Keep Calm. Drink Green Tea
Take it from a hardcore Tea-o-phile, green tea can provide calm in a cup, mug, jar, or whatever is on hand. Aside from finding your zen, the green stuff appears to be the miracle plant of the millennium - that is if you care about your brain, heart, and protecting against major diseases.
Cheers to Immunity: Bioactive Compounds
The antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects of green tea may keep your immune system in check. Green tea contains an abundance of polyphenol antioxidants, including a catechin called EGCG.
The antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects of green tea may keep your immune system in check. Green tea contains an abundance of polyphenol antioxidants, including a catechin called EGCG.
EGCG is the most powerful compound in green tea attributed to its
medicinal might. The plant's lovely antioxidants can reduce free radicals
thereby protecting cells and molecules from damage.
Forever versatile, green tea serves as a prebiotic allowing good gut
bacteria to thrive. Bonus: its antibacterial properties guard against bad
breath so you can go a little crazy on the garlic bread.
Brain Booster
When opting for green tea rather than coffee, some report steadier mental energy allowing for greater productivity. Thanks to the amino acid L-theanine, green tea adds a calming effect. Did you say dopamine? It also increases dopamine and alpha waves in the brain.
When opting for green tea rather than coffee, some report steadier mental energy allowing for greater productivity. Thanks to the amino acid L-theanine, green tea adds a calming effect. Did you say dopamine? It also increases dopamine and alpha waves in the brain.
In short, green tea may give you a mellower buzz as compared to coffee.
All this with about half the caffeine! In the long term, green tea may even shield an aging brain against
Alzheimer’s disease.
Fat Burner
Green tea may be beneficial to weight loss by aiding the body’s
metabolism to operate as the super powerhouse it wants to be. The catechin
in green tea assists in breaking down excess fat as well as speeding up
metabolism.
Both catechin and caffeine can increase the amount of energy the body
utilizes. Caffeine may also enhance physical performance by activating fatty
acids in fat tissue making them available to burn as energy.
Disease Protection
Numerous studies reveal that green tea imbibers carry a lower risk of various types of cancer including breast and prostate cancer. Its antioxidants may help protect against oxidative damage that can lead to chronic inflammation and in turn chronic diseases such as cancer.
Not all studies agree that green tea is a pathway to weight loss but
for some it’s helpful, particularly in reducing harmful abdominal
fat.
Numerous studies reveal that green tea imbibers carry a lower risk of various types of cancer including breast and prostate cancer. Its antioxidants may help protect against oxidative damage that can lead to chronic inflammation and in turn chronic diseases such as cancer.
Diabetes impacts 34 million Americans (about 1 in 10) and is
increasing every day. Green tea may improve insulin sensitivity and
reduce blood sugar levels, therefore reducing the risk of type 2
diabetes.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Since
green tea is able to boost the antioxidant capacity of the blood, it
reduces cholesterol including LDL (bad cholesterol), one of the risk
factors. Folks who drink green tea can lower their chances of dying
from these chronic diseases according to medical studies.
To improve your well-being, lose weight, and reduce your risk of
chronic diseases, consider making a few cups of green tea part of
your daily routine. With the bevy of potential health benefits
green tea offers, including living longer, it would be wise to get
a brewin'.
Green Tea Varieties
There are different types of green tea which you can chose from
depending on whether you enjoy a richer, intense flavor or more
subtle notes.
- Matcha Powder - Ground gyokuro leaves for multipurpose drinks and recipes
- Japan Green Tea - Gyokuro and Sencha: Strong flavor
- China Green Tea - Dragon Well or Lung Ching: Subtle flavor
- Genmaicha Green Tea: Subtle, sweet flavor
- Jasmine Green Tea: Aromatic flavor
- Houjicha Green Tea: Subtle, earthy flavor
If your lifestyle doesn't revolve around numerous tea breaks,
no worries. The plant leaves can be found in green tea gum,
cereal, extracts, soaps, diet pills, breath mints - even at your
visits to Starbucks. For inventive meals with a twist, consider
adding the plant leaves as a herb to your daily cooking.