Potential Green Tea Benefits for Your Kids
If you’re a parent then you know the importance of what your child eats. Making sure your kids get enough nutrients can be difficult, especially with so many foods and drinks being completely void of any healthy properties.
We’ve spoken in the past about the different health benefits of green tea, but most standards of healthiness are for adults. Kids don’t commonly drink green tea, so it’s easy to ignore that they could get the same potential health benefits you get.
Children who drink green tea get the same positive chemicals and nutrients as you, but it may help their bodies in different ways.
Tons of Antioxidants
Green tea is stuffed full of antioxidants, one of the leading agents in fighting against cancerous cells.
For kids, antioxidants are going to do the same thing, only they’ll be getting the healthy antioxidants sooner in their lives. Cancer prevention is ongoing, and it’s never too soon to start making healthy decisions to slow down cell degeneration.
Antioxidants are also good for clearing the body of free radicals. While kids might not experience as much stress as adults, they still need to keep their bodies and minds clear!
Better Oral Hygiene
Finally, an easier way to keep your kids from getting cavities.
There are multiple agents at work in green tea, and all of them help reduce the bacteria that leads to tooth decay, gum disease and cavities.
Because oral hygiene is an ongoing battle with kids, drinking a cup of green tea a day is recognized as a way to reduce the chances of getting a cavity. Of course, this shouldn’t replace your child’s regular tooth brushing.
Great During the Winter
Schools are a hotbed for germs and disease, so it’s nearly impossible for your kid to go an entire winter without getting a cold or the flu.
Catechins, a chemical found in green tea, reduces the risk of colds and helps your body recover from colds faster. These catechins also increase your body’s resistance to the flu.
If you’re concerned about your child’s health this upcoming winter, you should consider adding green tea to their diet. They might still get sick, but they’ll have lighter symptoms and recover faster than they would without green tea.
Healthy Bones
Regular green tea consumption has been tied to an increased bone density, a benefit for people that are worried about aging bones. However, this can also be a benefit for your kids.
Kids live a pretty active lifestyle, and broken bones are almost expected at some point while they’re growing up. By including some green tea in their diet, you might help stave off any major injuries by strengthening their bones.
Keep an Eye on Caffeine
While green tea is healthy, it’s important to remember that it still does contain caffeine. Caffeine intake isn’t typically recommended, but because green tea contains smaller traces of caffeine than coffee and many sodas, you’re safer giving your kids a cup of tea than a soda. Not to mention, no sugar or unhealthy artificial sweeteners. If your child doesn’t like the taste, try adding a little bit of raw honey to sweeten the cup.
You should also make sure that your children are drinking tea in moderation. While the amount of tea that would be considered healthy ranges from kid to kid, you shouldn’t be giving your child more than a cup a day. Some children also display negative reactions to caffeine. If your kid shows negative signs, such as sleeplessness or allergic reactions, then it may be best to avoid green tea.
You should always ask your child’s doctor if green tea is safe for them. If you doctor gives green tea a thumbs up, then there’s no reason to avoid these potential benefits!’
