Green tea is the most popular drink in the world, and it has been for centuries. The ancient Chinese valued it as much as gold, and the Japanese still drink more of it than any other country. Bento tea gifts are one of the many options you have when selecting a present for a Japanese tea lover! But is it truly the fountain of youth that everyone loves to claim? How healthy is it for you?
More about Green Tea
Green tea is a popular choice for a number of health-conscious and environmentally aware people, and with good reason: the tea leaves are harvested while they’re still fresh and then briefly steamed before they are dried. The quick turn-around between when the leaves are harvested and dried means that green tea retains higher levels of antioxidants than black tea. This is usually allowed to wither away and oxidize before it is heated. The antioxidants in green tea are believed to reduce cancer risk and may help reduce cholesterol and even aid in weight loss. The said properties have also more than often contributed to the popularity of green tea among Tea Merchants in NZ, and their likes, as well as with tea lovers, in general.
Green tea has been around for centuries, and it is regularly hailed as a powerful health drink that can fight cancer, boost fat burning, reduce stress, and help us live longer. But is all this true? Let’s take a look at the myths and facts about green tea, as well as the cold hard facts about green tea health benefits:
- Myth: Green Tea helps reduce cellulite. Studies show that green tea doesn’t have any effect on reducing cellulite.
- Fact: Green Tea is full of healthy antioxidants and can help you to meet your daily fluid needs. Not only does it taste great, but it gives you that much-needed energy boost to help you get through the day. It is important to remember that green tea is a diuretic and if you do not replace the fluids that you lose, you could find yourself very dehydrated. So, if you are planning on drinking large quantities of green tea, make sure you increase your water intake as well.
- Myth: Herbal Tea is safe to take during pregnancy. A cup of herbal tea can be a wonderful way to relax and unwind at the end of the day, but because of the high caffeine levels in popular herbal teas like chamomile and black tea, herbal tea has long been off-limits for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive. Fortunately, it turns out that while herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, rooibos, and black tea can indeed have high levels of caffeine, a cup or two a day during pregnancy won’t cause harm to your unborn child.
- Fact: Drinking green tea reduces bad breath. It is a well-known fact that bacteria in your mouth can cause bad breath, and some studies have shown that drinking green tea can reduce bad breath by eliminating harmful bacteria that cause bad breath, and green tea is a natural mouthwash. The antibacterial properties of green tea have been shown to reduce the bacteria in the mouth, which means less bad breath.
- Myth: Green Tea doesn’t expire. While the tea itself is stable in dry form, a green tea’s flavor and aroma actually come from inside the leaf, and the compounds that give green tea its flavor break down over time. Just like broccoli or an apple, green tea does expire. Green tea can have a shelf life of up to 4 months if stored properly. This means that you should never let your tea sit in a hot car or leave it open and exposed to the air for days on end.
- Fact: Green Tea helps you lose weight. Are you thinking of losing weight but have not found the right recipe? Green tea is what you should have a look at. Although it is a very popular drink, there are a few myths surrounding its weight-loss effect. Green tea is proven to be a very effective drink for losing weight and some types of green tea such as Moringa tea (look at this blog about Go Green with Moringa to know more about it) might prove to have additional health benefits as well!
Most of us are aware of the myriad benefits of green tea, but how much do we really know about it? Contrary to popular belief, green tea is not a one-note wonder that’s only good for weight loss or boosting the immune system. But, how much green tea is safe?
There is a lot of conflicting information about how much green tea to drink a day to get the health benefits. Some sources say that green tea is good for you if consumed in small amounts but that there is no benefit to consuming it in large amounts. Other sources say that you need to drink a large amount of green tea to get any health benefits. Well, it is recommended that you only drink no more than five cups per.