Does Green Tea Have Probiotics: And What Are The Effects?
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Does Green Tea Have Probiotics?
Many people enjoy green tea for its taste and numerous purported health-promoting properties. Tea is rich in catechins; antioxidants that fight cell damage and may even help to prevent it!
Antioxidants can have various positive health benefits. Green tea is abundant in polyphenol antioxidants, including a catechin called EGCG which may help lower your risk of chronic disease, support your immune system, promote heart health, and improve brain function.
Is Green Tea Good For Gut Bacteria?
Evidence indicates that green tea can encourage the growth of “friendly” gut bacteria that may lead to a series of health benefits. Green tea also contains a catechin called EGCG that is antimicrobial and kills the “bad” bacteria in your gut and fights diseases like cancer and diabetes.
Green tea has been linked to improving the digestive process by encouraging the growth of good gut bacteria, thus contributing to the improvement of overall gut health.
So does this suggest that green tea does have probiotics?
Research has demonstrated that green tea does contain both probiotics and prebiotics which may help restore disrupted flora in your gut. Having a healthy microbiome is crucial in maintaining your overall well-being, so how can this super drink impact your digestive and general health?
Understanding Probiotics and Prebiotics
Both probiotics and prebiotics are considered big deals in nutrition these days. They both support the body in building and maintaining a healthy colony of bacteria which aid digestion. It is in fact, becoming more understood that the majority of our well-being and health begins in the gut. A healthy gut is believed to boost energy, metabolism, immunity, and overall health.
A plethora of diseases and conditions are believed to be linked to the microbes inside us from autism to obesity and from how well we sleep to how we respond to certain medications. So if microbes are key to our well-being it’s important to unpick how they influence human health.
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria and yeasts. They are often described as “good” or “friendly” bacteria. They are believed to help restore the natural balance of bacteria in your gut resulting in better digestive health. Probiotic foods include yogurt, kefir, fermented foods such as sauerkraut, and certain cheeses like gouda.
Prebiotics are generally types of high-fiber foods that the body cannot digest such as fruit, veg, and whole grains. Some products have prebiotics added, they will often say “fortified with”. Prebiotics serves as food for probiotics, they play a role in stimulating the growth and activity of certain bacteria that are good for our health and help keep the cells that line the gut healthy.
What Are The Benefits Of Probiotics In Your Green Tea?
Tea has remained a popular beverage for thousands of years due to its popular health benefits. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have long been associated with the treatment of many diseases. As we have established, an unhealthy gut can lead to serious health problems, so the ingredients in green tea, including prebiotics and probiotics, may offer great support for gut health.
Gut health impacts many parts of the body including the heart, brain, immune system, and weight gain. Therefore since green tea has the potential ability to influence gut health it may have a beneficial impact on all aspects of health.
Weight Management
Negative changes in the gut flora have been previously linked to obesity and green tea has demonstrated the ability to promote healthy bacteria. Probiotics in green tea encourage the growth of friendly bacteria while hindering the development of detrimental ones.
Healthier Digestion
Regular consumption of green tea may help ease the process of digestion, which contributes to the improvement of your gut health. Drinking more fluids, including green tea will help to soften stools and ease transit.
Mental Health Support
The bacteria within our gut may be a vital link between what we consume and how we feel. Therefore balancing our gut bacteria could help influence our mental health. Green tea has also been linked with reducing stress, boosting your mood, and increasing feelings of calm and relaxation.
Improved Bone Health
It has been suggested that the gut microbiota could play a role in maintaining bone health. The consumption of green tea has previously demonstrated osteoprotective effects.
Neuroprotection
There is a growing notion that conditions such as Parkinson’s disease are possibly related to gut microbiota. Green tea polyphenols are also known for their neuroprotective activity, improving brain function in the short term and protecting it as we age.
