Drink Green Tea for a healthy lifestyle
Numerous studies have shown the health benefits of drinking green tea. Green tea helps to build your immune system with its antioxidants, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, reduces the isk of getting various types of cancer and Alzheimer’s, and all the while it promotes oral health .Green tea also increases metabolism so is a great drink if you're trying to lose weight.
One study has shown that the main constituent of green tea, the antioxidant epigalocatechin gallate (EGCG) induced breast cancer cells to self-destruct. EGCG appears to block the growth of blood vessels to the tumors which starves them of nutrients.
Another study in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition found that drinking green tea reduced the
chances of cognitive decline by 54%. Other ongoing
studies are testing green tea as a preventive agent
against skin cancer.
I have been consuming about a quart of green tea each
day for several years. Is it a coincidence that within a few
months of beginning my green tea regimen, I experienced
a drop in the frequency of colds and flu? I am convinced
that drinking green tea improved my immune system tremendously.
Green tea isn’t the only superfood in my diet but it's one of the easiest to add each day.
Why is Green Tea different from other teas?
There are several types of tea-black, green, white and oolong. Are all these teas created equally in terms of health and nutrition? Well, although they all come from the tea bush (Camellia sinensis), they differ in the processing which yields more or less antioxidants. Green tea is unfermented, made of freshly harvested leaves which are rapidly steamed or pan-fried. This minimal processing preserves more antioxidants than black or oolong teas. White tea is the least processed of the teas and the highest in antioxidants and nutritional value.
Herbal teas are not “true teas.” They are made by simply drying the leaves of herb plants such as chamomile and mint. While they have their purposes in terms of health benefits, herbal teas will be discussed in their own right.
Health Benefits of Green Tea
The antioxidants in green tea are known as polyphenols, also found in fruits, vegetables, red wine, chocolate, peanuts and olive oil. Polyphenols scavenge for free radicals in your system – the “bad stuff” caused by pollution, chemicals and stress which damage our cells. One important feature of any health plan is to keep our cells in tip top condition which boosts our immune system. A healthy immune system in turn reduces our risk of cancer, heart disease and other serious conditions.
If you have a hard time getting the recommended number of servings of fruits and veggies, two cups of green tea equals one serving.
Adding Green Tea to your diet is simple and inexpensive
Green tea is simple to make and inexpensive compared to the health benefits. Compare the average 3 dollars spent on 20 green tea bags to the hundreds spent on drugs for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and all the other diseases of modern life. Green tea also provides a safe, healthful alternative to expensive, sugar-and chemical loaded soft drinks which are helping to fuel the obesity and diabetic epidemic in America.
If you find the taste of green tea isn’t to your liking, experiment with romantic sounding names like Macha (light and sweet), gunpowder (fresh and a little grassy) and Dragon Well (high quality, brisk taste).
It’s also easy to find green tea mixed with mint, jasmine, ginger or other flavorings with add to its appeal.
All in all, if adding delicious, versatile green tea to the beverages I enjoy every day will boost my immune system, help guard me from high cholesterol and high blood pressure and give me a little extra protection from cancer and Alzheimer’s, isn’t it one small, easy step on the path to healthy living?
For more about adding the benefits of green tea to your diet see my tips for brewing green tea, including how to naturally remove the caffeine. Green tea contains about one quarter of the caffeine of coffee.
Information on Matcha Tea from Dr. Andrew Weil
Matcha - literally, "powdered tea" - is a special type of green tea: a precious, jewel-green powder that is whisked with hot water in a bowl to make a frothy beverage of the same name. Preparation of matcha is the focus of the Japanese tea ceremony and has a long association with Zen. Matcha is the only form of tea in which the whole leaf is consumed, and because it is made from top-quality leaves that are treated with great care, it delivers more of the healthful elements of green tea than other forms. A unique, beautiful and richly flavorful drink, matcha gives most people a feeling of well-being. In addition, the simple ritual of preparing it is both enjoyable and meditative.
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