HEALTHY FOOD SERIES

Healthy Food Series – Green Tea

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Hey Everyone! It’s time for the weekly Healthy Food Series on iScriblr! *Happy Tuesday*

I know, it’s been a while that we’ve discussed about the “healthy food options” – call it life or it’s distractions, I somehow wasn’t able to research and create something worthwhile! *feels sorry*
Anyhow, keeping up with the trend of being aware of the food products and the “health benefits/health care” involved with their consumption, the Healthy Food Series is back!

Today’s star product is – GREEN TEA!

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HISTORY

Of all the types of teas, green tea’s history is the most out stretched and has been authenticated extensively across many south-east Asian cultures.
It is widely accepted that green tea was first steeped in 2737 BC during the reign of Emperor Shennong – a mythical sage in the mythology of Chinese agriculture and medicine. It is said that during one of his travels, when Shennong and his convoy stopped to rest, few tea leaves fell into his cup of hot water from a burning tea twig that lay nearby. When the Emperor consumed this water, he found it to be extremely refreshing and requested the members of his convoy to prepare it for him henceforward. Interestingly, this event is considered crucial in the history of teas, especially the history of green tea – since this was first recorded instance of tea (referred to as ‘cha’ in Lu Yu’s The Classics of Tea) being brewed and consumed.
However, some cultural historians trace back the history of green tea as far as 3000 years ago when fresh tea leaves were chewed and eaten for recreation by the people who grew it all over south-east Asia.
No matter what the ancestry is, in today’s world – Green tea is THE healthiest beverage on the planet! *hi-fies*

HEALTH BENEFITS

Green Tea is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. Below are a few health benefits of green tea that are supported by studies –

1 Green tea is loaded with polyphenol antioxidants, including a catechin called EGCG. Catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provide other health benefits.
2 Green tea does more than just keep you awake, it can also make you smarter. Thanks to caffeine in it! Caffeine leads to improvements in various aspects of brain function, including improved mood, vigilance, reaction time and memory. However, green tea contains more than just caffeine. It also has the amino acid L-theanine, which is able to cross the blood-brain barrier – increasing the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety effects. It also increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain, improving the over-all brain function.
3 Green tea has powerful antioxidants that may protect against cancer. Multiple studies show that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of various types of cancer.
4 The bioactive compounds in green tea can have various protective effects on the brain. They may reduce the risk of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, the two most common neurodegenerative disorders.
5 The catechins in green tea may inhibit the growth of bacteria and some viruses. This can lower the risk of infections and lead to improvements in dental health, a lower risk of caries and reduced bad breath.
6 Green tea has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol, as well as protect the LDL particles from oxidation. Observational studies show that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
7 Given that green tea can boost the metabolic rate in the short term, it makes sense that it could help you lose weight. It may be particularly effective at reducing the dangerous abdominal fat.

NUTRIENT CONTENT

Serving Size : 1 Mug (8 fl oz)iScriblr_greenTea*Daily values are based on 2000 calorie diet.

RECIPE

The easiest way to drink green tea is to dip the tea bag in a mug full of hot water and let it steep for a while. You may add lemon, mint leaves for that extra zing! My favorite being – Organic India Tulsi Infusions.

Some Green Tea Varieties Are Better For Weight Loss Than Others –  If you’re all about that green and on a weight-loss mission, you might want to choose “Matcha Green Tea” – the richest green tea source of nutrients and antioxidants – where whole leaves are ground and consumed, as opposed to other (most) types of green tea where the leaves are steeped and then the tea is consumed.

WHY YOU SHOULD TRY GREEN TEA?

As per Healthline – “In order to feel better, lose weight and lower your risk of chronic diseases – you might want to consider making green tea a regular part of your life.”

Here’s to clean living and a healthy lifestyle! Cheers!

Love,

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Disclaimer : The facts and information have been collected/collated from Healthline, Google and Britannica. 

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63 Comments

    1. Oh yes, there are many different varieties of green tea basis personal requirements/conditions. Also, the caffeine in green tea is neglible in comparison to coffee.👍

      Reply

  2. I love green tea, I find it very refreshing. I’m quite the tea addict so I drink regular black tea during the day but I’ve integrated green tea into my morning routines for the past couple of years 🙂

    Reply

    1. Likewise! I love tea!💕
      And yeah, just like you, green tea is a new addition to my healthy lifestyle routine (thanks to the winter fat!) 😊

      Reply

  6. wow I’ve never tried green tea before…from the look of it,it looks really healthy.
    I’m definitely trying this soon.

    Reply

    1. Awesome, me too! In fact, I gotta start my day with a hot cuppa green tea, everyday! It’s a morning ritual that I indulge in since almost 5 years now.

      Reply

    1. I have always loved tea!! Since I cannot drink coffee (coz of my medical issues) – green tea was the best substitute for my early morning”wake up” routine!😊

      Reply

    1. “Ginger Tea” is one of the best and yes, my favorites too! 😉
      Hahaha.. Told you, we are more alike than you can imagine! Lol 😉

      Reply

          2. Just read it – and you have done such an awesome job!!! In all actuality, this is the true definition of OCD that I relate too!❤

          3. I wrote it a couple of years ago, with a bunch of new additions. I put up post based on when heart feels it’s the right time, it’s never random! Your comment the other day on OCD, was my Q that it was time for that post! Thanks, appreciate your wonderful feedback! 😊

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