Below is an informative article about green tea that I found on the weightloss.com.au website.
Green Tea and Weight loss
The wonders of green tea are well researched
and documented, and are becoming wider known as a result.
Among the numerous benefits that drinking green tea has, the most interesting
for those of us who are trying to
lose weight is its weight
loss and body fat burning properties.
In this essential guide to green tea, we'll explore these benefits and more,
and provide you with all the other vital information you need to make green tea
a part of your
healthy diet
and weight loss plan.
What is Green Tea?
Basically green tea is the least processed of four different types of tea;
green, oolong, black and white, all of which come for the Camellia sinensis
bush.
Unlike the other tea variants, green tea leaves are steamed.
Processing them in this way preserves the compound epigallocatechin gallate
(EGCG), which is a powerful antioxidant that gives green tea many of its health
properties.
Camellia sinensis has many different varieties and because things such as that
the region it comes from and the climate and soil it was grown in all influence
the characteristics of the tea produced, there are numerous varieties of green
tea.
Generally speaking, the best green teas come from Japan and China.
The most popular varieties of Japanese green tea include:
Because China is a very large country with many different regions (known as
provinces) there are a very large range of Chinese green teas.
The most popular varieties of Chinese green tea include:
- Dragon
Well (also called Lung Ching or Long Jing).
In addition to Japan and China, good quality green teas also come from
countries like Taiwan, India and Sri Lanka.
Herbal Teas
Because of the health benefits of green teas and their growing popularity in
the western-world, many companies now produce and sell a range of hot-water
infusions made with herbs.
These infusions are often called "teas" for marketing purposes but
they are technically not teas because they are not from the Camellia sinensis
plant.
While these herbal teas aren't green teas and may not have the same health
benefits as green teas they may have other benefits.
Green Tea and weight loss
Many research studies have shown that drinking green tea can have a positive
effect on our body weight as well as on our general health.
These studies indicate that green tea helps us shed unwanted kilos by helping
to:
- Increase
our metabolism (burn more calories/kilojoules throughout the day).
- Increase
our body's ability to burn fat (fat oxidation).
While some of green tea's effect on our metabolism is known to come from the
caffeine it contains, green tea doesn't have as much caffeine as coffee but
helps the body burn more energy than coffee, so we know that the effect doesn't
just come down to its caffeine levels.
Other Health Benefits of Green Tea
As well as helping us to lose weight, green tea is believed to have many other
health benefits.
Among the most impressive of these, green tea is said to help:
- Reduce
our risk of developing many forms of cancer.
- Inhibit
the growth of cancer cells.
- Lower
total cholesterol levels.
- Improve
the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
- Help
reduce the risk and treat rheumatoid arthritis.
- Reduce
the risk of experiencing cardiovascular disease.
- Treat
impaired immune function.
- Help
prevent tooth decay.
In order to enjoy these health benefits and others, researchers recommend
drinking green tea on a regular basis.
In fact, many recommend drinking between 5 and 10 cups per day to get the full
benefits from drinking green teas.
Is green tea good for everyone?
It is thought that not everyone should drink green tea or large quantities of
green tea like those recommended by many researchers.
Because green tea does contain relatively high amounts of caffeine, it has been
recommended that anyone with the following conditions speak with their doctor
before starting to consume green teas:
- Heart
problems or high blood pressure.
- Hyperthyroidism
(an overactive thyroid).
- An
anxiety or nervous disorder.
- Bleeding
or blood clotting disorder.
- Any
condition requiring you to take blood thinning drugs.
- If you
are pregnant or could become pregnant.
- If you
are breast-feeding a baby.
Because green tea contains relatively large amounts of caffeine it has been
suggested that it is not appropriate for consumption by children either.
In addition to avoiding green tea if you suffer from any of the medical
conditions listed above, anyone taking medication should also consult their
doctor before starting to consume green tea to make sure it is compatible with
the drugs they are taking.
People who don't take medication or have any of the conditions listed above can
still experience the following negative side-effects if they consume too much
caffeine (including that contained in green tea):
Buying, Storing and Brewing Green Tea
Getting the most benefits from green tea often means buying, storing and
preparing it well.
When it comes to buying green teas, cost can not only reflect the quality of
the tea, but also its rarity.
If you're new to drinking green tea, it's probably best to try some of the more
moderately priced full-flavored teas first. If in doubt about which variety to
try, ask your local
herbalist
who should be more than happy to make some recommendations.
Unless their convenience is absolutely critical to you, it is best to avoid tea
bags which often contain at least some amounts of lower grade tea.
Storing green tea well is important if you want it to retain its taste,
freshness and health properties.
As a general guide it is recommended that you keep your green teas in:
- Airtight
tea tins or airtight glass jars.
- Cool,
dark environments (such as cupboards).
- Areas
away from aromatic foods (because green teas absorb aromas easily).
Most green teas don't store well for more than around six months, so it's
better to buy small quantities more regularly than it is to buy large
quantities less frequently.
To prepare a fine cup of green tea it's always best to follow the
manufacturer's instructions for each variety.
Having said that, here are some general things to consider:
- The
quantity of tea leaves - most green tea experts suggest using about 2 to
4g of tea per cup.
- Water -
fresh spring water is ideal.
- Brewing
method - brewing green tea in a pot is best, letting the leaves float
freely.
- Infusion
temperature - green tea is best brewed in water that has only just begun
to form bubbles.
- Brewing
time - most green teas should be brewed for no longer than 1½ to 3
minutes.
For those of us who don't particularly like the taste of green tea, the good
news is that adding lemon, sugar or milk to improve its taste doesn't seem to
affect the antioxidant levels of the tea and therefore shouldn't remove any of
the health benefits associated with drinking it.
Just remember though if you are watching your waist line that adding things
like sugar and milk will add extra calories/kilojoules.
Conclusion
The wonders of green tea are well researched and documented, and are becoming
wider known as a result.
Among the numerous benefits that drinking green tea has, the most interesting
for visitors of this website are those that relate to helping us lose weight
and burn body fat.
In this essential guide to green tea, we explored these and other benefits and
provided you with all the other bits of important information you need to make
green tea a part of your healthy diet and weight loss plan.
