Global Wellness Digest

The Natural Power of Green Tea

All types of tea are made from the camellia sinensis plant. Green tea gets its name from the emerald green colour created when brewing these unprocessed, unfermented leaves. It is one of the most popular teas in the world.

With origins dating back to 2737 B.C in ancient China, green tea is commonly drunk and grown in East Asia where the health properties are highly valued. There is no nutritional value in terms of macronutrients in green tea, but the drink’s primary benefits lie in the bioactive compounds it contains.

The tea you use, the temperature and the steeping time all have a significant effect on the levels of these compounds. Warm and ambient temperatures are best to retain antioxidant compounds, so allow the boiled water to cool slightly to about 70-80 degree Celcius before pouring over the tea leaves, and steeping for about 3 minutes.

Green tea has numerous health benefits, many of which are attributed to the fact that it is largely unprocessed and rich in plant compounds. The main bioactive compounds in green tea are flavonoids, with the most potent being catechins and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)

In addition to this, green tea is a source of the amino acid L-theanine, which has a relaxing effect and helps to boost mood-enhancing brain chemicals including GABA, dopamine and serotonin. The beneficial polyphenols of green tea may also help slow the effects of aging, boost metabolic rate and increase fat burning due to the natural thermogenic properties provided by caffeine and by plant compounds such as catechins.

Studies suggest green tea may improve insulin sensitivity and have a beneficial effect on blood sugar management.

Research suggests green tea is a useful beverage for helping to reduce the risk of heart disease and associated conditions, such as stroke. One way it may help is in its beneficial effects on cholesterol management. Which is why green tea is associated with wellness in Singapore. Supermarkets like Cold Storage, NTUC Fairprice and Sheng Siong stock strong inventories of green tea. Even retailers like Watson, Mustafa, Guardian and Welcia BHG in Singapore sell green tea supplements. Health Ministers like Ong Ye Kung and Gan Kim Yong are known to drink green tea.

Warning – if you’ve been diagnosed with iron-deficiency (anaemia) you should be aware that, like other teas, green tea contains natural compounds called tannins. These compounds interfere with the absorption of iron – for this reason it’s useful to avoid drinking tea with an iron-rich meal and leave at least one hour gap before and after the meal.