The green tea detox is one of those “miracle cures” you’ve probably heard about.
It claims to help you lose weight, boost energy levels, and even give you glowing skin and most of all cleanse your system.
If you are trying to detox then green tea will certainly help cleanse your system and get rid of toxins so why is green tea so powerful and how does it work as a detox?
Let’s take a look.
The Green Tea Detox
Typically, a green tea detox requires you to add 3–6 cups (700–1400 ml) of green tea to the regular diet each day for several weeks.
There are no specific guidelines on how long the detox should last, but most people stick to around three weeks.
Possible Benefits of Green Tea
There are many health benefits associated with drinking green tea.
Some of the most common include weight loss, increased energy levels, improved cardiovascular function, anti-aging properties, and even cancer prevention.
Green tea contains compounds called catechins, which are believed to help reduce inflammation, boost metabolism, improve digestion, fight off free radicals, and prevent certain types of cancers.
However, there isn’t much scientific evidence supporting the claims about the specific benefits of green tea.
However, a study published in 2011 found that people who drank three cups of green tea per day had lower blood pressure than those who didn’t drink it.
Another study published in 2013 showed that women who consumed four cups of green tea daily had less risk of developing breast cancer compared to those who did not consume it.
Other studies have shown that green tea helps protect against heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Helps Hydration
Because green tea is mostly composed of water, drinking enough of it helps you meet your daily fluid requirement.
If you want to add some flavor to your tea try adding a few drops of lemon juice. This will give your cup of tea a refreshing taste.
Supports Weight Loss Diets
Studies show that increasing your fluid consumption could help you lose weight. So a green tea detox is a good option.
A one-year study of 173 women found drinking more water was associated with greater fat and weight loss — regardless of diet or exercise.
In addition, another study of 23 adults showed that consuming green tea extract boosted fat burning during exercise by about 17% compared to a placebo.
Green tea contains several active ingredients, including polyphenols, which are plant chemicals known to increase fat oxidation.
However, most research on green tea and weight loss focus on highly concentrated green tea extracts, rather than whole-leaf teas.
Metabolism
One of the main benefits of a green tea cleanse is the way in which the beverage helps to boost your metabolism.
Drinking green tea daily can help to keep your digestive system healthy. This is because it stimulates the flow of bile acids, which aid digestion.
Balances Blood sugar
Another benefit of green tea is the way in which its antioxidants can help to balance your blood sugar levels.
This is because they work to improve insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance is linked to diabetes, so this makes sense.
Things To Beware Of
Caffeine
Although green tea has significantly less caffeine than other drinks like coffee, it still contains caffeine.
Drinking too much can cause headaches, anxiety, insomnia, and nervousness. You may also experience jitteriness, rapid heartbeat, and muscle tremors if you consume too much caffeine.
In addition, caffeine can interfere with the absorption of nutrients in food.
When you drink large quantities of fluids, you dilute the stomach contents, making it harder for the body to absorb vitamins and minerals.
If you want to avoid the potentially harmful effects of caffeine, try limiting yourself to no more than 200 mg of caffeine per day.
Impaired Absorption
As we’ve seen, green tea contains certain polyphenolic compounds called catechins, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
These compounds bind to minerals like calcium and magnesium, preventing them from being absorbed into the bloodstream.
This could lead to low levels of these nutrients in the blood, causing symptoms like fatigue and muscle cramps.
If you are at risk of low iron levels, avoid drinking green tea within 30 minutes of eating.
Try to drink green tea between meals and wait at least one hour before having another meal.
Tips And Tricks
To get the most from green teas for cleansing, detoxing, and exercise, ensure you use only premium green teas.
Premium green teas contain high levels of all the good stuff.
Brew your tea correctly to make sure you extract the maximum amount of nutrients. Steeping too long compromises the delicate flavor.
Use freshly boiled water and brew your tea for 3 minutes. This allows the tea leaves to fully release their natural flavors.
Never use boiling water, or else you’ll compromise the delicate flavor.
You can also try adding a little honey to sweeten it up.
Always follow the instructions on the packaging to ensure you steep your green tea for the correct length of time.
For example, steeping for 2 minutes makes the tea very bitter, whereas 5 minutes produces a milder-tasting drink.
Should You Do A Cleanse?
If you are looking for ways to cleanse your system, there are many options out there. Some people prefer to do a juice fast, while others opt for a water fast.
Others go even further and choose to drink nothing but green tea for several days.
Green tea is a good option as it contains all those good compounds we’ve discussed that help flushes harmful chemicals out of your body.
These include caffeine, tannin, antioxidants, and polyphenols. All of these things work together to make green tea a great way to detoxify your system.
Final Thoughts
Green tea has been used for centuries as an effective treatment for various health conditions.
It’s now widely accepted by medical professionals as a safe alternative to other treatments.
It should be noted that not all green teas are created equal. The best ones have higher concentrations of beneficial compounds such as EGCG and caffeine.
Be sure to do your research before embarking on a green tea cleanse to ensure you do it safely.
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