Canyon Ranch - Tucson
If good health is your cup of tea, consider the benefits of green tea.
The origins of tea, made from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis, have been traced back 4,000 years to China. Green tea was valued there for centuries both as a beverage and a medicine before becoming a staple in Japan and, later, throughout Asia.
Green tea – which has a clean, grassy, slightly bitter flavor and a lovely pale green color – contains potent antioxidants called catechin polyphenols, beneficial compounds that are hard to get from other dietary sources.
As medicine has moved toward the theory that oxidative stress and free radicals play a critical role in chronic disease processes – including heart disease, cancer and aging in general – attention has turned to the powerful, free-radical-fighting antioxidants found in plant foods.
“When we talk about green tea reducing oxidative stress, it may have fairly wide-ranging effects,” says Janelle White, M.D., a specialist in both gerontology and herbal medicine, says the documented benefits of green tea abound:
Green tea has a dilating effect on blood vessels, which may help improve circulation.
It reduces the “stickiness” of platelets in the blood, thereby inhibiting the formation of blood clots which can cause heart attacks and strokes. “It is not nearly as potent as aspirin, but it has some of the same blood-thinning, anti-inflammatory properties,” says Dr. White. Animal studies show that green tea can lower levels of unhealthy LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. A study in Switzerland indicates that two to three cups of green tea daily may increase metabolism, and help with weight management.
While there are plenty of pros to drinking tea, be conscious of the cons:
Tea is low in sodium, but high in potassium, and people with kidney problems should avoid drinking it. Tea may interact with blood-thinning medications such as Cumadin. Green tea does contain caffeine. While levels are considerably lower than those in some black teas or coffee, amounts vary. If you prefer decaffeinated, choose naturally – not chemically – decaffeinated teas.
How to: A Prescription for the Best Brew. If you’d like to experience the benefits of this age-old brew, White offers the following suggestions:
Drink to your health daily. Studies documenting the positive effects of green tea are based on consumption of two to four 8-ounce cups a day. “If you have one large mug of tea, you may actually be getting all you need. There may not be additional benefit to drinking more,” says Dr. White.
Take five: Steep tea for five to ten minutes for maximum flavor and benefit.
Mix the milk. Some studies suggest that adding milk to tea significantly reduces its benefits.
Chill before you ice. Pouring hot tea directly over ice may alter it chemically, so cool in the refrigerator before icing.
And there’s good news for those of you who prefer black tea – actually fermented green tea. Dr. White says that some new studies suggest that it may be just as beneficial as its more colorful counterpart.
