Green Tea-Whats The Hype????

We all love a cup of tea. In fact British people sip, on average three-and-a-half cups each day.I DRINK TEA 

For the love of the taste and also if i dont drink my 2 cuppas of  tea a day i get moooody Hmmmm!!! I drink it because I’m told it’s good for me-You know mums words also in this coffee generation m a tea person…or, to be honest, the real reason I drink it is because I believe it help keeps my weight in check. But recently I decided to look into it a bit deeper and see what are all these other benefits of green tea 

Why Green Tea?

Green tea has been used as a medicine for thousands of years, originating in China but widely used throughout Asia this beverage has a multitude of uses from lowering blood pressure to preventing cancer. The reason that green tea has more health benefits attached to it than black tea is (apparently) due to the processing. Black tea is processed in a way that allows for fermentation whereas green tea’s processing avoids the fermentation process. As a result, green tea retains maximum amount of antioxidants and poly-phenols the substances that give green tea its many benefits.

Swap black tea for green

'Although black and green tea come from the same plant, green tea is less processed and therefore contains more simple flavonoids called catechins,' 

'These protect your body from free radicals that can damage your body's cells and have also been linked to cancer and ageing.'

In fact, around 30 per cent of the weight in freshly picked tea leaves is catchins.

Leaves used to make black tea are fully oxidised, whilst those for green tea or white tea are lightly steamed, which helps to preserve important vitamins and minerals

Experiment with different types of green tea to find a taste you like. You may enjoy green tea flavoured with ginger or jasmine flowers, which provide a delicate, fragrant taste.

Blood Pressure. Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

Depression. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and be a great benefit to tea drinkers.

1. 

Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial. Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from influenza to cancer. In some studies green tea has been shown to inhibit the spread of many diseases.
Skincare. Green tea can apparently also help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage

A cuppa helps your teeth-A cup of green tea contains fluoride, which helps preserve your teeth.

'Recent studies have shown that green tea has anti-bacterial properties and helps to combat tooth decay by killing harmful bacteria, like streptococci,Try switching from drinking fizzy drinks to green tea.

Strokes, diabetes and cancer

 'Green tea can lower your blood pressure by helping to relax your blood vessels.

'Its' antioxidant properties reduce harmful LDL cholesterol – that causes heart disease. Studies have shown that flavonoids in green tea possess anti-inflammatory properties, which protect against diabetes stroke and cancer

Keeps you slim

'Drinking green tea can help you lose weight because it has zero calories and helps to increase your energy expenditure,' 'If you're dieting, try substituting semi-skimmed milk for full fat and save about 21 calories per cup. Don't add sugar.Tea is the lowest calorie beverage you can get and it helps keeps hunger at bay

'Although drinking tea with milk reduces the action of flavanoids, it provides the main source of calcium for women over forty,'If you do choose to drink your tea without milk, try adding a slice of lemon to give a little zing. The fruit is full of vitamin C – which is important for healthy skin, bone and teeth and a strong immune system.