Go Green With Your Cuppa!
Tea drinking has long been a part of almost all ancient cultures. A famous quote about tea is "Tea is liquid wisdom". Perhaps that explains why tea forms an inseparable part of most interesting conversations, meaningful "me" times or as a favourite beverage for people to bond over worldwide.
All tea is produced from a plant called "Camellia sinensis". The thousands of different varieties of teas available in the world only vary by the region they are grown, the time of year picked, and the processing methods involved.
Various kinds of tea include White, black, green and Oolong tea. All Chinese and Japanese teas fit within these broad categories. Herbal infusions or Tisanes, are sometimes referred to as "Herbal teas", but interestingly, they actually do not contain the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Each type of tea has its own characteristics including a different taste and differing health benefits.
Green tea is the most popular type of tea, after the indigenous Masala Chai, mainly because of the long list of health benefits that are associated with it. What has further hiked its popularity is the glorification by the weight-loss industry as a champion food that burns fat quickly.
In fact, it's considered one of the world's healthiest drinks and contains the highest amount of antioxidants, especially catechins as compared to other teas. Here are the benefits of this divine herb are:
The natural chemicals called polyphenols in tea provide anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects. The antioxidants in green teas can help block the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and improve cardiovascular function. A specific compound, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is believed to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from the large intestine. Thus, Green tea can be dubbed as "Heart-friendly"! EGCG is also proven to be anti-allergenic. It may be an excellent idea to add Green tea to your superfood arsenal to help combat seasonal allergies.
Many studies have linked an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, oesophagal, and bladder. Researchers imply that cancer rates tend to be lower in countries where consumption of green tea is higher. Researchers believe that it is the high level of polyphenols in tea that helps kill cancerous cells and stop them from growing, however, the exact mechanisms by which tea interacts with cancerous cells is unknown.
Traditional Chinese and Indian medicine experts used Green tea to control bleeding and heal wounds, aid digestion, improve heart and mental health and regulate body temperature. Recent studies have shown green tea can potentially have positive effects on everything from weight loss to liver disorders to type 2 diabetes.
Green tea is allowed to wither only slightly after being picked. Then the oxidation process is stopped very quickly by firing (rapidly heating) the leaves. Therefore, when brewed at lower temperatures and for less time, green teas tend to have less caffeine (10-30% of coffee). In general, green tea contains a relatively small amount of caffeine (approximately 20-45 milligrams per 200 ml cup). The flavour of green tea is also more subtle with many undertones and accents that connoisseurs treasure. Some loose green teas are scented with flowers or mixed with fruits to create scented or flavoured teas. Green tea is available as single tea bags, loose-leaf, and in instant powder form. Green tea supplements are sold as capsules or as liquid extracts.
It is safe to have 2-3 cups of green tea in a day. However, as the old adage goes, "Excess of everything is bad", drinking too much green tea may have contraindications. Those with severe caffeine sensitivities could experience a headache, nervousness, sleep problems, diarrhoea, irritability, irregular heartbeat, tremor, heartburn, insomnia, dizziness, ringing in the ears, convulsions and confusion. Taking it with meals may inhibit iron absorption.
If taken along with stimulant drugs, green tea could possibly increase blood pressure and heart rate. In particular, pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with uncontrolled high blood pressure kidney or liver problems, stomach ulcers, or anxiety disorders should not take green tea supplements or extracts.
The discussion about Green tea cannot be complete without a mention of "Matcha" Green tea, which is the latest favourite among health food bloggers and diet aficionados worldwide.
Matcha is finely powdered green tea. A traditional green tea means brewing the leaves in water for sometime and then disposing of the leaves. Matcha tea is brewed by mixing a teaspoon of matcha powder with a third cup of hot water (heated to less than a boil). Being whole leaves, it is considered quite richer in nutrients in comparison to steeped green tea, to the extent that 1 cup of matcha is considered equivalent to 10 cups of brewed green tea.
Undoubtedly…"A cup of tea makes everything better!".
