Green tea is brimming over with health benefits
We’ve all read dozens of reports about the benefits of green tea and while the jury is still debating how many cups we need daily to reap its benefits, there’s no doubt that it’s the best health-in-a-cup drink we know. Some say as little as two cups a day is enough while others gun for five cups daily, and still others believe up to ten cups are called for!
If you’re a recent convert you might know that green tea goes through minimal processing in the manufacturing stage. While black tea is fermented, green tea leaves are steamed, thus preserving its catechins, powerful antioxidants that protect your from a host of illnesses. Catechins attract the free radicals in blood cells that may otherwise cause blocked arteries, clots, damaged DNA or cancer. Its unique curing process makes green tea rich in a more potent form of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant that’s not easily available and has been proven to prevent cancer and other illnesses.
Green tea has many other health benefits as well, such as lowering cholesterol absorption in the digestive system thereby reducing levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol. ECGC protects cartilage destruction, reduces joint swelling and pain, and is helpful in treating arthritis. Theanine, found in green tea, boosts the activity of the gamma delta T cells that are a form of anti-bacterial protein that help strengthen our immunity systems. Green tea is also widely used as an aid in weight loss, an anti-acne and wrinkle remedy and to fend off allergies and infections.
Green tea is served in many top-end spas after a massage. There are many reasons for this ritual. Apart from the inherent benefits of green tea, it’s particularly helpful post a massage. A good massage stimulates the body’s lymphatic and energy systems. The lymphatic system is the body’s drainage system and carries waste in the form of negative energy, free radicals and toxins. Massages enable a release of these negative forces from the tissue, body parts and energy systems. These make their way into the lymphatic and energy systems of the body. Drinking green tea after a massage stimulates the flow of these toxins within the lymphatic system and helps to expel them from the body. Green tea also attracts free radicals that may cause harm and hastens the disposal of these wastes as well. Massages also tend to de-hydrate our muscles due to manipulation during the process. Green tea aids in re-hydrating the muscle tissue and reducing possible pain or soreness post-massage.
While green tea has multiple health benefits, it’s important that you don’t overdo it. Many people are unaware that green tea has caffeine, so if you are sensitive to caffeine then one cup daily should be your limit. Green tea also contains tannins (which can decrease the absorption of iron and folic acid), so if you are pregnant or trying to conceive then green tea may not be an ideal drink for you. For the rest of us with all these abundant benefits…it’s a wonder we drink anything else.
for a healthy you!
