loss for the obese
Researchers found that compared to non-tea drinkers, those who drank tea for over ten years had about 20% less body fat in men and 30% less in women. Losing weight while enjoying tea is a delightful prospect! Moreover, tea is an excellent skin protectant and beauty enhancer, making regular tea drinkers more radiant.
Other health benefits of tea
Tea also relieves fatigue, refreshes the mind, improves vision, aids digestion, acts as a diuretic and detoxifier, prevents tooth decay, eliminates bad breath, and is an alkaline beverage that helps correct acidic body conditions... Tea is undoubtedly the healthiest beverage of the 21st century.
The above highlights the significant health benefits of tea leaves. Next, we will detail the beneficial components in tea that contribute to these health effects.
Tea polyphenols are the most abundant soluble components in tea and the primary substances responsible for its health benefits. The most typical representative is catechin (phenol), which has antioxidant (eliminating oxygen free radicals), anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular disease risk reduction, lipid-lowering, body fat reduction, antibacterial, and gut microbiota modulation effects. Studies show that drinking a cup of tea increases the blood's antioxidant capacity (against oxygen free radicals) by 41% to 48% within half an hour, maintaining this high level for an hour and a half.
Tea pigments mainly include chlorophyll and β-carotene, which have anti-aging and beautifying effects.
Theanine improves brain function, enhances memory and learning ability, and has preventive effects against Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and autonomic nervous system disorders.
Tea polysaccharides are a complex mixture of components. They have anti-radiation effects, increase white blood cell count, boost immunity, and lower blood sugar. The folk practice of using coarse tea to treat diabetes primarily relies on the effects of tea polysaccharides.
γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is naturally present in small amounts in tea, but its content increases significantly after processing. GABA's main function is to dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure, making it useful in辅助治疗高血压。它还能改善大脑血液循环，增强脑细胞的代谢能力，这有助于脑卒中(中风)、脑动脉硬化后遗症等的康复治疗。