Chinese and Japanese Tea Health Benefits
How They Compare?

Can drinking Chinese tea really change your life? It may sound like an exaggeration, but it is actually quite possible.

Studies have shown that both Chinese and Japanese teas are incredibly good for you, and they can have a real impact on your health and well-being.

How is this possible?

Authentic Chinese and Japanese teas are both loaded with compounds that have extremely beneficial effects on the human body.

The following substances contribute to Chinese and Japanese tea health benefits:

Catechins are the key to the health benefits of Japanese and Chinese tea.

Green tea contains many different types of catechins, but the four major catechin compounds are epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin gallate.

Of these, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the true superstar, responsible for most of the Chinese tea health benefits that have been discovered so far.

Why are catechins good for you? Let me count the ways!

Health Benefits

First, they are potent antioxidants, capable of neutralizing harmful substances called free radicals that can damage the cells in your body. Their powerful antioxidant effects may help prevent cancer.

Catechins can also help you lose weight by bumping up your metabolism and helping your burn fat. Additionally, EGCG has been shown to help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and to help prevent and reduce high blood pressure.

EGCG helps your body regulate blood sugar, reducing your risk of developing diabetes.

Plus, it is a natural anti-inflammatory, which means it may help with arthritis.

The catechins in green tea can also give you more reasons to smile. They are antibacterial and may help prevent cavities. Plus, they are deodorizing, so they can help prevent bad breath.

Just remember to keep brushing and flossing!

Want some more good news? High-quality Chinese and Japanese green teas can have up to 127 milligrams of catechins in each cup.

Caffeine has an evil reputation, but for many people, moderate consumption is actually a good thing. Caffeine can improve alertness, making you feel less tired and drowsy. It can also give you more energy and stamina.

Caffeine can help reduce uncomfortable water retention because it acts as a mild diuretic. A 2006 study conducted by Paganini showed that consuming moderate amounts of caffeine actually reduces your risk of dying. The key word here is moderation.

The amount of caffeine in Chinese and Japanese green tea varies, usually from between 15 and 30 milligrams per cup.

For comparison, a cup of coffee has 90-150 milligrams. If you need to cut back on caffeine but do not want to eliminate it entirely, consider switching from coffee to tea.

Theanine is another reason not to worry about green tea caffeine.

This amazing amino acid is found in significant amounts only in high-quality Chinese and Japanese green teas and some mushrooms.

Theanine naturally relaxes you, causing your brain to produce alpha waves.

It reduces stress, lowers your blood pressure and protects neuronal cells.

Plus, theanine counteracts the negative effects of the caffeine in tea.

When theanine and caffeine combine their powers, instead of feeling “wired” and “high-strung,” you achieve a state of “relaxed awareness” and improved concentration.

Chinese and Japanese green tea can contain as much as 50 milligrams of theanine per cup!

Chinese and Japanese green teas are also an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals, in fact, they are known for having more vitamins in higher concentrations than other foods.

Vitamin C helps maintain healthy skin and aids in the formation of collagen.

Vitamin B2 also helps you maintain a healthy complexion. In adults, folic acid helps keep arteries from becoming hardened and clogged, and it helps prevent birth defects like spina bifida in developing embryos.

Vitamin E is another antioxidant that helps defend your body from free radicals, while beta carotene helps protect your night vision.

Minerals like calcium, phosphorus and manganese are also present in green tea.

Although you only need small amounts of these minerals, your body depends on them to function properly.

Chinese and Japanese green teas also contain other compounds that may provide health benefits.

For example, saponins can help lower your blood pressure and may protect against the flu.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid, also called GABA, can help relax you and lower your blood pressure.

Green tea also contains fluorine, which helps prevent cavities, and chlorophyll, which helps reduce bad breath by neutralizing unpleasant odors.

How is high-quality Chinese and Japanese tea different than what you would find at your grocery store?

Bagged tea is made from lower-quality leaves that contain less EGCG and more environmental contaminants.

The leaves are cut, crushed and crumbled during processing, exposing more of the leaf's surface area to air, further reducing the amount of antioxidants they contain.

Because the leaves are chopped into such tiny pieces, more of the caffeine is extracted in each cup. Tea bags can release twice as much caffeine as loose-leaf tea.

Finally, because the leaves are lower quality, there is hardly any theanine - only about 10 mg per cup!

Loose Green Tea vs Tea Bag - 7 Reasons Why It Is Better

Fortunately, even higher-grade green teas can be affordable, especially when you consider that they can be steeped multiple times.

So, cost is definitely not a reason to deprive yourself of these powerful Chinese and Japanese tea health benefits.

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