Is it better to drink green tea or black tea?

Green and black tea have similar health benefits, such as increased alertness and heart health protection. Both are high in antioxidants but have some ingredient differences.

/Ha An – Dan Tri Newspaper/

Tea is a drink loved by people around the world. Both green and black tea are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The main difference is that black tea is oxidized while green tea is not.

Expected benefits of green tea and black tea

Although green and black tea are different, they may provide some of the same health benefits.

Can protect your heart

According to Healthline, green and black tea are rich in antioxidants called polyphenols. Specifically, they contain flavonoids, a subgroup of polyphenols.

However, the type and amount of flavonoids they contain vary. For example, green tea contains much higher amounts of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), while black tea is a rich source of theaflavin.

The flavonoids in green and black tea are thought to protect your heart. An animal study found that green and black tea were equally effective in preventing vascular plaque formation by up to 26% at the lowest dose and up to 68% at the highest dose.

Both green tea and black tea are good for health [Photo: TimesofInida]

Research also shows that both types of tea help reduce LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. Furthermore, two reviews examining more than 10 studies found that drinking green and black tea may lower blood pressure.

Another review of green tea studies found that people who drank 1-3 cups of tea per day reduced their risk of heart attack and stroke by 19% and 36%, respectively, compared with those who drank less than 1 cup daily. Day.

Similarly, drinking at least 3 cups of black tea can reduce the risk of heart disease by 11%.

Can enhance brain function

Green tea and black tea both contain caffeine. Green tea contains less caffeine than black tea, about 35mg per 230ml cup, compared to 39-109mg for the same serving of black tea.

Caffeine stimulates your nervous system by blocking the inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine. It also aids in releasing mood-enhancing neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. Therefore, caffeine can enhance alertness and mood.

Green and black tea also contain the amino acid L-theanine, which is not found in coffee.

L-theanine can cross the blood-brain barrier and trigger the release of an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), bringing about a relaxed yet alert state.

At the same time, it promotes the release of the mood-enhancing hormones dopamine and serotonin.

L-theanine works to balance the effects of caffeine. Combining these two substances may have a synergistic effect, as one study found that people who took L-theanine and caffeine together had better concentration than when taking either substance alone.

The amount of L-theanine in green tea is slightly more than in black tea.

Green and black tea are great alternatives to coffee for those who want to lift their mood without the caffeine jitters.

Green tea is rich in the powerful antioxidant EGCG.

Green tea is a source of the powerful antioxidant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).

Although green tea contains other polyphenols, such as catechins and gallic acid, EGCG is considered the most potent and likely responsible for many of the health benefits of green tea.

Below is a list of possible benefits of EGCG in green tea:

Cancer: Test-tube studies have found that EGCG in green tea can inhibit cancer cell replication and cause cancer cell death.

Alzheimer’s disease: EGCG may reduce the harmful effects of amyloid plaques that accumulate in Alzheimer’s patients.

Anti-fatigue: One study showed that rats drinking an EGCG drink had a prolonged swimming time before exhaustion.

Liver protection: EGCG has been shown to reduce the development of fatty liver in mice on a high-fat diet.

Anti-bacterial: This antioxidant can damage bacterial cell walls and may even reduce the transmission of some viruses.

– Relaxation: It can interact with receptors in the brain to create a calming effect on your body.

Although most studies on EGCG in green tea have been conducted in test tubes or animal studies, these findings lend credence to the long-reported benefits of drinking green tea.

Black tea contains beneficial theaflavin.

Theaflavin is a group of polyphenols found only in black tea. They are formed during oxidation and account for 3-6% of the total polyphenols in black tea. Theaflavins appear to offer many health benefits – all related to their antioxidant abilities.

These polyphenols may protect fat cells from damage by free radicals and support your body’s natural antioxidant production. Furthermore, they can protect your heart and blood vessels.

One animal study found that theaflavin may reduce the risk of plaque formation in blood vessels by reducing inflammation and increasing the amount of nitric oxide, which helps your blood vessels dilate.

Additionally, theaflavin has been shown to reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels significantly. They may even promote fat breakdown and are recommended as a potential aid in obesity management.

Theaflavins in black tea may have antioxidant abilities similar to polyphenols in green tea.

Which one should you drink?

Green and black tea offer similar benefits. Although they differ in their polyphenol composition, they may have similar beneficial effects on vascular function.

Most studies indicate that green tea has more potent antioxidant properties than black tea, but one study found that green and black tea are equally effective as antioxidants.

Although both contain caffeine, black tea typically has more, which makes green tea a better choice for those sensitive to this stimulant. Furthermore, green tea is high in L-theanine, a calming amino acid that can balance caffeine’s effects.

However, if you are looking for a caffeine boost that is not as strong as coffee, black tea may be an excellent choice for you.

Remember that both black tea and green tea contain tannins, which can bind to minerals and reduce their absorption. Therefore, tea can be best consumed between meals.

Green and black tea offer similar health benefits, including for your heart and brain. Although green tea may contain more potent antioxidants, the evidence does not favor one type of tea over the other.

Both contain the stimulants caffeine and L-theanine, which have a relaxing effect. In short, both are great additions to your diet.