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There is no doubt that the good sleep is essential to our physical and emotional health.
Not only is a good amount of sleep required but the quality of sleep is also important. Green tea before bed is a great way to improve your sleep and allow your mind and body to recharge overnight.
We will look at how and why green tea helps us get a better night’s sleep and the many other benefits it provides.
The Chinese have known this for centuries and the rest of the world is starting to understand and appreciate the many benefits of green tea before bed.
What are the benefits of green tea before bed?
What you eat and drink before sleep will have a major impact on the quality and quantity of sleep that you get. While various different ideas have been popular over the years, it is hard to beat the benefits of green tea before bed.
Hydration is extremely important to keep you going for 7 or 8 hours and while water or milk is better than nothing, green tea provides a number of additional benefits.
What is also important is that, provided you do not add sugar or sweeteners, it is calorie free.
What about caffeine in green tea?
While green tea does contain a small amount of caffeine, it is minimal in comparison to a regular tea and way less than coffee.
Most people should be able to sleep fine after drinking green tea before bed but monitor it to see how it affects you. Some people may be more sensitive to caffeine than others.
One trick that some people use is to dunk the teabag into hot water and then discard that water before using the teabag for your tea. That initial dunk will get rid of a fair amount of the caffeine meaning that your tea will have less.
Another important factor is the quality of the green tea. They are not all created equal and some will have a higher quantity of caffeine than others.
Let’s take a look at the main benefits of green tea before bed:
Get a good night’s sleep
Green tea contains a number of beneficial ingredients. One of them is the amino acid L-theanine. This will aid in relaxation and reduce anxiety allowing you to have a calm and restful sleep.
L-theanine is a great alternative to sleeping tablets and does not leave you feeling drowsy in the morning. You will wake up well rested and calm and fresh.
Stay fit and healthy
Green tea is also rich in antioxidants and many minerals and vitamins. Notably, it contains vitamin A, D, E, C, B, B5, H and K. It also contains Chromium, Manganese, Selenium and Zinc. All of these provide a number of benefits to mind and body.
One of the most beneficial ingredients in green tea is Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). This is a highly effective antioxidant that is extremely beneficial.
EGCG is also effective at reducing the risk of the common cold, flu and even cancer. The combination of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals help to repair damaged cells.
This also means that green tea will slow the effects of aging. It can make you look and feel younger, fight off many diseases and contribute to a longer healthier life.
Other healthy ingredients in green tea include theophylline, tannin and polyphenols.
Regulate blood sugar and prevent diabetes
Green tea is also known to regulate blood sugar. Diabetes is a serious disease and green tea can lower your risk of contracting the illness.
During sleep, blood sugar levels will become low resulting in high cortisol levels and lower levels of melatonin. Melatonin helps with sleep and a better-regulated blood sugar level is not only healthier but will also improve sleep.
Boost your metabolism and lose weight
Another amazing benefit of green tea before bed is that it raises your metabolism. Generally, during sleep, one has a low metabolic rate. Green tea will raise this rate and help the body burn calories while you sleep.
This will aid in weight loss. If you want to shed some weight, green tea before bed is a simple and effective way to boost your efforts.
Detox your body and protect your liver
Yet another benefit of green tea is its ability to help the body detoxify. Green tea before bed will let your body get rid of toxins while you sleep. Harmful free radicals can damage the liver and other parts of the body and green tea will help to get rid of them.
Green tea also increases liver enzyme activity further aiding the detoxification process.
Protect and boost your brain
Studies have shown that green tea can increase brain function and help prevent or slow diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and dementia. At the same time, it could improve your ability to study, learn and think more clearly.
Cleanse and freshen your mouth
Green tea is exceptionally good for oral hygiene. This is particularly helpful if you have a cup of green tea before bed as it will keep your mouth healthy throughout the night.
It cleans the mouth and gets rid of bacteria leaving your mouth and breath fresh. This will mean fewer cavities and less decay and a fresh morning breath.
Improve the health of your heart
Many people need to lower their cholesterol or, more specifically, their bad cholesterol. Green tea is an effective way to do this. Studies have shown the ability of the green tea to lower levels of LDL (the bad) cholesterol thereby lowering the health risks associated with high LDL levels.
This will mean a lower risk of stroke and heart attack. Not only does the lower cholesterol help but green tea before bed improves your hydration which also lowers the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Green tea is known to improve circulation which is essential for good health and getting oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. Improved circulation could also enhance sexual performance for men and woman.
When is the best time to take green tea?
As you can see, green tea provides many benefits. The best time to take it will depend on what you want to achieve from drinking it. It is not a good idea to drink it first thing in the morning or with meals.
Overall, the best time to drink green tea for the maximum benefit is about an hour before bed. This should give you a good relaxing sleep and let your body get the other benefits of the tea discussed above.
Final thoughts
The many benefits of green tea are hard to dispute and many have been proved by studies. Green tea before bed is a great way to relax and get that important good deep sleep.
On top of a refreshing sleep, green tea before bed will also help boost your metabolism, improve brain function and cardiovascular health, freshen your mouth and help prevent cavities, detox your body, regulate blood sugar and provide the body with beneficial nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
It is no wonder it is considered by many to be a superfood.
Sleep is such an important aspect of good health and anything that can help improve sleep will be good for you. A cup of green tea before bed has helped millions of people to improve their relaxation and sleep for thousands of years.