Natural wonder remedy Green tea keeps you healthy

Green tea has been grown in China for several millennia. The tea plant is also established in Japan and Taiwan. Around the 6th century BC It is said that it was first prepared as tea. Since then, the greenish, yellowish or brownish appearing beverage as a remedy thanks to its healthy ingredients. More and more scientific studies prove the health-promoting effect of green tea. Among other things, he is said to "promote cognitive performance, have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system and have a cholesterol-lowering effect". In addition, green tea, whose leaves were not fermented, contains vitamin C, which helps to prevent colds. In body and facial care products, such as creams, the tea should lead to a firmer skin and more vitality. The news agency "dpa" talked to experts about the positive effects of green tea and its many uses.

Green tea should have positive effects on the cardiovascular system
According to a Japanese study, regular drinking of green tea should significantly reduce the risk of stroke. Subjects who consumed two to three cups of the beverage daily were 14 percent less likely to be at risk than subjects who seldom or never drank green tea. However, the exact mechanisms of action on the cardiovascular system are still unclear.

Last year, researchers from Basel published a study that found that green tea has a positive effect on the brain or its cognitive abilities. "The new findings have great potential to improve the treatment of mental disorders such as dementia," they informed in a statement from the University of Basel. The natural ingredients of green tea could make a decisive contribution to the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

Another study from Japan also shows that high consumption of green tea reduces intestinal polyps. However, this result is limited to Europe as people in Asia consume significantly more green tea.

A study by Oklahoma State University also confirms the cholesterol-lowering effect of green tea in patients with lipid metabolism disorder. Presumably, tannins and saponins are responsible for inhibiting fat intake from food.

Green tea as a component of cosmetic products
Green tea is not only prepared as a drink but also used as an ingredient in cosmetic products. Christiane Bayerl, the director of the Department of Dermatology and Allergology at the HSK Wiesbaden, describes green tea as "in-substance". The extract of the green leaves of the tea tree has an antioxidant effect which helps the skin to regenerate and helps to protect it. "Green tea is a well-researched and established radical scavenger," explains Bayerl. The expert advises to use green tea products especially after sunbathing because of their special effect.

Alexandra Kessler-Kiehn, a lecturer at the Berufsfachschule für Kosmetik Norkauer in Munich, adds that "the chlorophyll of the plant is very refreshing". And the caffeine dehydrate, which "has a skin-tightening effect". The tannins in the tea prevent the caffeine from being released all at once, so its effect lasts for several hours continuously.

"Green tea contains, unlike black tea, still all its active ingredients, since the leaves were not fermented," explains Birgit Huber from the industry association body care and laundry detergent (IKW).

Green tea to soothe the skin
"An ingredient that we value in medicine is epigallocatechin-3-gallate," adds Bayerl. He has a positive influence on cardiovascular diseases. Another health-promoting effect is its anti-inflammatory effect. Thus, the green tea in contact dermatitis or acne can provide relief. However, there was still lack of scientific evidence. As an ingredient for anti-aging creams green tea is well checked.

"Green tea is not known to have a high allergy potential," explains Huber. However, for example, preservatives may be included in cosmetics and personal care products to which some people react with an allergy. "That's not because of the active ingredient in green tea," adds Kessler-Kiehn. "Basically, cosmetics with green tea are suitable for all skin types," informs Huber. But especially for sensitive and demanding skin, green tea care products have a regenerating and soothing effect.

A green tea bag cooled in a refrigerator can be used as a pack to relieve swollen eyes. If you pour the bag with water and pour it on flaxseed, you also get a natural care product. "That gelled," says Kessler-Kiehn. Once the mixture has cooled, it can be applied to the skin as a mask. "That has a cooling and soothing effect." (Ag)