Green tea with milk: benefits and harms

Green tea with milk is considered an excellent drink to quench your thirst. It gives a person a boost of vitality, helps in the fight against chronic fatigue and depression. Also, such a drink is very useful for weight loss.

Composition and calorie content

The composition of this drink includes substances contained both in the tea leaf and in milk. At the same time, the chemical composition of green tea is rather complicated: 60% are occupied by amino acids, enzymes, caffeine, vitamins and minerals, 40% are polyphenols.

Green tea contains:

1. Polyphenols of plant origin, or tannins and catechins. They determine the taste of the drink, its color and aroma. Tannins have antioxidant properties. One cup of tea can contain up to 240 mg of these substances. Catechins normalize the work of the heart, prevent the development of malignant tumors.
2. Caffeine (up to 6% depending on the variety) and theanine. It is interesting that it excites the nervous system and generally has a 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. They give the tea a bitter taste, which is leveled when milk is added.
4. Minerals that have a beneficial effect on the body as a whole.

Green tea with milk is considered a dietary product. The energy value of a cup of a drink (at the rate of 2–2.5 g infusion) 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 is useful green tea with milk

It is believed that green tea with milk allows you to normalize the work of the digestive tract, remove toxins, provide the body with substances useful for speeding up the metabolism.

For women

Representatives of the fair sex are usually interested in such a property of green tea with milk as the ability to accelerate metabolic processes. Indeed, this drink reduces blood sugar, 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, make the skin more youthful and supple. Moreover, this effect is achieved both when drinking tea inside, and when using a drink for cosmetic masks (for example, with honey and oatmeal). Thanks to the substances contained in it, small wrinkles are smoothed out, the face contour is leveled. On the other hand, the substances contained in tea make it an excellent prophylactic against cancer, including cancer of the mammary gland.

Finally, green tea with milk is considered a good way to improve overall well-being during the menopause.

For men

Green tea with milk for men is useful in that it contains manganese, and this element is necessary to normalize erectile function. In particular, he 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 tea allows you to use it to lower blood pressure - many members of the stronger sex face this problem. On the one hand, caffeine has an exciting effect, but on the other hand, the presence of theanine in the tea leaf and the addition of milk to the drink can compensate for this effect.As a result, working capacity and stress resistance are increased without any undesirable side effects.

The presence of antioxidants in green tea makes the drink an excellent prophylactic against cancer, including prostate cancer.

During pregnancy

Green tea with milk during pregnancy is useful in that it helps to remove excess fluid and normalizes metabolism.

However, it should be noted that the drink contains caffeine, and for future mothers its use is limited. It is believed that a day you can afford no more than 200 mg of caffeine. A greater number of it can adversely affect the development of the fetus. But this substance is found not only in tea and coffee, but also in other products. In order to prevent its overabundance, the expectant mother is recommended to limit herself to one cup of green tea with milk per day.

In addition, the use of this drink cannot be combined with food intake, since the substances included in it interfere with the full absorption of iron and folic acid from the products, and both of these substances are very important for the development of the fetus. Therefore, doctors advise future mothers to drink green tea with milk in between meals. It is necessary to expect that at least 40 minutes remain before the next meal, and the same time elapses after the previous meal.

When breastfeeding

During lactation, green tea with milk is considered a very useful product. Many people think that it enhances lactation, but this is not so. The amount of breast milk, that is, its production, is affected only by the hormone prolactin. But warm green tea with milk stimulates the flow of existing milk to the nipples, and this greatly facilitates the process of breastfeeding.

However, there is another important point. Some babies are allergic 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 drink. It is only necessary to replace ordinary milk with lactose-free or condensed milk.

For kids

Green tea with milk is also useful for children - however, they still don’t give it to kids. Due to the immaturity of the central nervous system, the caffeine contained in the drink will definitely not benefit them. Green tea with milk can only be given to children over 3 years old. In this case, it will be useful in that it strengthens the immune system, normalizes digestion, and improves cognitive abilities.

