Insomnia and Green Tea- are they connected?

In this article below, it has been brought to light that regular intake of tea may reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. "Drinking at least three cups of tea per day is associared with an 11% reduced risk of heart attack and 21% risk of stroke."

The big question is- what makes this simple and light beverage such a powerful health booster?





Health benefits of green tea

  • Green tea's antioxidants, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots, and atherosclerosis. 
  • Its antioxidants are dilators which improves the flexibility of blood vessels and make them less vulnerable to clogging.
  • Green tea and its extract have been shown to fight obesity and lower LDL "bad" cholesterol -- two risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. One study in the Netherlands and a study in Japan showed that green tea did both.

Most sufferers have Type 2 diabetes- the kind linked to poor diet, obesity, lack of exercise and lifestyle- and the problem is spreading as people in the developing world adopt more Western lifestyles.

Ketki Vinayachandra, a trained Naturopath, herbalist and nutritionist advocates that our body can heal itself if given the right circumstances and conditions. It is one of the alternative complementary medicine approach that has a strong focus on the prevention of health problems. She encourages patients to take note of their diet and have proper nutrition, if not healing will be a challenge.

Key reasons how green tea can help insomnia 
  1. The animal study, led by David Gozal, professor and director of the Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute (KCHRI), found that compounds in green tea seem to make the brain less susceptible to oxygen loss caused by sleep disordered breathing. With better oxygen flow, relaxation and sleep naturally improves.
  2. L-theanine is an amino acid found in the Camilla sinensis plant which is where green tea comes from. L-theanine has been well researched and has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety and promote a restful sleep.
Besides taking green tea, specific herbal teas are better than others when it comes to treating insomnia. Here are some well known ones:
  • chamomile tea
  • lavender tea
  • fennel tea
  • catnip tea
  • oat seed tea
  • lemon balm tea

Available forms of green tea

Most green tea dietary supplements are sold as dried leaf tea in capsule form. Standardized extracts of green tea are preferred. There are also liquid extracts made from the leaves and leaf buds. The average cup of green tea contains between 50 - 150 mg polyphenols (antioxidants).

Precautions:

  • The use of herbs is a good approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. However, herbs contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. 
  • People should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.
  • Try to avoid drinking green tea 2 hours before bed time so to avoid visiting the toilet in the middle of the night as well if not it is perfectly fine to drink more cups during the day.
  • Moderating between drinking plain water and green tea will give your body a good balance. 
  • Having good sleeping routines can also help.

Do leave a comment if you are a frequent drinker of green tea and how it has helped you. Hope to hear from you!

I wish you a good night's sleep,



References:
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Sleep-easy-with-green-tea
http://www.amazing-green-tea.com/green-tea-and-sleep-disorders.html