Monday, March 4, 2013

Green Tea Promotes Healthy Skin, Protects Against Radiation


Green Tea Promotes Healthy Skin, Protects Against RadiationGreen Tea Promotes Healthy Skin, Protects Against Radiation

Elizabeth Renter
by
March 4th, 2013
Updated 03/04/2013 at 3:50 am
greenteapot2 265x165 Green Tea Promotes Healthy Skin, Protects Against RadiationIn addition to cancer prevention and weight loss, did you know that green tea promotes skin health by protecting the skin from UV radiation damage and thus improving skin quality? Now there is even more reason to enjoy this highly beneficial ancient beverage.

Green Tea, Antioxidants, and Skin Health

Several studies have noted green tea’s ability to keep your skin looking youthful and reduce the risk of sun damage. Like its anti-cancer benefits, its skincare benefits are due to the powerful catechins inside. These are the active antioxidants in the tea that hold the key to all of green tea’s varied benefits.
According to one study, supplementing with green tea catechins increased oxygen flow to the skin. Increased blood flow will not only result in better looking skin, but also healthier skin cells overall. The same study also found green tea to improve elasticity and water content of the skin while reducing roughness and scaling.
Antioxidants like catechins protect cells from damage by free radicals. It guards against oxidative stress and can even protect against UV damage, reducing your possible risk of skin cancer.
These studies and others like them are part of the reason we are seeing more and more cosmetics and skin creams containing green tea. But while slathering something on your skin might deliver some benefits, ingesting something and therefore making it a part of you certainly will.
Green tea is entirely safe. You don’t have to limit your consumption unless you are sensitive to caffeine. Have a cup with breakfast or make a routine of enjoying it after each meal. In China and other Asian countries where green tea consumption is credited with their longevity and lower rates of cancer and disease, drinking multiple cups each day is the norm. The health benefits of green tea truly are astonishing.
Make sure you are getting a high quality green tea and prepare it according to package directions. With spring around the corner, try making sun tea with it for something new.
And one last tip: try adding some almonds in with your green tea consumption – they are great for skin health as well.
Additional Sources:
Pubmed/10926734
Webmd

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