Green Tea with Milk: beneficial properties and contraindications

Green tea with milk is considered a great drink to quench thirst. It gives a person a charge of vivacity, helps to combat chronic fatigue and depression. Also such a drink is very useful for weight loss.

Composition and calories

The composition of this drink includes substances contained in both the tea leaf and milk. At the same time, the chemical composition of green tea is quite complex: 60% of it contains amino acids, enzymes, caffeine, vitamins and minerals, 40% account for polyphenols.

Green tea contains:

1. Plant polyphenols, or tannins and catechins. They are responsible for the taste, color and aroma of the beverage. Tannins have antioxidant properties. One cup of tea can contain up to 240 mg of these substances. Catechins normalize heart function and prevent the development of malignant tumors.
2. Caffeine (up to 6% depending on the variety) and theanine. Interestingly, it excites the nervous system and has an overall stimulating effect, while theanine, on the contrary, reduces anxiety. In addition, it is believed that theanine can ennoble the taste of tea.
3. Theophylline and theobromine. These impart a bitter taste to the tea, which is evened out by the addition of milk.
4. These are mineral substances that are good for the body as a whole.

Green tea with milk is considered a dietary product. The energy value of a cup of drink (at the rate of 2-2.5 grams of brew) is 30-80 kcal, depending on the indicators of the milk itself and the amount of sweeteners. While a cup of green tea without sugar and any additives contains only 1 kcal.

What are the health benefits of green tea with milk?

It is believed that green tea with milk helps to normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract, remove toxins, provide the body with substances that are useful for accelerating the metabolism.

For women

Women of the fair sex are usually interested in such a property of green tea with milk as the ability to speed up the metabolic process. Indeed, this drink reduces blood sugar levels, normalizes metabolism. It also helps to remove excess fluid from the body, thereby contributing to weight loss.

But it should be noted that green tea with milk is also useful because it contains a lot of antioxidants. On the one hand, they slow down the aging process, making the skin more youthful and elastic. This effect is achieved both when drinking tea internally and when using it for cosmetic masks (for example, with honey and oatmeal flakes). Thanks to the substances it contains, small wrinkles are smoothed out and the contour of the face is smoothed. On the other hand, the substances in tea make it an excellent preventive agent against cancer, including malignancies of the breast.

Finally, green tea with milk is considered a good remedy for improving overall well-being during menopause.

For men

Green tea with milk for men is useful because it contains manganese, and this element is necessary for the normalization of erectile function. In particular, it is involved in the production of the male sex hormone testosterone. In addition, manganese is necessary for the normal functioning of the musculoskeletal system.

The composition of the tea allows you to use it to reduce blood pressure - with this problem faced by many representatives of the stronger sex. On the one hand, caffeine has a stimulating effect, but on the other hand, the theanine in the tea leaf and the addition of milk to the drink helps to compensate for this effect. The result is an increase in performance and stress resistance without any undesirable side effects.

The presence of antioxidants in green tea makes it a great preventive measure against cancer, including prostate cancer.

Pregnancy

Green tea with milk during pregnancy is useful because it helps to eliminate excess fluid and normalizes metabolism.

However, it should be taken into account that the drink contains caffeine, and for future mothers, its consumption is limited. It is believed that a day can afford no more than 200 mg of caffeine. A larger amount may have a negative impact on fetal development. But this substance is contained not only in tea and coffee, but also in other products. To prevent its overabundance, it is recommended to limit expectant mothers to one cup of green tea with milk a day.

In addition, consumption of this drink should not be combined with meals, because the substances it contains prevent the full absorption of iron and folic acid, and both of these substances are very important for the development of the fetus. For this reason, doctors recommend pregnant women to drink green tea with milk between meals. It should be expected that before the next meal at least 40 minutes will pass, and after the previous one the same amount of time.

When breastfeeding

During lactation, green tea with milk is considered a very useful product. Many people think that it increases lactation, but this is not true. Only the hormone prolactin affects the amount of breast milk, that is, its production. But warm green tea with milk stimulates the flow of existing milk to the nipples, and this makes breastfeeding itself much easier.

However, there is another important point here. Some babies develop an allergy to cow's milk protein. This leads to various negative reactions, the appearance of constipation or diarrhea. In this case, it is not necessary to refuse to use the drink. You only need to replace regular milk with lactose-free or condensed milk.

For kids

Green tea with milk is also useful for children - although babies are still not given it. Due to the immaturity of the central nervous system, the caffeine in the drink is definitely not good for them. Green tea with milk should be given only to children over 3 years old. In this case it will be useful because it strengthens the immune system, normalizes digestion, and improves cognitive abilities.

However, there are limitations here, too. Green tea can be given only 2-3 times a day, 50 ml. And it should not be strong in any case. In the case of green tea, by the way, it depends not on the brewing amount, but on the brewing time. So the less the beverage will infuse - the better. For the first introduction to it, the brewing time should be no more than three minutes.

