Green tea is actually harvested from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis shrub. Many popular tea types that you have heard of such as white tea, yellow tea, green tea, oolong tea, pu-er tea and black tea. Each type of these teas just undergo a different preparation process. Green tea specifically are the shoots and buds of the Camellia sinensis shrub that are steamed, pan-fried and dried. It has not undergone the withering and oxidation process that produces the darker oolong and black tea varieties.
Polyphenols are organic compounds produced abundantly in plants. Green tea has several polyphenols of interest, namely epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate, epicatechins and flavanols. Ongoing research is happening to study their cholesterol regulation and antioxidative effects.
Green tea also has three types of flavonoids which are kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin. The flavonoids are under research for their detoxification effects on the body and antioxidative functions.
Green tea also contains caffeine that helps in keeping alertness.
Green tea extract has been used in skincare for its antioxidative effects that can help reduce signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, rough skin texture and hyperpigmentation (skin discolouration). It also has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects to help reduce the development of acne. These characteristics of green tea combine to provide skin soothing effects.
We include green tea extract in ioula due to its high antioxidant content that gives anti-aging and skin nourishing effects.
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