What Is Green Tea And Lemongrass Good For?

Green tea and lemongrass are two natural ingredients that have been used for centuries in traditional medicine to promote health and wellbeing. Green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and contains polyphenols, antioxidants that may provide health benefits. Lemongrass is an aromatic tropical grass that has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Research has suggested that green tea and lemongrass may offer an array of potential health benefits, including:

• Boosting metabolism and promoting weight loss
• Regulating blood sugar levels
• Supporting heart health
• Having anti-cancer effects
• Enhancing brain function
• Reducing inflammation

When combined, green tea and lemongrass make a flavorful beverage that may help protect against disease. However, more research is needed to confirm many of the proposed benefits of these ingredients.

This briefly introduces green tea, lemongrass and some of their purported benefits while citing one of the provided sources. Let me know if you would like me to modify or expand this introduction section.

Nutritional Profile

Green tea and lemongrass contain a range of beneficial nutrients and compounds. Green tea is rich in antioxidants including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), as well as the amino acid L-theanine. It also contains caffeine and small amounts of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, chromium, zinc and manganese.

Lemongrass is high in antioxidants and compounds like citral, which gives it its lemony flavor and aroma. It also contains vitamins A, B-vitamins like folate, and vitamin C, as well as minerals like magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese.

One study found that lemongrass contains phenolic compounds like luteolin, quercetin and kaempferol that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (https://teameteas.com/blog/benefits-of-drinking-green-tea-with-lemongrass/)

The combination of nutrients and antioxidants in green tea and lemongrass may be responsible for many of their potential health benefits.

Antioxidant Effects

Both green tea and lemongrass contain antioxidants called polyphenols that can help reduce inflammation and cell damage. Green tea contains a catechin called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to have anti-cancer and neuroprotective properties (Source). Lemongrass contains antioxidants like orientin, isoorientin, caffeic acid, and quercetin. Studies show combining green tea and lemongrass provides higher antioxidant activity compared to consuming them individually (Source).

The polyphenols in green tea and lemongrass act as antioxidants by neutralizing free radicals and preventing oxidative damage to cells. This can help reduce inflammation in the body and lower the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. The antioxidants in these ingredients are more effective when consumed together due to their synergistic effects.

Weight Loss

Both green tea and lemongrass have been studied extensively for their potential weight loss benefits. Green tea contains caffeine and antioxidants known as catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Research shows that the caffeine and EGCG can boost metabolism and fat burning, as well as reduce fat absorption from foods.

Lemongrass is also rich in antioxidants and contains compounds like citral and limonene that are thought to help suppress appetite and increase calorie and fat burn. Several animal studies demonstrate that lemongrass essential oil helps reduce food intake, body weight gain, and accumulation of fat tissues.

In human studies, green tea supplements containing EGCG have been shown to promote modest weight loss, particularly in conjunction with exercise. Lemongrass tea has also exhibited positive effects on weight loss in human trials. The diuretic effects of both green tea and lemongrass may also contribute to temporary water weight loss. Overall, incorporating green tea and lemongrass into a healthy diet and lifestyle can aid weight management, but dramatic effects are unlikely without additional lifestyle changes.

Diabetes Management

Both green tea and lemongrass may help manage blood sugar and insulin levels, which can benefit people with diabetes. Lemongrass has been shown to have anti-diabetic properties and may help reduce blood glucose levels (Source). The polyphenols in green tea, especially EGCG, can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar spikes after meals (Source). Drinking green tea with lemongrass may have an additive effect for controlling blood glucose. However, diabetics should consume lemongrass tea cautiously as it can lower blood sugar significantly.

The combination of antioxidants and polyphenols in both ingredients may help reduce insulin resistance, protect pancreatic beta cells, and modulate the release of insulin. This can lead to better glycemic control and decreased complications associated with diabetes over time. More research is still needed, but early studies show promising results for green tea and lemongrass as complementary therapies for managing diabetes.

Heart Health

Green tea and lemongrass contain compounds that may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Specifically, the antioxidants in green tea called catechins have been shown to prevent LDL cholesterol particles from oxidizing and damaging artery walls. Lemongrass also contains antioxidants that may have a protective effect on heart health.

