In yesterday’s blog I touched on the importance of having green tea as a staple in your every day diet. Today, I want to tell you exactly why green tea is about to rock your world.
Green Tea is everywhere these days. It can be found in all different forms, from green tea smoothies at Whole Foods, green tea diet pills, green tea ice cream, and Starbucks even offers green tea Frappuccinos. It’s easy to say that green tea is taking over. Our western culture has finally realized the amazing benefits has been serving the Eastern world for thousands and thousands of years. And I’ve already jumped on the green tea bandwagon, join me! (In fact, I’m drinking a cup of green tea right now…)
Green tea originated in China over 4,000 years ago, but has since become associated with many Asian cultures. Green tea has been used as both a beverage and a medicine in most of Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Initially used as medicine, tea became the most commonly used beverage during western Han dynasty. They used it as medicinal purposes to regulate body temperature, blood pressure and promoting digestion. Once the word of this “magical tea” started to spread through Asia, Buddhist monks started growing it around monasteries, leading to the tea trade with European powers.
Fast forward a few thousand years to almost present day, and we have scientists performing experiments with green tea to test the legitimacy of these old Asian beliefs. Turns out, they were right.
Studies have shown that drinking four cups of green tea a day can reduce the risk of developing stomach and lung cancer as well as heart disease. The antioxidant in green tea is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 24 times better than vitamin E. Green tea’s antioxidants, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots, and atherosclerosis. Doctors say drinking at least two cups of green tea daily inhibits cancer growth.
My Green Tea Drink!
It also contains an antioxidant known as polyphenols which helps you fight against aging. AND green tea burns fat and boosts your metabolism naturally. “Taken altogether, the evidence certainly suggests that incorporating at least a few cups of green tea every day will positively affect your health,” says Diane McKay, PhD, a Tufts University scientist who studies antioxidants.
The best part? With summer coming up, this Yogi tea is absolutely delicious iced. I keep a pitcher with 4 tea bags, 4 lemons, 1 cucumber, and a handful of mint in my fridge - making it super easy to drink all day while improving my health and immune system. Plus, each tea bag has an inspirational quote or phrase on the end of the string. So go out, grab some packages of tea and let me know if you start seeing a difference in how you feel!
