Green Tea
Kerri-Lynn LaPointe, ND | September 7, 2010 | 11:19 am
Green tea has been used in China for at least 4000 years as both a social beverage and medicine. It can be consumed warm or cold, making it the perfect year round drink. Recent scientific and medical studies show there are many health benefits to drinking green tea:
- Improves glucose control and enhances insulin activity (beneficial to diabetics)
- Inhibits the growth of cancer cells
- Lowers total cholesterol levels, while improving the ratio of good cholesterol (HDL) to bad cholesterol (LDL)
- Enhances weight loss by reducing fat mass, fat absorption, and increasing thermogenesis (heat production that burns calories)
- Decreases inflammation
- Supports immune function
- Aids digestion
- Prevents tooth decay and promotes healthy gums due to antibacterial properties
- Protects against autoimmune diseases
- Topically, protects against skin cancer and UV radiation damage
The main constituent found in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG.) Rich in antioxidants, it is responsible for the health benefits listed above. When choosing green tea, quality is important. Dark green or brown leaves that are bitter tasting indicate that oxidation has occurred, destroying the EGCG and health benefits. Generally, packaged green tea found in grocery stores is not of the highest quality. Instead, look for green tea that is bright green in colour, indicating it was steamed immediately after being picked. To prevent a bitter or “gassy” taste, do not steep tea for longer than 3-4 minutes. To receive maximum health benefits, aim for a few cups daily. As a substitute for coffee, it is a great way to start the day and the mild caffeine provides a great pick-me-up mid-afternoon. For those of you who are not drinking enough water, each cup of green tea counts as one of your eight glasses of water for the day!