Children should not be given green tea with milk in the evening precisely because of its stimulating properties. It is best for the child to drink it in the first half of the day, before 12 o'clock. And, of course, the tea should not be too hot, so as not to damage the mucous membrane of the stomach and oesophagus. However, this restriction applies to adults, too.

Green tea with milk for weight loss: recipes

Green tea with milk is often part of a diet - for example, a protein diet. For this purpose, it can be brewed according to the classic recipe. In this case, to make the drink, you will need milk of minimum fat content and already brewed tea - in equal proportions. That is, for a large mug of 300 ml take 150 ml of tea and the same amount of milk. The tea is brewed as follows: they take 1 teaspoon of brewed tea and pour hot water, but not boiling water, and then insist for 5 minutes. In parallel, the milk is brought to a boil and immediately turned off without leaving it on the stove. Then the brew is strained, both ingredients are mixed in the same container, after which the drink is considered ready to drink. Sugar should not be added to it, because it, firstly, contradicts the very principles of the diet, and secondly, spoils the taste of the drink. But you can add a little honey or a sugar substitute based on stevia (synthetic sweeteners should not be used either).

Green tea with milk can be the drink of the day. In this case, you can take milk of normal fat content, but it is still not recommended to use sweeteners. Prepare the drink as follows: heat 1 liter of milk to a temperature of 80-85 degrees, but do not boil it. Then pour 2 tsp. green tea in the hot milk. Beverage infused for 30 minutes. You can drink it little by little during the whole unloading day. From the usual discharge on water, this option differs in that it contains all the minerals necessary for the body, while it also has proteins (milk proteins). So it is easier to endure such a diet, both physically and psychologically.

Another option for weight loss is spice tea. It is also recommended to use with any diet that allows the introduction of protein into the diet. It is brewed in the following way: bring low-fat milk to the boil, then add tea leaves and spices, such as cardamom, cinnamon (powder is possible), cumin, coriander (no more than 0.5 tsp.). Sugar and sweeteners are not added, it is recommended to replace them with sea salt.

Green tea with milk in medicine

This drink, thanks to its unique composition, has a complex effect. Green tea with milk in medicine:

1. Normalizes digestive processes, helps to fight constipation, flatulence and bloating due to the presence of pectins and dietary fiber. In addition, this drink is useful for food poisoning.
2. It protects against viral infections. Green "milk tea" is considered an excellent remedy for strengthening the immune system and treating colds.
3. Normalizes blood pressure thanks to its antioxidant properties. Its constituent substances also help to prevent atherosclerosis and normalize heart rhythm.
4. It has a mild diuretic effect, without flushing out the body of useful substances. It allows you to remove excess fluid.
5. Helps cleanse the liver, normalizes the outflow of bile.
6. It protects teeth from cavities and has a beneficial effect on tooth enamel.

Unlike many other drinks, green tea with milk is allowed for many liver diseases. It includes not only polyphenols, but also vitamins P and C, which promote the outflow of bile and normalize the hepatobiliary system. However, it should be taken into account that if you are too enthusiastic about this drink, they, on the contrary, can have a devastating effect on liver cells. Therefore, you should limit yourself to 1-2 cups of drink a day, so it will be better for the kidneys. For this organ, green tea with milk is useful for its diuretic action, because it allows you to remove toxins faster. But these properties appear only when the tea is brewed properly and consumed in limited quantities.

The benefits of green tea with milk for blood vessels can be explained by several factors. First, the drink contains ascorbic acid, which helps thin the blood, improves its circulation in the blood vessels and thereby reduces blood pressure. Secondly, tea with milk contains calcium, which is necessary to strengthen the heart muscle. Third, it contains vitamin P, which increases vascular tone. The brew also contains tannins that strengthen this system.

For people with diabetes, this drink is useful because it can lower blood sugar levels. In addition, it breaks down fat cells and eliminates inflammation, which often occurs in such diseases.

Vitamins and antioxidants present in tea with milk accelerate metabolic processes and prevent the accumulation of bad cholesterol in blood vessels, which over time could turn into atherosclerotic plaques. So a cup (or at most two) of this drink is useful for the prevention of heart disease. However, as will be discussed below, its benefits in practice turned out to be much lower than it was thought in theory.

Harms and contraindications

Green tea with milk for people with cardiovascular disease is not harmful, but at the same time not as useful as the glossy magazines write about it. Indeed, green tea itself contains catechin, a substance that is essential for normalizing cardiovascular activity. But scientists have found that milk proteins bind all of the flavonoids in tea, including catechins. Thus, the milk proteins impede the absorption of these beneficial substances, and green tea in this case does not give the desired result for the heart and blood vessels.

Many people think that green tea with milk has a negative effect on the kidneys. In fact, this is not true. Just it is quite a strong diuretic, that is, a diuretic, so it is really contraindicated in some kidney diseases. But in the absence of such pathologies, it will not do any harm. The only absolute contraindication for this drink is lactose intolerance.