Improved Heart Health
A growing body of research suggests that the wrong balance of gut bacteria can have a negative effect on your blood vessels and cardiovascular health. An unhealthy gut is believed to cause negative health effects through inflammation. When blood vessels are affected by inflammation they start to lose their elasticity. This can lead to high blood pressure and raised cholesterol levels. Green tea may help to reduce some of these main risk factors for heart disease.
Immune System Boost
Green tea antioxidants offer antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial effects while probiotics may help to boost the immune system and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
Improved Blood Sugar Control
Probiotics have been shown in studies to have a favorable effect on glucose levels. Green tea may improve insulin sensitivity and help to lower blood sugar levels.
Lowers The Risk Of Some Cancers
Anti-inflammatory polyphenols and catechins found in green tea have been linked to anti-cancer activity. Probiotics have also shown beneficial properties in cancer therapy and prevention.
Do Some Green Teas Have Supplentary Probotics
Green tea polyphenols are considered potent antioxidants and play a beneficial role against oxidative stress-related chronic disease. They contribute to the maintenance of gut health together with prebiotics and probiotics. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that are naturally present in us all. So it stands to good reason that by increasing your good bacteria the more benefits you get to experience from your brew.
Now, thanks to the development of bacteria that can survive in extreme heat, hot probiotic teas have been developed. Previously naturally fermented teas such as kombucha have been used for their probiotic benefits. Kombucha tea is a slightly fizzy, sweet yet tart drink that is touted for its health-giving properties. It is usually recommended that Kombucha is kept refrigerated for best taste and quality. This is why the bacteria are able to survive as there is no problem with the bacteria having to endure high temperatures.
The manufactured probiotic teas now available are formulated to survive boiling water and stomach acid. It is believed that the probiotic strains added to green tea may be as equally effective as normal probiotic supplements with the added benefits of delicious green tea.
Recommended: Green Tea Hot Or Cold | Does It Make A Difference?
When selecting your probiotic tea, do so with care! It should indicate the specific strain of probiotics that it contains. As different bacterial strains are unique in their health effects, you may be able to target specific strains that are more appropriate for you and your requirements.
Individually wrapped Bigelow With Ginger Plus Probiotics tea bags in foil pouches. This lovely delicate green tea with a punchy hint of ginger and sweet spice is designed to support a healthy lifestyle.
Probiotics – Ganeden BC 30 (Bacillus coagulans GBI – 30 6086) A safe and effective research-based digestive health support, able to survive extreme temperature and stomach acid.
Drinking probiotic tea may help rebalance your gut microbiome and improve your digestive health.
Are There Any Negative Affects of Probiotics In Green Tea
As with anything you consume, it’s best to review any potential drawbacks or side effects that may be applicable to you. For example, green tea contains caffeine which can have a negative impact, such as anxiety, insomnia, irritability, headaches, and digestion in some people.
When starting probiotics you may initially experience mild stomach problems such as bloating or diarrhea. This usually settles once your body gets used to them.
⚠️ A word of caution, if you have any allergies or food intolerances or indeed any underlying health issues always consult your health care provider before introducing anything new into your regular diet.
Conclusion
Many people have been drinking green tea for centuries, and it has long been touted as a beneficial beverage. Recent studies have found that drinking green tea may be a great addition to one’s diet as well as their gut health. Researchers found that the catechin EGCG in green tea together with traces of prebiotics and probiotics can help to protect gut cells from oxidative damage, decrease inflammation of the colon and help to promote gut-friendly flora.
FAQs
Does Probiotic Tea Actually Work?
Tea is certainly considered a safe beverage to consume with well-established health-giving properties. Studies suggest that the added probiotics may increase the positive effects on digestive function.
Is Green Tea Prebiotic Or Probiotic?
Green tea has traces of both prebiotics and probiotics which may help to improve your gut health.
How Do I Heal My Gut?
There are a number of ways to help heal your gut such as addressing any food intolerances or lowering your stress levels. Including regular consumption of green tea in your diet with or without added probiotics may help the body to improve its digestive process.
