Our illnesses come from all different directions.
Today, many of us are challenged with health. We need to reverse our health back to where it once was before when we were in healthy condition.
One way to reverse our health is to drink green tea on a regular basis.
What is Green Tea?
Green tea has been used as a medicine for thousands of years, originating in China but widely used throughout Asia this beverage has a multitude of uses from lowering blood pressure to preventing cancer. Green tea has antioxidants and poly-phenols the substances that give green tea its many benefits.
Here’s a list of some of its amazing benefits:
- Weight Loss. Green tea increases the metabolism. The polyphenol found in green tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories.
- Diabetes. Green tea apparently helps regulate glucose levels slowing the rise of blood sugar after eating. This can prevent high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage.
- Heart Disease. Scientists think, green tea works on the lining of blood vessels, helping keep them stay relaxed and better able to withstand changes in blood pressure. It may also protect against the formation of clots, which are the primary cause of heart attacks.
- Esophageal Cancer. It can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, but it is also widely thought to kill cancer cells in general without damaging the healthy tissue around them.
- Cholesterol. Green tea reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.
- Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It is said to delay the deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Studies carried out on mice showed that green tea protected brain cells from dying and restored damaged brain cells.
- Tooth Decay and Gingivitis. Studies suggests that the chemical antioxidant in green tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, tooth decay, and gum infection.
- Blood Pressure. Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
- Depression. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and be a great benefit to tea drinkers. Green tea calms and clears the mind.
- Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial. Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from influenza to cancer. In some studies green tea has been shown to inhibit the spread of many diseases.
- Skincare. Green tea can apparently also help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage.
- Detoxifies. Green tea detoxifies heavy metal and other harmful substances in the body.
How Much to Take?
You can drink 1 – 10 cups a day.
If you are sensitive to caffeine then one cup should be your limit. Once your body is used to green tea, you should most likely have no problem with caffeine. Your body will adjust to green tea caffeine.
Green tea also contains tannins (which can decrease the absorption of iron and folic acid). So try not to drink the green tea with food.
It is recommended to drink green tea with fruit or small amount of snack.
It is also recommended to drink whole leaf green tea that is sold in loose form (not packaged in small individual tea bags). Best quality of green tea is organic or wild.
Stacy Moon, Licensed Acupuncturist