Green tea is no longer just an innocent morning cuppa, or a replacement to coffee. This leafy substance has a secret life of playing a key role in fighting cancer cells, assisting in anti-ageing and detoxing the body.
Asia’s most common ingredient, all green tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, however, its final aroma and taste differs depending on where it’s grown and where it’s produced.
While it’s most commonly known to detoxify the body from unwanted toxins, this low-calorie beverage provides natural chemicals that provide more health-boosting benefits than black or white tea. Green tea doesn’t oxidize, so it contains high levels of catechins, an antioxidant agent, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a cancer-fighting antioxidant.
In Chinese medicine, green tea is used to treat everything from depression to headaches, but in modern medicine and science laboratories, green tea has proven to show modest benefits for major health problems.
A 2010 study conducted on animal cells found that green tea protected the nerve cells from crashing, the kind associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Many other studies have suggested that green tea consumption can reduce the risk of stroke and coronary artery disease. In addition, it may lower cholesterol with a suitable effect on blood pressure and diabetes.
As for weight loss, while there is no extensive research on green tea aiding to weight loss, there is evidence out there showing that green tea extract increases metabolism and helps burn fat.
My Current Favourites
I’ve been currently trying these instant green tea sachets that can be added to hot or cold water, no brewing required, and loving the concept behind it.
Green Tea in 3: I am loving this instant tea at the moment. One sachet has 90% organic green tea and only 10% of fruit extract, leaving no scope for any nasties in there. One cup of ‘Green Tea in 3’ has zero calories and comes in three varied flavours: apple, blueberry and peach. Yum! There’s an exclusive offer via 12WBT on this new brand of green tea that promises a delicious blend in under 3 seconds (strapped for time, are we?). Head here for all the details.
Green Tea X50: These come in sachet form (and three different flavours), free from preservatives, aspartame and cane sugar. Just add them to either hot or ice-cold water, with only 10 calories per serve. I found this a great substitute to carrying tea bags or loose leaf on holidays – just pop a few sachets in your handbag, and make a cuppa anywhere.
How To Make The Perfect Cuppa
- If using tea bags, to gain full benefits from green tea, brew for three minutes.
- For optimum flavour, pour 100C water on the tea bag. Any less hotter and you won’t get the most flavour out of the tea bag.
- The health benefits of tea degrade with time and temperature of water, so it’s best to drink freshly brewed tea.
- Tea bags contain the same beneficial properties as loose leaf tea, so don’t stress much about what you’re drinking.
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