Green Tea for your Health
Drinking green tea is a must if you are trying to be healthier. Just drinking one cup a day can provide numerous health benefits. Green tea is sometimes even sometimes called the “miracle drink”. It is rich in antioxidants, particularly epigallocatechin gallat (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful antioxidant- besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. Some other benefits of drinking green tea are it:
- prevents tooth decay
- increases metabolism
- prevents cancer
- prevents rheumatoid arthritis
- fights high cholesterol levels
- prevents cardiovascular disease
- fights infection
- prevents diabetes
- boosts immune system
- lowers chances of cognitive impairment
- prevents bad breath
- lowers stress levels
- boosts mental alertness
The best way to consume green tea is by adding hot water to a (preferably organic) tea bag or tea leaves and letting it steep for at least five minutes. You can add some honey or other healthy sweetener like agave nectar, but otherwise it can be drunken plain, without anything added for taste. Do not add milk however, as a study has shown that casein (in milk) blocks the normal, healthful effects the tea has in protecting against cardiovascular disease. Milk may also block tea’s effect on other things, such as cancer. Plant-based milks, like soy milk, however, do not contain casein and thus are not known to have similar effects on tea.
