Benefits Of Green Tea And The Right Way Of Consumption For Maximum Benefits

JAKARTA - Starting the day with a cup of green tea can be a refreshing healthy choice. In addition to low calories and sugar-free, green tea is also rich in antioxidants that support overall body health.

Many experts recommend that this drink be consumed regularly to help ward off free radicals, reduce inflammation, and maintain energy and focus.

Recently, green tea or matchha has become increasingly popular in society. Not only as a drink, this ingredient is also often used as a mixture in various food recipes because of its natural nutritional content.

One of the main compounds in green tea is katekin, a flavonoid with high antioxidant activity, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has been known to have many health benefits.

Reporting from the Eating Well page, green tea is a drink that can be enjoyed at any time - morning, afternoon, or night - depending on personal comfort. Joy Dubost, Ph.D., RD, a dietist and Global Director of Regulatory Affairs and Health Sciences at Lipton Teas and Infusions, suggested that green tea be drunk when the body feels most comfortable receiving it.

Interestingly, consuming green tea in the morning when an empty stomach can help the body absorb more catechins. This is because no other nutrients compete during the antioxidant absorption process. Some substances such as protein, fiber, or certain minerals can reduce the availability of flavonoids, because these substances can bind flavonoids and inhibit their absorption by the body.

Chrissy Arsenault, MBA, RDN, a nutritionist from Trainer Academy, suggested that green tea be consumed at least two hours before or after eating. This is important to avoid disturbances in nutritional absorption, especially iron.

Green tea contains tannins that can inhibit the absorption of iron from food, especially from plant-based sources (non-hemes), which can have a negative impact on those at risk of iron deficiency.

The plant remains active even after eating, so that consuming green tea is too close to eating time can still interfere with the absorption of important nutrients. This should be a concern, especially for individuals who experience anemia or have high iron needs.

In addition to consumption time, the caffeine content in green tea also needs to be considered. Although the relatively low amount of about 30 milligrams per cup of green tea can still affect sleep quality, especially for individuals who are sensitive to caffeine. If you want to enjoy tea at night, it is better to choose herbal teas such as chamomile that is caffeine free and has a calming effect.

To optimally benefit from antioxidants, experts recommend not mixing green tea with dairy products, including cow milk and soybean milk. The protein content in milk can reduce the effectiveness of antioxidant compounds in tea. In contrast, combining green tea with foods rich in vitamin C such as oranges or kiwi, can actually increase the absorption of antioxidants.