Green Tea Uses, Benefits and Side Effects
Green tea is the latest fast friend of fleshy buttocks, protruding bellies and diabetics. Yes, diabetics too. A good deal of diabetics, in fact all kinds of people nowadays are deviating from the typical ‘masala chai’ or ‘milk tea’ and opting for green tea instead. The reason possibly being the innumerable benefits that come with the tea. Green tea is good not just for your skin or body weight, it inculcates its benefits on overall health.
Taking green tea in diabetes also inculcates a lot of benefits. Some of them are as under. Have a walkthrough along.
Benefits of Green Tea in Diabetes
1. Shoo away Cancer
Owing to its powerful anti-oxidants like polyphenols and flavanoids, green tea can significantly lower the chances of developing cancer. One such flavanoid present in green tea called catechins is known to have anti-cancer properties. In recent studies and researches, it has been discovered that men and women who consume green tea regularly have a relatively reduced probability of developing colorectal, breast and prostate cancers than those not taking it.
2. Burn away those fleshy tyres
For working men and women, sweating it out at the gym gets a bit demanding, due to their chock-a-block schedule. Plus the workplace binging of coffee, crackers, wafers, samosas and all that. This results in weight gain, followed by a myriad of health problems. Above that, if you are already diabetic, the risk of heart disease increases too. Here green tea comes to rescue. Polyphenols in the tea helps burn excess fat without compromising on metabolic energy of the body.
3. Hold Back Diabetes Type-2
Among others, the most common cause of diabetes Type-2 is obesity. Taking green tea in diabetes is said to hinder the production of alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme that decelerates the assimilation of glucose in blood. According to a study in Japan, people who drink green tea have 33 percent lesser chance of developing type-2 diabetes.
4. Improved Immunity
The anti-oxidants present in green tea improve the susceptibility of body to fight diseases, and lowers the chances of catching cold too. Moreover, if you’re down with fever or an infection, the rich quantities of Vitamin C would aid in a faster recouping from the illness.
5. Keeps Osteoporosis at Bay
Post menopause, the bones in women begin to become brittle and weak, a condition known by the name osteoporosis. Green tea, that contains a considerable amount of fluoride, works effectively in preventing the bones to become fragile, thus keeping osteoporosis at bay. Moreover, if you are consuming green tea in diabetes following your menopause, it increases your control on the blood sugar.Now, we all are aware that any substance taken in extreme can be damaging for our body, the same goes for green tea as well. So, once you’ve known the benefits, it’s also crucial to understand its side effects so that you can manage the quantity of tea you drink each day. Here are they.
Side Effects of Green Tea
1. Perils of Drinking Green Tea During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, an immoderate consumption of green tea can even result in miscarriages. Therefore, it is advisable to cut down the number of cups to one or at maximum, two. Better yet, if you can refrain from it for those few months of pregnancy, since the caffeine present in green tea has dire chances of spreading to the breast milk, thus affecting the baby.
2. Blood Sugar
If you are consuming green tea in diabetes, keep a tab on your blood sugar levels as the caffeine present in green tea can boost or drop the sugar abruptly thereby disrupting the proper circulation of blood in the body.
3. Gastric Disorders
Drinking green tea on an empty stomach can bring about stomach disorders such as constipation, bloating and stomach ache. Therefore, best avoid it in morning. Rather, the ideal time to drink green tea is either in-between meals or after meals. Late afternoon or early evening is the best.
4. Sleep Deprivation
Since it’s an established fact that caffeine is one of the prime causes of sleep deprivation, the caffeine in green tea also obstructs the sleep inducing chemicals, thereby enhancing adrenaline secretion and preventing sleep.
5. Increased Blood Pressure
Patients with high blood pressure should avoid consuming green tea, as the caffeine present in it has chances of increasing the blood pressure even more.
How Much to Consume Green Tea?
The rule of thumb is to plan the number of cups while keeping both its benefits and side effects in mind. Moderation is the key. Once you understand the advantages and side-effects of having green tea, the next thing to note is how your body responds to it. If you feel a healthier, active and energetic, go on. However, if you are only thinking of starting green tea in diabetes, it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor beforehand.
