Green tea is considered one of the best antioxidants and can have a positive impact on health. Multiple studies have shown that it has a beneficial effect on brain function, weight loss, protection against cancer, and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Is green tea effective for acne prevention? Does it significantly reduce the degree of acne inflammation? Could acne treatment be supplemented with small doses of green tea?
Historically, green tea is known for its properties in the field of health. Its intake as a hot drink is known to contain different substances with beneficial effects. One of these substances, in which green tea is very rich, are POLYPHENOLS. These compounds reduce inflammation and help prevent cancer.
Inflammation is also one of the factors influencing the most the severity of acne. The pathogenesis of acne is well known, affecting 2 out of 5 young people and many adults, some of whom have sequelae such as scars, nodules or psychological consequences. In acne, obstruction of the sebaceous gland occurs, where a very large and big sebaceous gland produces more sebum than can come out of the follicle. This follicle suffers from a certain level of obstruction. Accumulation of sebum results in infection and inflammation and rupture of the sebaceous gland, leaving a scar as a consequence. One of the factors that has been forgotten in the past in the treatment of acne is precisely the degree of inflammation that these people suffer from. This degree of inflammation is responsible for the redness, the appearance of pimples and pus. Scarring is much more intense than in normal people.
It seems that the presence in green tea of substances that reduce inflammation is what explains why these patients improve more quickly when their diet is supplemented with this drink.
Green tea also contains other anti-inflammatory substances such as certain CATECHINS called epi-galacto-catechin-galactoside, (EGCG). CATECHINS are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and have a long series of benefits. These substances reduce the formation of free radicals in acne that damage the skin and the body, protect cells from the aggression of certain molecules and all these radicals play a very important role in aging and in many diseases. EGCG is one of the most powerful antioxidant compounds in green tea. Research has shown that this substance helps in the prevention of various diseases. It appears to be one of the most important components that gives green tea its medicinal properties. Green tea helps keep you alert as well as improves brain function. The most important component that performs this function is caffeine, which is a well-known stimulant. Green tea does not contain much caffeine, but enough to produce a response without causing any harm in the body. Caffeine stimulates the brain by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine. It improves the function of neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine. Caffeine has been consistently shown to improve various aspects of brain function such as attention, vigilance, reaction time, and memory. However, caffeine is not the only compound in green tea that stimulates the brain. Green tea also contains L-theine, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and have a similar effect. L-theine increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter Gaba, which has anti-anxiety effects. It also increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain and produces well-being. Several studies have shown that caffeine and L-theine have synergistic effects: this means that the combination of the two is especially powerful in brain function. Because green tea contains L-theine and a small dose of caffeine, it is a perfect drink to increase performance and brain function. Between its stimulating effects on the brain, the improvement of acne and the reduction in the risk of cancer and other diseases, green tea is one of the best natural therapies for improving our health.
