What exactly is an antioxidant?
Before knowing if green tea is good for your health, let's start at the beginning: what are antioxidants? Why are they good and what are the benefits?
Antioxidants are molecules naturally present in many foods and their mission is to protect our body against premature aging by countering the action of free radicals.
Antioxidants therefore fight these free radicals, which can damage our cells and even promote the development of certain diseases. When we talk about antioxidants, it is because their mission is to fight against oxidation caused by free radicals. So you understand that antioxidants are useful for our body to support our long-term health and well-being.
And for good reason, because antioxidants are said to work on just about every level of our body:
- On the skin, preserving the youthfulness of the skin. Antioxidants can counter sagging skin and the formation of wrinkles. This is one of the reasons why we often find the word antioxidants in cosmetics.
- On the heart. Antioxidants can protect arteries and reduce bad cholesterol levels. In summary, they prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases.
- On the eyes: they prevent cell degeneration.
- On the body: by preserving the youthfulness of cells, they play a role in the prevention of cancer, inflammatory diseases, etc.
What foods are rich in antioxidants?
In the antioxidant family, we find:
- vitamin C
- vitamin A - vitamin E
-polyphenols - carotenoids
- zinc, etc.
Antioxidants are therefore easy to find in our foods. The sources are simply diverse. Spices like turmeric or paprika are rich in vitamin E. Vitamin C is highly contained in citrus fruits or also in acerola or goji berries. A varied and healthy diet, rich in vegetables, should therefore cover all your needs. And what do you drink with it?
Green tea is the most powerful antioxidant tea.
Before black and white tea, green tea contains the most antioxidants. The explanation for this? Its content of polyphenols (catechins), antioxidant molecules beneficial for health.
According to the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES), there are up to 400 mg of polyphenols in a cup of green tea. In particular, it has been shown that polyphenols (catechins) can be used to regulate immune responses in allergies, intestinal mucosa and anti-tumor immunity. Thus, consuming green tea would help strengthen the body's antioxidant and natural defenses.
Overall, the polyphenol content of green tea makes it a potentially very interesting food from an immune system perspective.
Can drinking green tea prevent the appearance of wrinkles?
There is a link between wrinkles and green tea, which is also reflected in the fact that it is included in some skin cosmetics. Although green tea is popular for its astringent and wrinkle-reducing properties, it won't give you back the skin of your 20s if you drink several cups of it. At Kusmi, we believe that all women are naturally beautiful anyway!
Are the antioxidants in green tea good for tooth decay?
Other benefits of green tea include its effect on the development of dental plaque and the fight against cavities. It is still the famous polyphenols, a source of antioxidants contained in green tea, which play an antibacterial role. This would limit the adhesion of glucose to the teeth. Good news for all lovers of organic green teas!
Which green tea to choose to benefit from antioxidants?
Which green tea to choose to benefit from antioxidants?
Although all black and white teas contain interesting antioxidants, green tea remains the most effective, mainly thanks to its high content of catechins. In the green tea family, moreover, it is matcha which is considered to be the richest in antioxidants. Bingo for you, matcha tea is also one of our organic green teas. To enjoy these many benefits, also try our 100% vitamin-rich green tea called Ritual 28 Days, an innovative four-week remedy for vitamin C.
Regarding the name, at Kusmi we recommend that you prefer loose organic teas. Why organic? Due to the numerous quality controls to which tea leaves and shoots are subjected. Enjoy a tea that respects the environment and the producers. A real guarantee of quality against pesticides!
You now know all the antioxidant properties of green tea. Do you admit that your breakfast will taste different if you know the powers of green tea?
Are you curious about other benefits of green tea? This way.