Green Tea, Not Only A Beverage  

College of DuPage Nursing Student Jessie M. Little shared with Healthy Lombard that Green Tea is a beverage that just about everyone has heard of. It is one of the most popular drinks worldwide. Over the last 30 years or more, scientists have been studying the plant that green tea comes from. It has been known to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory health benefits. While it is known that green tea has anti-inflammatory properties, it also has oral health benefits that may help to prevent bad breath. Scientists are continuing to study the Camellia sinensis plant where green tea originates, so additional health benefits may be forthcoming.

Anti-inflammatory

The anti-inflammatory benefits of green tea were discussed in an article by Reygaert (2017), in which those with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis benefitted from its consumption. In addition, Hamidreza (2011) provides insight into the benefits of green tea as a dietary supplement in cardiovascular disease by preventing oxidative stress and inflammation, and gingivitis, an inflammation in the oral cavity that contributes to periodontitis, receding, and bleeding gums. An extract can be made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant which has been used as a mouthwash. 

Bacteria and Viruses

Hamidreza (2011) also found that a substance in green tea helps to defend against the bacteria to prevent the development of periodontal disease as well as bad breath. Green tea acts to damage the bacterial membrane to inhibit the fatty acid synthesis of bacteria thereby impairing their ability to cause infection. Reygaert (2014) found that Streptococcus mutans are the main bacterial cause of dental caries, but that green tea directly affects this bacterium. It also seemed to inhibit the bacteria from attaching to oral surfaces.

While green tea is a well-known beverage, but it has many health benefits. With so many health risks out there, adding green tea into a diet is a relatively easy way to improve health. Not only does green tea help to prevent the inflammation that accompanies arthritis, but it aids in preventing gingivitis and breath. With all the possible benefits of green tea, why not give it a try?

References

Hamidreza, A., Maroofian, A., Golestanil, S., Shafaeel, H., Sohrabi, K., & Forouzanfar, A. (2011). Review of The therapeutic effects of Camellia sinensis (green tea) on oral and periodontal health. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 5(23), 5465–5469. https://academicjournals.org/journal/JMPR/article-abstract/508307C16830

Reygaert, W. C. (2017). An Update on the Health Benefits of Green Tea. Beverages, 3(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages3010006

Reygaert, W. C. (2014). The antimicrobial possibilities of green tea. Frontiers in

            Microbiology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00434