GREEN TEA: A Health-TEA Choice

Have you ever tried drinking green tea? If not, I suggest you go to the nearest store and buy one. Because contrary to belief, green tea is not just for tea- enthusiasts or the uber health conscious. It is for everyone to consume and for anyone to enjoy with added benefits that will make life not only healthy, but also substantial and enjoyable.

What is Green Tea?

A green tea is created using the leaves of a Chinese plant, the Chinese Camelia. After picking up the best leaves, these are immediately heated with the process of steaming or dry cooking it in hot pans.

But before we go any further, it would be just fair to give justice as to the humble beginnings of this health miracle, the green tea. Just a brief history behind the start of one of the spectacular health drinks known to mankind to date.

History:

For starters, no one really knows exactly how green tea was discovered. Many stories have been written and told and some even became legends. Let us turn back the pages of history 5000 years ago, as reference to this herbal tea dates back around this time. Location: Ancient China.

Shien Non Shei
(c) sdacu.com

One story goes like this. Picture a simpleton Chinese man, known as Shien Non Shei. Imagine him going about his daily chores one day, living his normal, ordinary life and imagine him surprised as he, probably out of curiosity, decided to taste a plant and discovered it tasted delicious. It not only proved to be tasteful but medicinal as well. Then he started experimenting by mixing this leaf with water. And Voila! Instant medicinal, tasty drink.

Shen Nung
(c) eclecticcommons.telldat.net

Another story goes like this: Imagine a different guy of different stature. An emperor named Shen Nung. Picture him going about his royal routines one day, when tea time arrives. Imagine his shock when accidentally a leaf of some sort from a plant fell into his cup of hot water he was drinking at the time and was amazed at how wonderful it made his drink taste instead.

However, whoever or whenever it started, it all became a domino effect since then. Ever since then, green tea has grown to be popular to the influential and the leaders in China. For during those times, only these particular people benefited from this drink. For back then, green tea is a favorite but very expensive commodity. But thanks to the Fall of the Mongolian Empire, it allowed expansion of consumers since then, eventually expanding not only to the rich and powerful but to all people of different age or social strata of China.

It continued to expand its horizon from then on. From China, to Japan, South Korea extending to Europe. It even got popular in the Middle East. Then later, introduced to United States.

Laugh all you want at the speculated events as to the origins of Green Tea. They may sound too fictional and ridiculous even, but once you discover as to what green tea can offer you, I guarantee you will cease to laugh. For as hard it is to imagine, green tea is far more than just a tasty little drink. It is not just a joke. Its health benefits are serious matters concerning health and which could probably save your life. Here are some of them.

HealthTEA Benefits:

1. Anti-oxidant, anti-aging and good for the heart

The Secret: Catechin polypherols, specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Catechin for short. Catechins are the main protagonists to make aging not such a nightmare. They eliminate free radicals, which are the known culprits to the advancing of aging and also are destroyers of healthy DNA. It also prevents cell oxidation and further damage that can make you look older. Catechins is not only a powerful anti-oxidant that not only slows aging but it also prevents certain cardiovascular diseases and other heart problems such as stroke, atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Due to its fat burning properties, it helps dissolve fats and clots, thereby keeping arteries clean and fat free. So say goodbye to aging and dying early due to heart problems.

2. Weight loss and fat burning

Green tea also burns fat. It reduces carbohydrate utilization and therefore, less weight fat production and added weight. It fights obesity by lowering Low Density Level (LDL) cholesterol, also known as the bad cholesterol, and dissolves triglycerides from the body. Triglycerides are those sugars and fats that inhabit our liver and small intestine. Green tea also speeds up our metabolism thereby, also speeding up weight loss. Combine the main ingredients of green tea, catechins plus caffeine and you will lose weight just like that. These ingredients causes unwanted fat from the bloodstream to be used as a fuel for energy in the body, which will lead to burning these body fats.

3. Cancer preventing and fighter

Green tea is more than just an anti-oxidant. Studies have shown that it can also prevent and combat cancer. Some of these include: brain tumors, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, leukemia and even ovarian and prostate cancers. Some studies also show promising results on pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer. How? Studies show that first, it kills cancer cells by cutting-off its blood supply by inhibiting blood vessels from growing in cancer cells. Also, it destroys possible damaged and abnormal cells in the body, which will eventually lead to its self-destructing behavior. It also inhibits too much production of destructive enzymes that promotes growth of cancer cells.

4. Prevent and treat diabetes

The main ingredients that enables green tea to prevent and treat diabetes is: The catechin (or epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)). Green tea is a very good source of catechins that helps in regulating glucose levels with the help of insulin. It not only increases insulin actions, but also by blocking glucose absorption and metabolism in the body and regulating blood sugar levels.

5. Other Benefits

Some of the healthy benefits of green tea include the following:

• Reduces high blood pressure
• Stress reliever and brain power enhancer
• Prevents tooth ailments and bad breath
• Inflammatory reducers
• Reduces acne and pimples
• Helps fight Alzheimer’s disease
• Prevents osteoporosis

BTW, did you know that Tava Tea Wellness Blend is an awesome brew that combines three of the best green teas in the world (Pu-erh, Oolong, Sencha)?

I suggest you to learn a little bit more
about this tea by clicking here.

You'll thank me later...


Huang :)