Green Tea

Miracle worker in a cup 🙂 and tasty too!

Did the cold or flu give you a visit this year? It seems that no matter who you talk to, they either know of someone or they themselves were attacked by one of those nasty viruses out there. Over the winter both my son and husband were stricken by the flu and, let me tell you, it was not fun! Through a few nasty colds and the flu visiting our household this winter, I was able to  miraculously stay healthy. Over most of my life I have rarely been one to get sick, but I felt extremely lucky this past season not to even have had a cold. Even my mom came down with the flu after helping out at my house for a day and a half. I strongly believe that a large factor that helps me avoid those nasty viruses is the fact that I drink at least one cup of green tea a day. I’ve done this for several years, and most days I drink more than one cup (its actually recommended that you drink 2-3 cups a day to receive the full benefits but if this is a tough thing to do, just adding one cup will make a world of difference). I also drink a cup of Dandelion Root Tea every day which I plan on doing a separate post on in the future. Along with boosting my immune system and helping me avoid those nasty viruses, tea has been found, through much research, to have many health benefits that should encourage you to consume this wonderful drink. Here are just a few:

1. Tea can boost exercise endurance. Scientists have found that the antioxidants in green tea extract increase the body’s ability to burn fat as fuel, which accounts for improved muscle endurance.
2. Drinking tea could help reduce the risk of heart attacks.
3. The antioxidants in tea might help protect against a boatload of cancers, including breast, colon, colorectal, skin, lung, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, liver, ovarian, prostate, and oral cancers.
4. Drinking tea is linked with a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
5. Green tea increases 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. That, in itself, should be enough evidence to encourage all of us to drink tea!
6. Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
7. Green tea can apparently also help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, This is because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

I just chose to highlight a few of the benefits that studies have shown drinking green tea can produce. Of course, nothing can substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle. Drinking green tea should be something you do as part of a healthy diet. Don’t think you can eat chips and pizza all day and that you’ll be okay because you have a cup of green tea each day 🙂

The other great thing about green tea is that it’s inexpensive. You can generally find a 40 count pack for between $3-$6, depending on which brand you purchase. I drink Lipton Green Tea because it comes in an assortment of tasty flavors and can be found at just about any grocery store. I was particularly fond of Lipton’s Green Tea Superfruit Jasmine Passionfruit with Citrus this past winter. The addition of citrus to this flavor is what pulled me in during the cold and flu infested winter months. Now, with summer approaching, I’ve been leaning more towards the coconut and berry flavors. I enjoy my cup with a packet of Splenda and a splash of Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk. You can also add some ginger to your tea for added health benefits.

So if you’re not a tea drinker, give it a try. With all the benefits that cup of tea holds, why wouldn’t you? I actually think tea is an acquired taste, so if you don’t like it right away, stick with it.  You may be surprised how you feel about it in a week or two.

Enjoy and stay healthy. I know I will….now, off to find some wood to knock on 🙂