Fitness Tip #29 of #31 Drink Green Tea

Green Tea is awesome. Although all teas have many health benefits, green tea has the most. This is because green tea is the least processed compared to all other teas. Teadrinking has been associated with health benefits for centuries, only in recent years have its medicinal properties been investigated scientifically.

Tea’s health benefits are largely due to its high content of flavonoids — plant-derived compounds that are antioxidants. Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins.  Catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties. Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder.

Additional benefits for regular consumers of green tea includes a reduced risk for heart disease. The antioxidants in green tea can help block the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and improve artery function.

Drinking a cup of tea a few times a day to absorb antioxidants and other healthful plant compounds.  The best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drinkit freshly brewed tea. Decaffeinated, instant and bottled teas have less of these compounds. Although bottled green tea is a convenient alternative (just make sure it isn’t sweetened, artificial or otherwise). Green tea can impede the absorption of iron from fruits and vegetables. Adding lemon or drinking tea between meals will counteract this problem. 

Drink one to three cups of brewed or bottled green tea everyday! Allow the tea to steep for three to five minutes to bring out its catechins.

I’ll be back tomorrow with Tip #30

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