Top 5 Reasons to Drink Green Tea This Winter, Top 5 Benefits of Green Tea in winter....

Amazing Benefits of Green Tea in Winter

Green tea has become so popular, some have even become obsessed with specialty brews and green tea lattes. But don’t let its trendiness fool you: There are some big benefits to green tea, and plenty of good reasons to start swapping it for your coffee. If you haven’t jumped on the green tea bandwagon, here are a few great reasons why you should start drinking it daily...

1.Weight-loss wonder
 For many, the holiday season is the worst time for maintaining diet goals. During the season of indulgences, then, every little bit helps. Drinking green tea regularly has been shown to help suppress appetite and increase your metabolism — both of which can help you save or burn a few calories while you celebrate this season.

2.Green Tea Can Reduce Anxiety
Well, for one thing a hot drink on a cold winter day is extremely soothing. Green tea, however, also has l-theanine. Theanine works by increasing the production of GABA in the brain. Similar to the effects of meditation, it also stimulates alpha brainwaves naturally associated with deep states of relaxation and enhanced mental clarity. l-theanine may increase learning, attention and sensations of pleasure as well. These effects are likely due to the natural dopamine boost brought on by l-theanine. If you’re wondering how something with caffeine can actually relax you, the L-theanine balances the stimulatory effects of caffeine so you stay alert without feeling jittery. Three types of green tea with the highest known concentration of theanine include matcha, gyokuro and Anji bai cha.

3.Sickness prevention
Nonstop shopping, traveling, and socializing can mean the combination of cold-inducing pathogens and a weakened immune system, so give yours a boost with green tea. Several studies have shown that green tea has antiviral properties; one study found that taking green tea catechin capsules helped prevent health-care workers from catching the flu, and another found that Japanese schoolchildren who drank green tea for six days a week or more were less likely to catch the flu.

4.Green Tea Lowers Blood Sugar & Reduces Belly Fat
While you may have recently sworn off sugar and starches, it’s certainly hard to avoid them forever (in fact, I recommend that my patients enjoy one cheat meal a week to satisfy any cravings). According to recent research, drinking green tea with a starchy carb may help with damage control by blunting the sharp rise in blood sugar levels – by almost 50%! An enzyme called alpha-amylase helps break down starch into maltose and glucose in the body. EGCG may inhibit these enzymes, according to the researchers. Drink 1-2 cups of green tea with your carb meals in particular for best results.

5.Stress relief
Curling up with a warm beverage can be relaxing, especially when the rest of your day is hectic, but drinking too much caffeine has its downsides. Too much caffeine can lead to anxiety, stress, and trouble sleeping, so if you find yourself running out for a coffee break or having friends over for a cup several times a day, switch to green tea. Not only does green tea contain only half the amount of caffeine than a normal cup of coffee, but many people also say green tea’s fresh, grassy flavor helps them relax.