The Chinese have used green tea to treat disease for many
centuries. Today, Western culture is beginning to appreciate the
benefits of green tea.
Recent research has revealed some of the health benefits of
using green tea including the possible prevention of rheumatoid
arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cataracts and even cancer.
Green tea aids weight loss programs. Studies have shown that
drinking green tea helps you burn more calories.
One of the best benefits of green tea is its ability to fight
bacteria. This gives your immune system a boost. It also helps
kill bacteria that cause plaque and subsequent tooth decay.
Green tea can help fight food poisoning, as well.
In addition, green tea can help lower blood sugar and
cholesterol. It even helps slow the aging process!
Why is green tea so beneficial? It has to do with the way it is
processed.
Black tea and oolong tea are fermented, but green tea is
steamed. Fermenting oxidizes the antioxidants in the leaves and
renders the antioxidant much less effective. Steaming the leaves
keeps the antioxidants intact.
How much green tea do you need to reap all of the great
benefits? Recommendations vary from 3 to 10 cups a day. One
thing is certain: more is better, so drink as many cups as you
like!
Even though green tea has lots of great benefits, many of us are
not about to give up our morning cup of coffee. Guess what? No
problem!
You will be glad to hear that new studies have shown there are
some healthy benefits of coffee drinking.
Coffee seems to offset some of the damage caused by bad habits
such as smoking or heavy drinking. Some smokers who also drink
coffee have been shown to have less heart disease than other
smokers. Some heavy drinkers who also drink coffee regularly
have less incidence of liver damage than expected.
Besides the caffeine in coffee, there are other ingredients that
are beneficial to our health.
Coffee contains antioxidants including quinines, chlorogenic
acid and tocopherols as well as essential minerals such as
magnesium. All of these aid glucose metabolism and may, as a
result, reduce the risk of diabetes.
Animal studies published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food
Chemistry suggest coffee antioxidants boost the activity of
enzymes which may protect against colon cancer.
Trigonelline is another beneficial ingredient in coffee which
may help prevent tooth decay. Other benefits of coffee include
reducing the risk of Parkinson's disease, helping relieve asthma
symptoms and tension headaches, and inhibiting the formation of
gallstones.
Now you can enjoy your morning brew with no sense of guilt!
About the author:
Lee Dobbins writes for
Online Gourmet
Foods where you can find out more about eating gourmet every
day!