However, there are limitations too. Green tea can be given only 2-3 times a day, 50 ml each. And he should never be strong. In the case of green tea, by the way, this does not depend on the amount of brewing, but on the brewing time. So, the less the drink is infused, the better. For the first acquaintance with him, 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 exciting properties. It is best for the child to drink it in the morning, before 12 o’clock. And, of course, tea should not be too hot so as not to damage the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus. However, this limitation applies to adults too.

Green tea with milk for weight loss: recipes

Green tea with milk is often part of a diet - for example, protein. To do this, you can brew it according to the classic recipe. In this case, to prepare the drink you will need milk of minimal fat content and already brewed tea - in equal proportions. That is, for a large mug with a volume of 300 ml, they take 150 ml of tea and the same amount of milk. Brew tea so - take 1 tsp. tea leaves and fill it with hot water, but not boiling water, and then insist for 5 minutes. At the same time, the milk is brought to a boil and immediately turned off, without leaving it on the stove. Then the tea leaves are filtered, both ingredients are mixed in one container, after which the drink is considered ready to drink. Sugar cannot be added to it, because, firstly, it contradicts the very principles of diet, and secondly, it spoils the taste of the drink.But you can add a little honey or a stevia sugar substitute (synthetic sweeteners cannot be used either).

Green tea with milk can be a fasting day drink. In this case, milk can be taken at normal fat content, but sweeteners are still not recommended. They make a drink like this: they heat 1 liter of milk to a temperature of 80–85 degrees, but do not boil it. Then 2 tsp are poured into hot milk. green tea. The drink is infused for 30 minutes. It can be drunk a little throughout the fasting day. This option differs from the usual unloading on water in that it contains all the minerals necessary for the body, while it also contains proteins (milk proteins). So it’s easier to maintain such a diet both from a physical and psychological point of view.

Another option for weight loss is spiced tea. It is also recommended to use with any diet that allows the introduction of protein in the diet. Brew it as follows: bring low-fat milk to a boil, then add tea leaves and spices, for example, cardamom, cinnamon (powder), cumin, coriander (not 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, due to its unique composition, has a complex effect. Green tea with milk in medicine:

1. Normalizes digestive processes, helps fight constipation, flatulence and bloating due to the presence of pectins and dietary fiber. In addition, this drink is useful in food poisoning.
2. Protects against viral infections. Green "milk milk" is considered an excellent tool for strengthening immunity and treating colds.
3. Normalizes blood pressure due to antioxidant properties. The substances included in its composition also help prevent atherosclerosis, normalize heart rate.
4. It has a slight diuretic effect, without washing away from the body beneficial substances. This allows you to remove excess fluid.
5. Helps to cleanse the liver, normalizes the outflow of bile.
6. It protects teeth from caries, has a beneficial effect on the condition of 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 contribute to the outflow of bile and normalization of the hepatobiliary system. However, it should be borne in mind that with excessive enthusiasm for 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 per day, so it will be better for the kidneys. For this organ, green tea with milk is useful for its diuretic effect, as it allows faster elimination of toxins. But these properties are manifested only with the correct brewing of tea and its use in limited quantities.

The benefits of green tea with milk for blood vessels are due to several factors. Firstly, the drink contains ascorbic acid, which helps to thin the blood, improves its circulation in the vessels and thereby reduces blood pressure. Secondly, in tea with milk there is calcium, which is necessary to strengthen the heart muscle. Thirdly, it contains vitamin P, which increases vascular tone. The infusion also contains tannins that strengthen this system.

For people with diabetes, this drink is beneficial in that it can lower blood sugar. In addition, it breaks down fat cells and eliminates the inflammatory processes that often occur with such diseases.

Vitamins and antioxidants present in tea with milk accelerate metabolic processes and prevent the accumulation of bad cholesterol in the vessels, which could eventually turn into atherosclerotic plaques. So a cup (or a maximum of two) of this drink is useful for the prevention of heart disease. True, as will be said below, its usefulness in practice turned out to be significantly lower than was considered in theory.