However, those who can not drink regular milk, can replace it with coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk. This too will be very beneficial, sometimes even more so than with cow's milk. For example, soy milk contains lethicin, which does not bind catechins, so such a drink will be much more beneficial than tea with cow's milk. You can also choose matcha powder instead of coarse leaf tea - it has such a high concentration of useful substances that milk will not reduce its effectiveness.

It is not recommended to drink green tea in large quantities with gout, because its leaves contain purines - substances that, if the salt metabolism is disturbed, contribute to the progression of this disease.

Also, when drinking tea with milk, there are a number of restrictions that must be adhered to:

1. Under no circumstances should green tea with milk be drunk on an empty stomach. The substances contained in this drink can negatively affect the mucous membrane of the stomach.
2. You should not drink the drink just before going to bed. It still contains caffeine, and this can cause overexcitation of the nervous system even with the leveling effect of theanine. This is especially true when a person uses matcha powder instead of coarse leaf tea. The concentration of all above mentioned substances in it is much higher, that's why the stimulating effect is also stronger.
3. Since green tea with milk is a diuretic, you should not drink it before a long trip if you cannot go to the bathroom.
4. Green tea with milk should not be taken with medications, as undesirable biochemical reactions may occur.

Finally, you should remember that you should not combine green tea and alcohol in any way. This can have a negative impact on the state of the kidneys and liver.

You can drink only warm green tea with milk, the maximum temperature of which is 60 degrees. Hot tea is bad for the stomach in any case, and all the more so if we are talking about a drink that contains so many active substances.

How to cook green tea with milk

Above were described various ways of preparing green tea with milk for weight loss. But it is also used for medicinal purposes, and as a warming or cooling drink (in season). In India, green tea is often the basis for the popular masala drink, where various spices are added to the brew along with milk. In Kalmykia and Tibet they make their own version of green tea with milk. For this purpose, 50 g of green tea are brewed, up to 1 liter of milk is poured into it, 1 tsp of salt and some black pepper are added and mixed. Bring the mixture to the boil and leave it on low heat for 10 minutes. Then add a little butter and infuse it for another 20 minutes. Surprisingly, for all its caloric content, the drink is recognized as useful for weight loss - but only if the person moves a lot, leads an active life.

Green Tea with Milk and Honey

This drink is brewed in the classic way. The brew is prepared separately in a kettle or French-press, pouring hot water, but not boiling water. The milk is brought to the boil, then the two liquids are mixed. Honey is added to warm tea, because at high temperatures its useful substances are partially destroyed. This tea is contraindicated for people with diabetes, but is generally suitable for those who are on a diet.

Green Tea with Ginger

Take a root of ginger (no more than 10 g) and grind it on a grater. Mix this spice with 0.5 liters of milk, bring to a boil and infuse for 10 minutes. At the same time, green tea is brewed in the classic way - 25 grams of coarse leaf variety per 0.5 liters of hot water. After that both liquids are strained and mixed. You can drink this warming tea throughout the day - it's an excellent preventive measure against colds, which also helps to lose weight (subject to a rational diet).

Interesting facts about green tea

Many people think green tea is some kind of special tea. In fact, it is obtained from the leaves of the same tea bushes as black tea. The difference lies in the length of fermentation processes, i.e. oxidation. Green tea is oxidized in just two days, which means it oxidizes by only 3-12%. In comparison, white tea oxidizes by 12-17% and black tea by 50% or more, depending on the variety.

Scientists have concluded that tea leaves contain about 700 volatile compounds, which ultimately affect the aroma and taste of the drink. Interestingly, only the most advanced methods of analytical chemistry using sophisticated methods and expensive instruments made it possible to study the chemical composition of tea. Green tea is the best studied from this point of view, but even so, its exact composition is still unknown to scientists.

Studies have shown that even the content of previously identified substances can vary, even depending on the time of year. For example, if tea leaves are harvested in July or August, their tannin content will be higher than in May or September. The age of the leaf plays an important role. Young shoots have fewer tannins than older leaves.

The brewing process affects how the tea tastes and what makes it drinkable. Green tea in bags cannot be considered as a health product at all because such packaging often sells so-called cuttings or production waste. One can brew either matcha green tea in powder or large leaf varieties.

The quality of the beverage will depend on the temperature of the water. Since polyphenols are the first to be released on contact with hot water, the taste of freshly brewed tea can be bitter. To alleviate this bitterness, do not use boiling water for brewing.

In terms of the health benefits of green tea, the brewing time is of no importance. The main thing is that the water temperature should not exceed 60-85 degrees. Boiling will not only spoil the taste of the tea (polyphenols can give it a musty taste), but also destroy the beneficial substances. By the way, the release of polyphenols is another argument in favor of not buying green tea in bags. Such highly ground tea has a larger surface area in contact with water, so all the substances are released at a greater rate, and the taste of the drink leaves much to be desired. The preferred option is to buy large leaf varieties and brew them in a traditional teapot or French press.

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