I always heard how healthy Green Tea was, however I never understood the actual benefits until recently. Now, I'm addicted! Here's why...
High in Antioxidants so may prevent cancer- It's less processed than most other teas so it's high in antioxidants. Remember, antioxidants help prevent or repair cell damage. Since cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body, it is believe that Green Tea may help prevent or repair it. In addition, according to the National Cancer Institute, the polyphenols in green tea have been shown to decrease tumor growth in laboratory and animal studies and may protect against damage caused by ultraviolet UVB radiation.
Good for the heart and believed to lower Cholesterol- Green tea contains catechins, polyphonic compounds that are thought to exert numerous protective effects, particularly on the cardiovascular system. An analysis of published studies in 2011 found that consuming green tea, either as a beverage or in capsule form, was linked to significant but modest reductions in total and LDL or "bad" cholesterol.
- May reduce risk of Alzheimer's & Parkinson's- Multiple studies show that the catechin compounds in green tea can have various protective effects on neurons in test tubes and animal models, which may lower the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Green tea is made from more mature leaves that are not fermented or oxidized. Most of the flavonoids in green tea are catechins, and one in particular is believed to be responsible for most of the health benefits in green tea. Green tea also contains a lot of polyphenols and has a lower caffeine content than black tea. It's a great alternative to other beverages like carbonated beverages, regular tea and alcohol!
Although loose green tea is better, I tend to buy the organic version in bags simply for convenience. Always seep 1-2 minutes (no more) so you are soaking up the multiple benefits. Avoid seeping more than 2 minutes as your tea will taste too bitter.
Bigelow Green tea happens to be my favorite. I't took me a few weeks to acquire the taste but once I did, it became a regular in my everyday.
