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It’s no doubt that some of us might be just as health conscious, as we are style conscious. For this reason, I will also make some posts on how to cultivate a healthier lifestyle from ordinary living. I decided a good topic for my first post would be on green tea.
It’s a typical morning at Starbucks and the air inside is fresh with the scent of fresh coffee grounds and sweets from the bearclaws and danishes inside the dessert case. You watch a few patrons at a few tables away from you laughing, and swirling a clear plastic cup of crushed ice mixed with a green liquid that you’ve never seen before. You usually love to try new drinks at Starbucks, and this will be no different. But, what is it?
Instead of your vanilla latte usual, you place an order for the green liquid. After you receive it, you take a slow sip and you allow for the subtle taste of sweet grass to grace your taste buds before it cascades down your esophagus. This is when you will identify the taste of
History
India and China were the first countries to cultivate tea. Suddenly, in the twenty-first century, everyone is drinking tea around the world. There are three types of tea: black, oolong, and green. Green tea is what we’re going to focus on today.
In traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, practitioners would often use green tea as a diuretic (helps secrete urine), astringent (controls bleeding to help heal wounds), and to improve cardiovascular health. Presently, the benefits of green tea has gained popularity through it’s known benefits of boosting exercise endurance, improving mental clarity, reducing weight loss, relieving flatulence, preventing cardiovascular disease, and protecting the body against cancer.
What’s in it?
Green tea is composed of unfermented leaves that currently contain the highest level of polyphenols. Antioxidants are substances that scavenger free radicals. Free radicals are damaging compounds in the body that alter cells, DNA growth, and can even contribute to cell death. Free radicals, however, are a natural part of our bodies growth process, but environmental toxins (including ultraviolet rays from the sun, radiation, smoking, and air pollution) can make these damaging particles worse. Antioxidents such as polyphenols in green tea can neutralize free radicals and can reduce or help prevent some of the damage that they cause.
Green tea is derived from the camellia sinenis plant which can grow as large as a shrub or tree. Today, the camellia sinenis plant grows throughout Asia and parts of the Middle East and Africa. For those who smoke, green tea can provide a small amount of protection to help you be on your way to kicking your habit.
From tea cups to muffin tins, oh my!
Green tea has become so popular that it’s properties have shown up in some of our favorite lotion and shampoo brands and even cupcakes! Recent studies have indicated that green tea will almost always have the same effect as just as you were to drink a cup or two a day. If you bake, you can open a green tea bag and pour them straight into the batter. You can also use a green tea rinse when you wash your hair instead of using conditioner to use your hair. A green tea rinse can help strengthen weak hair strands and provide less irritation.
Where to Buy
Some of my favorite and inexpensive green tea brands are Yogi and Celestial Seasonings tea. One of my favorite quirks about Yogi green tea is that I like how a daily quote of wisdom is written on every tea bag. Talk about a refreshing start to your morning!
For the upmost in freshness, a simple Google will display a variety of online tea merchants for your palate. How many cups should you drink? Shoot for 2-3 cups a day for optimal health. However, it is always best to listen to your body and use herbs with care. And if you’re not sure, always ask your doctor or supervisor with adequate knowledge in the field of botanical medicine.
