Maybe you often hear about the benefits of drinking tea, especially green tea. According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, “Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world after water.” So what are the benefits of drinking green tea? Let’s check it out.

1. Helps protect heart health.

There is a lot of evidence from trials showing that the consumption of flavan-3-ols and antioxidant anthocyanidins, a type found in green tea, is beneficial for metabolic and cardiovascular health. Some evidence suggests that green tea contains 10 beta-blocking compounds, seven calcium channel blockers and 16 diuretic compounds, which can prevent many risk factors for heart disease, such as having high blood pressure or cholesterol levels.

2. Prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

In 2004, scientists from the University of Newcastle studied the effects of black and green tea on Alzheimer’s disease. In laboratory studies, both of these prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is strongly associated with memory. Tea also inhibits an enzyme known as BuChE and beta-secretase. This enzyme is found in protein deposits found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.

3. Prevent diabetes.

Several studies have shown that intake of flavan-3-ols and or anthocyanidin found in green tea can improve glycemic control and help normalize blood sugar levels. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, green tea is believed to be beneficial for those at risk or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Green tea catechins, especially EGCG, appear to have anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects.

4. Prevent eye disease.

One study published in the February 2010 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry investigated the effects of catechins on eye disease and found that consuming more catechins can help protect the eyes from oxidative damage and vision loss. The scientists involved in the study found evidence that catechins can move from the digestive tract of mice to their eye tissue and reduce oxidative stress up to 20 hours after consumption.

Not only popular just because of the trend, green tea is also popular because of good reasons. Green tea has many benefits that can nourish our body. Let’s start trying to drink green tea from now on.