Is Green Tea Heat for the Body

Traditional Chinese doctors treat Chinese green tea as a herb to use for certain conditions. In ancient times and now, green tea is often prescribed in the Chinese herbal medicine formula. Thus it is both a food and a natural medicine.  Green tea is very effective in the treatment of some health problems.

Green Tea and Metabolism

Green tea has many health-promoting properties that are good for the body, including causing thermogenic effects. Thermogenic effects produce heat and slightly increase body temperature, which is what occurs when metabolism is stimulated. Specifically, green tea contains catechin polyphenols, which stimulate the production of norepinephrine, a chemical transmitter that increases the rate of calorie burning. A Japanese study published in a 2005 edition of the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” discovered that catechin-rich green tea extracts lead to loss of body fat and reduced blood cholesterol levels. The caffeine in green tea leaves stimulates the adrenal glands to produce testosterone, which boosts energy and increases metabolism secondarily.

Other Health Benefits of Green Tea

1. Helping to clear liver heat and relax the body

Chinese medicine theory states that unflavoured green tea, which is bitter and sweet in taste, has cooling characteristics.  As recorded in the Chinese diet therapy textbook of Food and Nutrition, green tea can clear the mind, increase alertness, improve the mood and relax your liver, reducing stress. I suggest drinking a cup of tea with breakfast or lunch, to improve memory, increase energy and balance emotions for the whole day.

2. Help to clear heat and toxins from the digestive system and help bowel movement

Green tea clears food in your digestive system and reduces cholesterol.  A cup or two of green tea is particularly recommended after a heavy, rich meal, to clear oils. I also recommend drinking green tea if you are passing pungent wind, bad breath, ulcers in the mouth and constipation, these are indications of stagnant toxins or heat in the large intestine. I suggest that if you suffer from digestive problems, drink green tea, fresh lemon green tea, or honey green tea.

3. Help to clear toxins from the body

Daily consumption of green tea can clear everyday chemicals from our system. These chemicals include pollution, alcohol and some artificial food additives.

4. Helping to clear summer heat

During summer months, people are often thirsty, have dry skin, get headaches and are constipated. These are symptoms associated with too much heat in the body. Green tea can help cool the body during this hot and dry season. In China, iced green tea or chrysanthemum green tea is a popular drink in summer. You can make these refreshing drinks at home simply by refrigerating green tea and adding dried chrysanthemum flowers. You can sweeten the tea by adding ice sugar, which also have cooling properties. However, using sugar is not recommended if you are diabetic.

5. Green tea boosts the immune system

Traditional Chinese medical theory has recommended consuming green tea to prevent disease for over 2000 years, as it clears toxins.  Reduction in toxins leads to reduced diseases.  At this point, traditional Chinese medicine and modern science meet, as medical studies confirm that green tea is rich in antioxidants which boost the immune system. For this function, adding one teaspoon of Gogi berries to the tea increases its immune strengthening effects, and increases longevity.  In China, many older people drink this mix.

To learn full health benefits of tea or green tea, please visit our tea blog. If you would like to purchase some, you can shop them online. Let’s enjoy a cup of wonderful tea.