After a long day at work, nothing can soothe your senses like a perfectly brewed cup of green tea. Thanks to the low amount of caffeine it contains, a cup of green tea works perfectly to provide a vital boost that will take you to the end of the day.
Green tea is produced from Camellia sinensis leaves native to China. What separates green tea from black and oolong teas is that it’s not left out to ferment, wither and oxidize like the others. Plus, it often comes with natural flavor additives, like ginger, strawberry, and dried fruits.
For various flavors and its many health benefits (discussed below), green tea has become one of the most loved varieties of teas in the United States. And not only that, more than 1.7 tons of green tea is now consumed worldwide, which puts it on the list of the top three favorite teas in the world.
In addition to being a famous and delicious drink, green tea has many health benefits for the tea drinker. That’s the reason why it’s been used in Indian and Chinese medicines for a very long time.
For some people however, green tea is just not to their liking. Fortunately, other Chinese teas are readily available, such as pu-erh tea. The appearance of these teas can look similar indeed, but the process of making these two teas is rather different. The chief difference occurs before the drying process: green tea is dried quickly after the harvesting, while pu-erh tea will undergo a fermentation process to help develop its flavours. This makes it an appealing alternative for those who just can’t get green tea to fit their palettes.
Here we’ll share the excellent health benefits of drinking tea every day. Let’s get started:
Weight Loss and Management
If you have gained a few extra pounds with your desk job and want to lose some weight, you are not alone. Obesity is one of the most significant health concerns shared by the world. In North America alone, two out of three people are obese, making the entire nation a victim of this severe health problem. Furthermore, obesity is directly linked to all the severe health problems you can think of, such as diabetes, heart problems, and joint pain.
However, the good news is obesity is not difficult to deal with, mainly depending on what you eat and drink. With the everyday consumption of green tea, you can maintain and even lose weight. This is because green tea extracts contain an amino acid known as L-theanine, which slows down the absorption of caffeine in your body. As a result, you feel energetic for more extended periods, which proves helpful in your workouts. Moreover, green tea is widely recommended in the weight loss industry since it also helps in body weight management.
In 2010, a health researcher concluded a study that revealed that drinking green tea speeds up fat burning in the body by enhancing its metabolism. The research also included that green tea contains a compound called catechins. When it reaches your bloodstream, this compound is responsible for the body’s fat oxidation, and that speeds up the fat-burning process. Moreover, green teas are a healthy substitute for calorie-rich drinks that you need to avoid. Simply changing your drinking habits from soda to green tea can immensely help you in your weight loss journey by lowering the number of calories you consume.
Keeps Your Heart Healthy
Heart problems are one of the most worrying diseases in the United States. Every year, over 600,000 people lose their lives while battling this health problem. And that is almost one-fourth of the total population of a country.
With that said, the good news is, heart problems can be treated and prevented by drinking green tea. However, green tea alone is not enough, and if you are suffering from heart problems, you should seek as much medical aid as possible. But, as a part of a more comprehensive strategy, it can provide you with relief if you exercise and change your lifestyle to a healthy one.
A recent study revealed that 1370 men over the age of 40 started drinking green tea every day, which decreased the proximity of several crucial markers that cause heart problems. This study also elaborated that drinking green tea helps deal with high blood pressure and reduces bad LDL cholesterol – a common factor that adds to heart problems.
That is why health experts recommended adding a cup of green tea a day instead of relying on coffee or soda. It’ll keep you hale and hearty even in your old age.
Keeps Your Bones Strong
As we go ahead in our lives, the health of our bones becomes a big problem. Due to metabolic imbalance that happens to almost everyone in old age, Osteoporosis, a condition in which bones start getting weak, which also results in a slow development of new bone tissues.
Additionally, drinking green tea can enhance your bone density and can make your bones healthier than before. However, many still doubt if drinking green tea improves your bone health, but people who drink green tea regularly have found severe improvement in their bone strength. As a result, green tea is favored by the health industry when it comes to improving your bone density.
So, after knowing all these health benefits of green tea, now is finally time to know how you can brew a perfect cup of green tea at home. So, here’s how you do it:
Green Tea Prep
As we have discussed above, green tea is a widely loved and used variety of tea. It’s available in bag and loose tea form and can be easily found in any part of the world.
When it comes to preparing green tea, you shouldn’t steep the leaves of bags in water that is too hot. The perfect water temperature to brew a tasty cup of green tea is 195 F, which could taste bitter to the new tea drinkers.
When you are boiling water to prepare the tea, let the water come to a boil and remove it from the source of heat. Let it sit idle for a minute. This will bring water to its perfect temperature for green tea, anywhere from 175 F to 185 F. This simple technique will ensure a warm and pleasant cup of green tea every time.
To Sum it Up
Drinking green tea has a long list of health benefits for you. A few of them are mentioned above, which can help you live a healthy and active lifestyle for a long time. Moreover, with the consumption of green, you make the essential changes in your body that impact your physical health and mental health. You start feeling happier and more productive.
