Ever since college I’ve been a seriously passionate coffee (okay, latte) drinker. I found my morning coffee comforting and yummy and couldn’t imagine giving it up. At the same time, I recognized that I was relying on getting a great deal of my energy from coffee and didn’t like feeling dependent on it. But because I was sluggish without it, I only took breaks from it when on vacation.
For whatever reason, since my last vacation, I’ve gotten onto a serious green tea kick and haven’t had coffee in several months. Now the relaxation time I have in the morning revolves around a cup of green tea with a book. The best part? I know that it’s so beneficial for my health! So sometimes I have a 2nd and even 3rd cup throughout the day – guilt free!
My favorite kind? Mighty Leaf Tea — it’s bags of loose tea leaves. My favorite flavors are: Green and White Tea Variety and Organic Green Dragon.
Why should we be drinking this stuff?
* Packed with Antioxidants. Because green tea is hardly processed, levels of catechins are more highly concentrated than other teas like black or oolong. (WebMD)
* Fights Cancer. The catechins that are uniquely in green tea (EGCG or epigallocatechin-3-gallate) “inhibits cancer growth and kills cells that are growing inappropriately”. These studies have only been proven in labs and it is thought that more than 1 cup of green tea a day is needed to see these benefits. So, have that extra cup or two!
* Possibly Good for Heart Health. The antioxidants in green tea are known as dilators, in other words, they “improve the flexibility of blood vessels and make them less vulnerable to clogging.
* Promotes Weight Loss. Green tea, especially caffeinated, has been shown to help with weight loss AND decrease LDL (the bad kind) cholesterol levels. There are supplements with green tea extra touting weight loss, but as with most things, it’s most beneficial to get the real stuff — drink the tea for best results.
So, next time you head to your local coffee shop, order a cup of green tea. Both your health and your waistline will thank you!
