Why Green Tea Really Is So Healthy

I've spent nearly all of this month hawking the benefits of tea. I can't even do it enough, there are so many! So, needless to say, I have a little more to impart.

What is considered the crux of green tea's nutritional powerhouse position is an antioxidant called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Sounds a little scary, doesn't it? But hear me out. Because green tea isn't fermented, it retains its EGCG, which allows it to be available to neutralize free radicals. This means it might reduce the risk of cancer, because studies suggest that EGCG inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells and interferes with tumor metabolism.

Those same antioxidants that are present in tea also help the heart by reducing levels of LDL, the bad cholesterol, and relaxing arteries to improve blood flow.

This antioxidant's antibacterial properties might also stave off gum disease and tooth decay and reduce bad breath.

The combination of caffeine with EGCG may also boost metabolism.

Aren't these all things I've said previously? They are. But maybe this explains it just a bit better.

So, drink up! Cook with it! Heck, bathe in it! But mostly, just enjoy it!

Green and white fusion tea.

And once the tea is gone, I get to see this at the bottom of the cup:

Tea and Pregnancy

Pregnant women are often warned about their caffeine consumption, and with good reason. Caffeine can reduce the blood flow to the placenta, and research is mixed regarding caffeine and miscarriage risks, but the risk seems to be small if moms consume small amounts of caffeine.

But what if you are trying to get pregnant? Again, research is mixed. However, one study discovered that women trying to conceive that drank more than 1/2 cup of black or green tea were twice as likely to conceive as those who did not. Some researchers have speculated that some compounds in tea may inhibit chromosome abnormalities, while others help eggs to mature.

Of course, it could also just be that tea drinkers lead healthier lives.

Who knows?

What I do know is tea is a wonderful beverage.

My mug and tea for today:

Appropriate mug, right? It was a gift after the birth of my first child. The tea, while not black or green, is white tea with blueberry and cranberry.

With Lemon, Please

I've talked a lot about antioxidants, and the potential health benefits of drinking tea. I've said you should never put milk in your tea, and some of the benefits of tea exclude using sugar. But one thing I don't think I have talked about is lemon in your tea.

It is not uncommon to see a beautifully filled cup with a sliver of lemon on the side. There's more to that than you may realize. Studies have shown that adding citrus juice to your cup of tea increases the amount of antioxidants your body absorbs from the tea!

That is just delicious in so many ways!

My mug and tea of the day:

English Teatime, with lemon, of course!

Tea and Strokes

The other day I mentioned how drinking tea may reduce your risk of heart attack, but did you know research also indicates it may reduce your risk of stroke?

Nine studies had led researchers to determine that drinking 3-5 cups of either black or green tea a day may cut the risk of stroke by 21%. They believe it is the antioxidants in the tea that appear to fight oxidative stress and inflammation, which helps to maintain normal blood pressure. I wrote earlier about how it may prevent plaque buildup, (which can lead to strokes), but may also promote healthy function of the blood vessels.

Even decaf is okay, since much of the antioxidants are retained.

Today's tea mug and tea:

Black tea with cherry vanilla.