If you’re looking to improve your health, you might want to consider adding green tea to your diet. It’s not just a delicious beverage; recent research shows it can help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The polyphenols found in Green tea appear to be the key to this effect, but the benefits don’t end there.
Green tea has been revered for centuries for its known health and wellness benefits. But for those just discovering green tea, the range of flavors and forms it’s available in may seem overwhelming. In this blog post, we will explore the varieties and health benefits of green tea, while showing how to make the most of this delicious drink.
Incredible health benefits await – so pour a cup of green tea and keep reading!
Why Green Tea is So Popular?
Survey has shown that approximately 600,000 tons of green tea is consumed every year in the world.It is about 1/5 of total consumption on all kind of tea.
The main production of green tea is in China and Japan. Some popular brands of Tea are Lipton green tea, Yogi, Good Earth and the Republic of Tea.
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Green tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and its popularity is skyrocketing. It’s believed to be healthy, with many potential benefits for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It has been used as a medicine for thousands of years.
It has almost zero calories so there is no need to worry about cholesterol. In fact, it is proved that it helps to lose weight.
Being a powerful antioxidant it is viewed as a healthy option to have.
How To Make Green Tea?
Making green tea is a simple process, and there are several methods to do it. Here is a basic guide on how to make green tea using loose leaves or tea bags:
Ingredients you will need:
– Green tea leaves or green tea bags
– Hot water (not boiling)
– Optional: Honey, lemon, or other flavorings
Process:
1. Choose Your Green Tea
– You can use loose green tea leaves or green tea bags. Although high-quality loose leaves provide a better flavor, tea bags are generally easier to carry.
2. Measure the Tea
– If you are using loose leaves then measure about 1 teaspoon of tea leaves for every 8 ounces (240 ml) of water. You can adjust the amount to your preference.
– If you are using tea bags then use one tea bag per cup of water.
3. Heat the Water
– Heat fresh water to about 175°F (80°C). Boiling water can scorch the delicate green tea leaves and cause a bitter taste. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can let the water cool for a minute after boiling.
4. Preheat Your Teapot or Cup
– Pour a small amount of hot water into your teapot or cup to preheat it. Swirl the hot water around, then discard it.
5. Steeping Time
– For loose leaves: Place the tea leaves in your preheated teapot or cup and pour the hot water over them. Cover with a lid or saucer and let it steep for about 2-3 minutes. You can adjust the steeping time to your taste. Steeping too long can result in a bitter taste.
– For tea bags: Steep the tea bag for 2-3 minutes in hot water, then remove it from the cup.
6. Remove Tea Leaves or Tea Bag
– After steeping, remove the tea leaves if using loose leaves, or simply remove the tea bag.
7. Optional Flavorings
– You can add honey, lemon, or other flavorings to taste. Green tea can be consumed plain or flavored with these additions, depending on personal preference.
8. Enjoy
– Your green tea is ready to drink! Sip it slowly and savor the delicate flavors.
Health Benefits of Green Tea
1. Green tea is a great source of antioxidants.
2. Boosts immunity.
3. It helps to reduce body weight.
4. Lowers cholesterol level and prevents cancer.
5. Lowers blood pressure.
6. Stabilizes blood sugar level.
7. Lowers the risk of heart disease.
Now, Let us see one by one in detail:-
1. Green tea is a great source of antioxidants:-
Green tea has polyphenols which are responsible for preventing a severe disease like cancer. Green tea polyphenols have been implicated as potential antioxidants.
2. Boosts immunity:-
Bacteria and viruses are inhibited by the antimicrobial properties of green tea. Since green tea protects the body against oxidants and radicals, it strengthens the immune system.
3. It helps to reduce body weight:-
In green tea, there is caffeine and an antioxidant called catechin, which is a flavonoid. Research suggests that both of these compounds speeds up metabolism.
Catechin helps to break down excess fat, while both catechin and caffeine increases the amount of energy used by the body.
Like this, green tea helps to reduce body weight.
4. Lowers cholesterol level and prevents cancer:-
Green tea lowers cholesterol as the cholesterol-lowering effect of tea is due to catechins, an antioxidant. Catechin is also responsible for preventing the disease like cancer. Recent studies have shown that drinking just three to four cups of green tea a day can reduce your risk of high cholesterol by more than 11%.
5. Lowers blood pressure:-
Compound called catechins, found in green tea, relax the smooth muscle that lines blood vessels, which leads to lower blood pressure.
6. Stabilizes blood sugar level :-
We all know that green tea is incredibly healthy, but did you know it can also reduce your blood sugar. By preventing normal glucose uptake into the tissues, gallated catechin (GC) in green tea reduces blood glucose levels mainly in the alimentary tract and increases them when in the circulation.
7. Lowers the risk of heart disease:-
There is a compound found in green tea which helps to break up the plaque that is linked to blockages. And hence, by preventing from blockages it helps in reducing the risk of heart attack or strokes.
How To Incorporate Green Tea For Maximum Benefits?
Is there any ideal time to enjoy a cup of green tea?
Well, it is true that drinking at different time has different effects on our body.
Here are some tips on how to make the most out of this powerful drink.
- After breakfast– helps to prevent dehydration.
- ½ before exercise-helps to burn fat in the body.
- 1 hours before and 1 hour after lunch-prevents absorption of fats.
- 1/ 2 hours before bedtime– helps in weight loss.
- 2-3 cups through the day-helps in detoxification(removing toxins).
However, the best time to consume green tea is said to be between the 2 meals
for better absorption of fats. It can be 2 hours before second meal or 2 hours after the first meal .
Takeaway
1. Drinking green tea at different times has different benefits.
2. Green tea can help to improve overall cognitive function, including memory and decision-making.
3. Green tea can help reduce the risk of certain diseases such as cancer, heart diseases, diabetes and many more.
4. Other benefit of green tea is that it can help reduce inflammation and pain.
5. Green tea can also help improve mood and overall well-being.
Make the most of green tea’s flavor, versatility, and health benefits by exploring the varieties of green tea and experimenting with different recipes. Whether you’re looking for a naturally caffeine-free option or a way to boost your energy, green tea is a great choice.
So if you’re looking for an easy and natural way to improve your health, green tea is one solution you won’t want to miss!
Now that you know how to make the most of green tea, it’s time to get brewing! Let us know in the comments your favorite tea recipes and the health benefits you’ve noticed since adding green tea to your diet.
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