Harm and contraindications

Green tea with milk is not harmful for people with cardiovascular diseases, but at the same time it is not as useful as glossy magazines write about it. Indeed, green tea itself contains catechin - a substance that is necessary for the normalization of cardiovascular activity. But scientists have come to the conclusion that milk proteins bind all flavonoids contained in tea, including catechins. Thus, 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 believe that green tea with milk negatively affects the kidneys. This is actually not the case. It’s just that it is a sufficiently strong diuretic, that is, a diuretic, therefore, it is really contraindicated for some kidney diseases. But in the absence of such pathologies, it will not bring harm. The only absolute contraindication for this drink is lactose intolerance.

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

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

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

1. In no case should you drink green tea with milk on an empty stomach. The substances contained in this drink may adversely affect the gastric mucosa.
2. Do not drink immediately before bedtime. It still contains caffeine, and this can cause nervous system overexcitation even with the leveling effect of theanine. This is especially true in those cases when a person does not consume loose leaf tea, but match powder. In it, the concentration of all the above substances is much higher, therefore, the stimulating effect is also manifested more strongly.
3. Since green tea with milk is a diuretic, you should not drink it before a long trip, if it is not possible to go to the toilet.
4. Green tea with milk should not be taken with medicines, since undesirable biochemical reactions can occur.

Finally, it should be remembered that under no circumstances should you combine green tea and alcohol. This can adversely affect the condition of the kidneys and liver.

You can only drink warm green tea with milk, the maximum temperature of which is 60 degrees. Hot tea is harmful to the stomach in any case, and even more so when it comes to a drink that contains such an amount of active substances.

How to make green tea with milk

Various methods for preparing green tea with slimming milk have been described above. But it is used for medical purposes, and as a warming or soft drink (seasonally). In India, green tea often becomes the basis of the popular masala drink, where various spices are added to the tea leaves with tea. In Kalmykia and Tibet they prepare their own version of green tea with milk. To do this, brew 50 g of green tea, pour in it up to 1 liter of milk, add 1 tsp. salt, a little black pepper and mix. The mixture was brought to a boil and allowed to simmer for 10 minutes. Then add a little butter and insist another 20 minutes.It is amazing that for all the calorie content of the drink, it is recognized as useful for losing weight - but only if a person moves a lot, leads an active life.

Green tea with milk and honey

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

Green tea with ginger

Take the root of ginger (not more than 10 g) and grind it on a grater. This spice is mixed with 0.5 l of milk, brought to a boil and insisted for 10 minutes. At the same time, green tea is brewed in the classical way - 25 g of large-leaf varieties per 0.5 l of hot water. After that, both liquids are filtered and mixed. You can drink this warming tea all day long - it is an excellent prophylactic for colds, which also helps to lose weight (subject to a balanced diet).

Interesting facts about green tea

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

Scientists have come to the conclusion 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 allowed us to study the chemical composition of tea. At the same time, green tea from this point of view has been best studied, 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 in August, then the content of tannins in them will be higher than in May or September. An important role is played by the age of the leaf. In young shoots tannins are less than in older leaves.

The taste of tea and its beneficial properties are affected by the process of brewing it. Green tea in bags cannot be considered a healing product at all, since so-called seedings or production waste are often sold in such packaging. You can brew either green matcha powder or large-leaf varieties.

The quality of the drink will ultimately depend heavily on the temperature of the water. Since polyphenols are the first to be released upon contact with hot water, the taste of freshly brewed tea may be bitter. To mitigate this bitterness, do not take boiling water for brewing.

From the point of view of the beneficial properties for green tea, the brewing time is not of particular importance. The main thing is that the water temperature does not exceed 60–85 degrees. Boiling water will not only ruin the taste of tea (polyphenols can give it a musty taste), but also destroy beneficial substances. By the way, the isolation of polyphenols is another argument in favor of not buying green tea bags. Such a strongly ground tea has a larger contact area with water, so all substances are released more rapidly, and the taste of the drink leaves much to be desired. The preferred option is to buy large-leaf varieties and brewing them in a traditional teapot or french press.

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