There are so many different teas to try out there, one more exotic than the next. Green tea is high on my list of favorites since it is packed with all sorts of healthy benefits. It happens to be the least processed of all the teas and contains amazing antioxidants called catechins. Catechins are are best known for:
- inhibiting cancer cell activity
- boosting immunity
- preventing cavity-producing plaque from forming (assuming you’re flossing and brushing already!)
- protecting your gums from disease
If these health benefits aren’t enough, here are a few more reasons to swap out your cup of java for a scrumptious cup of green tea.
- Green tea stimulates the metabolism and accelerates weight loss
- Helps treat rheumatoid arthritis
- Lowers the risk of heart disease and lowers bad cholesterol levels.
- Helps protect against bacterial infections
- Reduces inflammation
- Anti-aging
- Strengthens bones and joints
So why not give it a try?
A few things to be aware of when choosing your green tea
Green tea contains caffeine
Green tea does contain caffeine, but not as much as a cup of coffee. Green tea has been found to have 15-40 milligrams of caffeine per 8 oz. cup, while the average cup of coffee has 100-200 milligrams- 4 to 10 cups of green tea have the equivalent amount of caffeine as 1 cup of coffee.
Don’t drink decaf tea-or decaf anything!
Decaffeinated tea still has caffeine! There is also a high likelihood that the decaf tea has bad chemicals in it from the decaffeination process.
Stick with organic tea
Organic teas won’t have any toxins, pesticides, heavy metals and other dangerous industrial chemicals.
Are you a coffee or tea drinker? What’s your favorite type of green tea?
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*Top photo used under Creative Commons from Alan Cleaver
Reason #12: it tastes great! Unless you buy tea bags. Then it tastes terrible. 🙁
Also, you can naturally decaffeinate your green tea by steeping it once for 30 – 45 seconds, tossing that, and steeping it again for 1 – 3 minutes. I’ve been told that’s how quickly most of the caffeine will come out of the leaves.
My two favourite types of green tea are Japanese genmaicha and Chines green tea blended with jasmine.
It does taste great! Loose tea wins in my book too. Thanks for the great info on decaffeinating your own tea-I’m going to try that. I love tea before bed, but I don’t want the caffeine.
Where do you buy your tea?
Nice list of reasons to drink green tea. If you don’t want so much caffeine in your tea you have to use the same leaves for a second and a third time, and the caffeine content drops to 12 mg and then 4 mg (after first boil green tea contains 32mg).
Thanks Alexandra! What a great tip. I always try to use my tea multiple times.
Thanks for reminding me how great green tea is! My health has taken a bit of a dive in the last couple of years (traumatic family experience) and I need to make some changes now! I just dumped out my cup of coffee and put on the kettle! One step at a time!