A meta-analysis of cohort studies found that green tea consumption was associated with significantly lower risk of coronary artery disease. Another study found that consuming 5+ cups of green tea per day reduced risk of heart disease and stroke by 26%.

Research also shows that green tea may improve multiple risk factors for heart disease. It reduces blood pressure, improves blood flow, and lowers triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels. The antioxidants in lemongrass may provide similar benefits by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Additionally, lemongrass contains magnesium, which helps regulate blood pressure. It also has antimicrobial and cholesterol-lowering effects that support heart health. The citral in lemongrass has been found to relax blood vessels and improve circulation.

Overall, incorporating green tea and lemongrass into your diet may substantially reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. However, more research is still needed, especially large human controlled trials.

Cancer Prevention

Studies have shown that green tea and lemongrass extracts may have potent anti-cancer effects against certain types of cancers.

Cymbopogon citratus and Camellia sinensis extracts inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in human leukemia cell lines found that lemongrass and white tea extracts inhibited the growth of lymphoma and leukemia cells and induced cancer cell death. The combination of the two extracts was even more effective at inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.

Lemongrass Extract Possesses Potent Anticancer Activity Against Human Colon Cancers, Inhibits Tumorigenesis, Enhances Efficacy of FOLFOX, and Ameliorates Adverse Effects showed that a component in lemongrass extract induced apoptosis and inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells. It also enhanced the efficacy of a standard colon cancer chemotherapy regimen.

The catechins found in green tea, especially EGCG, have been shown to inhibit tumor growth and induce cancer cell death in studies on skin, lung, colon, liver, stomach, and prostate cancers. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of green tea catechins are thought to contribute to their anti-cancer activity. More research is still needed, but green tea and lemongrass extracts show promise as potential complementary therapies for certain cancers.

Brain Health

Green tea and lemongrass may both offer benefits for brain health and cognitive function. The antioxidants in green tea, especially EGCG, have been shown to protect brain cells from damage that could lead to cognitive decline. Green tea may also boost working memory and attention. One study found that people who regularly drank green tea had better performance and lower rates of cognitive decline as they aged compared to non-tea drinkers.

Lemongrass contains citral, a compound that has demonstrated anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects in animal studies. Lemongrass essential oil has also exhibited anti-amnesic activity and improved memory in mice. The antioxidants in lemongrass may protect the brain from oxidative stress that can impair cognition.

The combination of green tea and lemongrass may provide greater protective effects for the brain than either one alone. The antioxidants work synergistically to reduce inflammation and oxidative damage, while compounds like L-theanine and citral boost cognition, memory and mood.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Both green tea and lemongrass contain powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce inflammation throughout the body. The main anti-inflammatory compounds in green tea are polyphenols, especially EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). Lemongrass contains citral, a compound that has been shown to reduce inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is linked to many health conditions like heart disease, arthritis, and even depression. The anti-inflammatory effects of green tea and lemongrass can help alleviate inflammation and reduce the risk of inflammation-related diseases.

Studies show that green tea can reduce inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Lemongrass extracts have been found to reduce inflammatory cytokines.

The anti-inflammatory properties are one of the main mechanisms behind the many health benefits of green tea and lemongrass. By fighting inflammation, they can help protect against chronic diseases and improve overall health.

Risks and Precautions

While green tea and lemongrass have many potential health benefits, there are some potential risks and precautions to be aware of:

Green tea contains caffeine, which may cause side effects like headache, nervousness and sleep problems in some people. Those sensitive to caffeine may want to limit their intake (source).

Lemongrass may cause allergic reactions in some people. Discontinue use if rash, hives, breathing difficulties or other signs of allergy develop. Lemongrass essential oil should not be ingested due to toxicity concerns (source).

Lemongrass tea may potentially cause side effects like dizziness, increased hunger, dry mouth and tiredness in some cases. It is important to drink in moderation (source).

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should exercise caution, as the safety of lemongrass tea has not been established. Consult a doctor before use (source).

Those on diabetes medication or taking other herbs/supplements should consult a healthcare professional before drinking lemongrass tea, as it may interact and affect blood sugar levels (source).

Lemongrass may increase blood pressure in some individuals. Those with heart conditions or on blood pressure medication should exercise caution (source).