Have you noticed lately that drinking tea is becoming very popular? Many health sites are promoting the benefits of drinking more tea and less coffee. Tea is a wonderful drink. It tastes great, there are lots of varieties available and many cultures have been drinking tea for centuries. Just look at how much tea people in countries such as China, Japan, India and Europe drink. After water, tea is actually the most widely consumed drink in the world. This trend is now spilling over into North America like crazy.
Green tea has been around for a very long time and is one of the best teas that you can drink for your health. It originated in China, and was used even then as a medicinal drink. It is known for helping your body eliminate free radicals, it’s great for weight loss and contains anti-aging properties.
Most of the health benefits of tea come from EGCG, (Epigallocatechin Gallate) which is a very powerful and natural antioxidant. As you know, antioxidants work to remove all kinds of harmful free radicals from your body. Those that can damage your cells, cause cancer and reduce your lifespan. Free radicals are also connected to the aging process which is why it can be slowed down by drinking Green tea. Another benefit of EGCG is that it helps to speed up your metabolism so that it is easier for you to lose weight. Plus drinking lots of green tea just makes you feel better overall.
Green tea does contain caffeine, but not as much as coffee does. It also contains the important amino acid L-theanine, which is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. This is important as L-theanine helps to increase activities in your brain which help to reduce anxiety. So drinking more green tea when you are feeling stressed out is a good thing.
One particularly healthy green tea is Matcha green tea. Matcha has 10 times the nutritional and antioxidant value of other green teas.
All tea comes from the same plants – green, black and Oolong teas. The difference between black and green tea is the process that it goes through. Green tea does not go through a fermentation process – this process removes the EGCG – which is why it retains so many health benefits.
Green tea can also help you fight tooth decay, and fight off all kinds of bacteria and infections. Studies have shown that green tea is great at repairing your immune system and helps with preventing heart disease and other illnesses. It can be helpful at reducing your chances of developing breast and/or prostate cancer. The studies that were conducted looked at Japanese people who drank at least 5 cups of green tea per day.
The benefits of drinking black tea include helping you to reduce bad cholesterol and healing your blood cells. Plus it helps to keep your heart healthy. The major difference between green and black tea is the amount of antioxidants it contains. Green tea is highest on the list, with black and Oolong teas coming in next.
If you don’t like the taste of green tea you may want to try a variety that includes some mint, or another flavor in it. Just be sure to look for teas that are natural and contain no hidden chemicals. It really is worth your while, and your health, to drink several cups of green tea each day. Try drinking tea in place of your morning coffee. You may not miss it as much as you think and you might realize that you just want something warm to drink each morning.
Remember, the health benefits of tea are numerous and it is definitely something that you should be including in your diet regularly.
