TeaGreen Tea For Health!
We should all be grateful to the ancient Chinese for introducing to us the many wonders of the simple yet pleasurable cup of green tea.
For hundreds of years, green tea was used to relieve headaches and depression in China. The habit of drinking tea has been passed on and today it is becoming popular because of the many benefits being discovered by regularly drinking this relaxing drink.
Tea comes in many forms and varieties, but there are three uniquely different types of tea.
All tea, whether black, green, or red, comes from the leaves of a warm weather evergreen called Camellia Sinensis. The difference comes in when the leaves are processed.
The longer the leaves are processed, the darker the tea becomes. Thus, green tea is the kind which has undergone the least amount of processing.
Processing of green tea usually involves quickly steaming the leaves, while black and red teas are usually dried, crushed and fermented which makes them seem stronger and more potent.
Don"t be fooled by this obvious feature, as many believe that the closer it is to its natural state, the more valuable the medicinal and healing properties.
All tea is known to contain polyphenols which is known for giving tea its antioxidant properties and antioxidants are believed to protect our bodies from free radical damage.
The measure of antioxidants is known as the ORAC score and tea has been found to rank higher than many fruits and vegetables, so you should seriously consider including tea in your everyday diet.
In addition to preventing unwanted blood clotting, it has been shown that polyphenols may lower cholesterol levels. Drinking four to six cups a day may also decrease the risk of gastric, esophageal and skin cancers. A simple internet search will give you a long list of ailments, aches, and pains that can be cured through the daily intake of this non-prescription drink.
Some of the more popular ailments that can be cured are cancer, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and impaired immune functions.
Drinking tea also aids us against digestive disorders, Alzheimer"s and Parkinson"s while increasing metabolism and fat oxidation. It is even said that green tea helps prevent tooth decay because it kills the bacteria which causes dental plaque.
No matter what reason you might have for drinking green tea, it is clear that you can derive some benefit from daily consumption.
It should be noted that many of today"s more marketable "herbal teas" may or may not be tea at all as many of these products are blends of herbs and spices with other plant parts included for flavoring.
These do not offer the health promoting qualities of Camellia Sinensis. You should read ingredients carefully to make certain that you are getting the product that you expect.