Look at These Great Green Tea Benefits!
Of course you’ve heard of Green Tea and all the health benefits of drinking it.
So read on for a refresher on green tea benefits – as well as how you can make it taste better!
What Is Green Tea?
Green Tea is one of the world’s most popular drinks, and it’s certainly not new – the Chinese have been drinking it for thousands of years.
Green tea is made from the Camellia Sinensis plant – but so is black tea. The difference is that Green Tea is unfermented, which means that the antioxidant properties are fully intact.
The power of Green Tea lies in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) – a powerful anti-oxidant.
Here are some of the benefits you can experience with Green Tea.
Green Tea Benefits:- It’s Green!
Green tea is non-toxic and safe.
It’s also quite a green and eco friendly beverage. It’s often grown on hilly areas that are difficult to plant with other crops. Although it often travels a long way from where it’s grown to your tea cup, it’s light and thus its carbon emissions are less than for a heavy product.
On the down side, many tea bags contain a small amount of plastic. But you can overcome this by checking what you buy, or buying loose-leaf tea with minimal or re-usable packaging.
Green Tea Benefits:- Improved Immunity
Green Tea is one of the most potent antioxidants available.
- A 1977 study by the University of Kansas reported that Green Tea has the highest amount of any known antioxidant. As a result, it is 100 times more effective than Vitamin C, and twice as powerful as resveratrol (the antioxidant in red wine). That’s great news for disease prevention!
- In 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking Green Tea reduced the risk of oesophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly 60%.
- University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in Green Tea reduces the growth of cancer cells.
No, it’s not a cure for cancer – but drinking it may help to prevent or lessen it.
Green Tea Benefits:- Weight Loss
Green Tea has been reported to assist in weight loss.
According to a study conducted at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, Green Tea seems to help the body burn more calories.
Green Tea also slows down the release of carbohydrates in the body, preventing sharp rises in blood sugar.
Of course, you may need to make other changes in order to actively lose weight, but drinking green tea helps.
Green Tea Benefits:- Lower Cholesterol
Research indicates that drinking Green Tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
(In contrast, University of California scientists discovered that the caffeine in coffee is bound with coffee bean oils, which raise cholesterol levels – but only in certain types of coffee).
Green Tea Benefits:- For Moms
Historically Green Tea has been used as a digestive aid which can be useful for adults.
Green tea has been shown to be effective in preventing abnormal clotting of blood (important during pregnancy).
In a study conducted by the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program of Northern California, researchers found that women who drank more than one half cup of green tea every day doubled their odds of conceiving.
Green Tea Benefits:- For Kids
Green tea can help to prevent tooth decay. It helps to kill the bacteria that cause plaque.
A cup of Green Tea has more antioxidant ability than a cup of broccoli or spinach (having a hard time getting your kids to eat their veggies?).
Related: 5 simple ways to get everyone enjoying more vegetables
The high antioxidant qualities of Green Tea help prevent illness by neutralizing germs, including some that cause diarrhoea, pneumonia and skin infections.
Would fewer illnesses make life more pleasant in your home?
The Problem with Green Tea
I’m going to be polite here and say that Green Teas is not to everyone’s taste.
(Some people say it tastes really terrible!)
But luckily, there is a way around it.
Many popular tea brands add an extra flavour to their tea to make it more palatable.
For example, I enjoy Green Tea with Lemon by Twinings – I find the lemon just takes away the bitterness and makes it a very pleasant drink. They also make it with other flavours you may prefer – see here.
(Or simply buy plain Green Tea and add lemon or another flavour yourself).
I drink Green Tea with Lemon first thing every morning, and I know it does me good.
See what your local health store offers – just check the ingredients to make sure there are no artificial additives.
How to Drink Green Tea
A final word – the best way to drink green tea is solo.
Don’t add milk or sugar or cream – keep the goodness pure.
Here’s to your health!
Do you drink drink tea? And if so, how, and do you have a favourite brand? Let me know in the Comments below.
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