Introduction
Green tea has become renowned for its many health benefits. Couple that with its delicious taste and you have a real contender for best superfood in the world! For centuries the leaves of the Camellia Sinesis, or tea plant, have been brewed into this wonderful, healing drink.
Green tea is a real tea, not an herbal tea made from other plants entirely, and is less processed than black tea, with a gentle steam-dry method used to preserve its colour and flavour. This delicate processing is also why loose leaf green tea is so good for you, it holds in all the rich nutrients and antioxidants your body uses to heal and thrive. The Chinese and Japanese have understood this for centuries, with green tea as a central ingredient in their ancient medicinal practices. The people of other nations have finally become aware of these benefits, and green tea has grown to be one of the world’s most popular drinks.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes green tea so good for us! Green tea contains some really great things like:
- Amino Acids – Amino acids like the L-theanine found in green tea are thought to increase mental focus.
- Fluoride – Yes, it’s the same stuff nine out of ten dentists recommend, a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and prevents gum disease.
- Catechins – These phenolic antioxidants, like epigallocatechin-3-gallate, boost our immune systems.
- Caffeine – A familiar name in the world of drinks, this alkaloid has stimulating effects on the nervous system that are quite healthy when consumed in moderation.
If that’s not enough to convince you of how wonderful green tea is, consider that there are indications it can promote weight loss in overweight or obese people. One study suggests that green tea’s caffeine content can suppress the appetite, and even speed up the rate calories are burned using a process called thermogenesis! Of course, we all know that consuming too much caffeine will have unhealthy effects on your sleep and give you a case of the jitters, but in small amounts, it’s quite good for you, including helping us to keep regular! Green tea is a sensible source of caffeine, it has only about 25 milligrams in a cup, while a cup of coffee contains up to 170 milligrams!
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So, the next time you are thirsty on a hot day try an iced green tea, and there’s not much better than a steaming cup of it on a cold morning! Green tea, all the good taste and is twice as healthy, it’s a real winner!
